The informal intercultural mediator nurse in obstetrics care

Abstract

Cultural practices linked to maternity require profound knowledge and respect for each woman and for what they consider as making sense in their experience of becoming a mother. However, the same senses are not always shared by the participants, justifying the need for intercultural mediation. The aim of this study was to understand the intercultural mediation in nursing care in obstetrics. It is a qualitative study, using the semi-structured interview to 15 obstetric nurses and analysis of the content supported by NVivo 10. Emerging categories were: meaning attributed to the intercultural mediation, principles of intercultural mediation; functions of informal intercultural mediator nurses, and reasons for intercultural mediation in obstetrics. We conclude that although in their clinical practice in obstetrics, nurses sometimes exercise informal intercultural mediator functions; they need training in intercultural mediation, which is evident from the opinions of the participants.