title: Assessing maternal healthcare inequities among migrants: a qualitative study.
abstract: Considering pregnancy and motherhood as periods of increased vulnerability in migrant women, to characterize the healthcare provided to this collective, we sought to identify and understand patterns of satisfaction and demand of maternal and child healthcare, assessing women's perceptions about its quality. The study followed a qualitative methodology (semi-structured interviews) for collecting and analysing data (content analysis) and was conducted in Porto, the second largest city of Portugal. Participants were 25 recent immigrant mothers from Eastern European countries, Brazil, Portuguese-speaking African countries and six native Portuguese recent mothers (for comparison), contacted through social associations and institutions. Data suggests that healthcare depends not only on accessibility but especially on social opportunities. Equitable public health action must provide individuals and groups the equal opportunity to meet their needs, which may not be achieved by providing the same standard if care to all.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Lígia Moreira
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: José Peixoto
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Caldas
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ayres-de-Campos
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dias
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D011174:Portugal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult