Newcomer women’s experiences of perinatal healthcare service and supports in New Brunswick: A constructivist grounded theory study

Abstract

Many newcomer women of reproductive age make New Brunswick their home, and experience pregnancy and childbirth while adapting to life in a new country. Despite their growing numbers, little is known about how newcomer women engage with the perinatal healthcare system and the available supports. This study explored newcomer women’s experiences of perinatal healthcare and support in a New Brunswick urban centre. Guided by Charmaz’s (2014) constructivist grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve (12) newcomer mothers residing in Canada for six years or less, who had recently given birth in New Brunswick and had a child under two, at the time of recruitment. Emotional negotiation captured the ongoing effort to balance personal needs, cultural identity, and healthcare system demands, influencing every stage of their journey. The study calls for culturally safe, inclusive maternity care that supports emotional and practical needs and promotes maternal health equity.