The experiences and perceptions of family planning of female Chinese asylum seekers living in the UK

Abstract

IntroductionChinese family planning policy is unique. There is limited sex education and the state is highly influential. This has resulted in extremely wide coverage of contraception with long-acting methods being favoured. The Chinese constitute a large proportion of asylum applicants to the UK. This study examines how their experiences and decisions about family planning in the UK are shaped by their cultural background.MethodsData were drawn from 10 semi-structured qualitative interviews with female Chinese asylum seekers recruited through a family planning clinic in the UK.ResultsThe increased autonomy provided by the UK system was appreciated by the participants. Choice of contraceptive method was influenced by traditional cultural beliefs and values, and the effect of hormonal contraception on menstruation was particularly concerning. Women arrived from China with little knowledge of contraception. Friends from a similar background were the most trusted source of advice. When transitioning from China to the UK unwanted pregnancies had occurred amongst unmarried women who had missed out on sex education while living in China.ConclusionsChinese societal and cultural practices continue to influence family planning decisions made within the UK. Culturally competent health strategies are needed to ensure Chinese immigrant women fully benefit from family planning within the UK.

Socioecological Factors Influencing Sexual Health Experiences and Health Outcomes of Migrant Asian Women Living in ‘Western’ High-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

“…Results were categorised into the following domains: Articles at each socioecological model level are presented in Table 2, acknowledging that most articles (n = 9) addressed more than one SEM level. * Note: Seven studies addressed two levels [38,41,43,44,46,48,50]. Two studies addressed three levels [42,47].…”

“…Six studies were conducted in Australia [40,43,45,49,52,54], five in the USA [41,42,44,51], three in Canada [48,50,55] and Sweden [38,39,53], and one in the UK [46]. Studies included participants born in Bhutan [42], Cambodia [41], China [40,44,46,48], Iran [52,54], Malaysia [40], Japan [43], South Korea [53], and Thailand [38,39,53]. The term "Asian" was used to describe participants in five studies [45,[49][50][51]55].…”

“…Twelve studies were qualitative [38,[40][41][42][43]46,[48][49][50][52][53][54], using interviews (n = 10) and focus groups (n = 3). Remaining studies (n = 4) used cross-sectional surveys [39,44,45,47].…”

“…Nine studies described women's access to sexual education and knowledge of STI and HIV transmission modes and prevention. Consistently, little education on sexual health in the home country was reported along with low levels of HIV and/or other STI knowledge and awareness [40,46,49,50]. Four studies measured HIV and/or other STI knowledge, reporting both high [39,45] and low levels of knowledge and awareness [44,47].…”

Aile Planlaması Danışmanlık Hizmetinin Kadınların Kontraseptif Yöntem Tercihine Etkisi: Bir Tersiyer Merkez Deneyimi

“…Benzer olarak başka bir çalışmada üreme çağındaki kadınların %10'undan azında bu yöntemlerin kullanıldığı bildirilmiş, fakat uygun AP danışmanlığı ile bu oranın arttırılarak istenmeyen gebeliklerin önlenebileceği ve düşükleri azaltacağı vurgulanmıştır [12]. [20][21][22][23][24]. Bir çalışmada sosyoekonomik düzeyi düşük kadınlarda yetersiz AP danışmanlık hizmetine bağlı olarak istenmeyen gebeliklerin arttığı, AP danışmanlık hizmeti alan kadınlarda bu oranın azaldığı bildirilmiştir [25].…”