Migration, Motherhood, and Maternal Health - Addressing Gaps in Care for Forcibly Displaced Women

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel

Workshop proposal for the European Journal of Public Health highlighting how feminized migration affects forcibly displaced pregnant women and new mothers. It addresses risks of poor physical and mental health caused by migration-related adversities and disrupted care, including under-documented intergenerational effects. Findings combine a scoping review of maternal health guidelines with qualitative pilot studies from northern Colombia, Tunisia, and the Canary Islands to identify care gaps. The session invites discussion of research gaps and intervention strategies using a Feminist Ethics of Care approach.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Migration, Motherhood, and Maternal Health: Addressing Gaps in Care for Forcibly Displaced Women

Rationale and Purpose

Methods and Workshop Process

Projected Learning Outcomes

vi16 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.045 482 Migration, Motherhood, and Maternal Health: Addressing Gaps in Care for Forcibly Displaced Women Maria Marti Castaner1, Stella Evangelidou, Abdedayem Khelifi, Manuela Orjuela-Grimm, Alexandra Restrepo 1Copenhagen University, Copenagen, Denmark WKS 36: Migration, Motherhood, and Maternal Health: Addressing Gaps in Care for Forcibly Displaced Women, B307 (FCSH), September 5, 2025, 09:00-10:00 Rationales and Purpose: Migration is increasingly feminized, with women comprising 48% of global migrants. Forcibly displaced pregnant women and new mothers face heightened risks of poor physical and mental health due to migration-related adversities and disruptions in care, leading to under-documented intergenerational impacts. Multisectoral strategies to improve maternal and infant care for forcibly displaced migrant (FDM) women remain scarce, especially in low-and middle-income countries and transit regions. This workshop highlights the need to rethink maternal and child health services, drawing from a scoping review and three qualitative pilot studies engaging FDM women and stakeholders across transitory destinations in Colombia, Tunisia, and Spain. Methods/Process of Workshop: This 60-minute workshop will present qualitative data from three pilot studies in northern Colombia, Tunisia, and the Canary Islands, alongside findings from a scoping review of maternal health guidelines. Each case will focus on migrant mothers, offering different perspectives on their experiences, which will be integrated into the discussion. The session will invite participants to discuss research gaps, intervention strategies, and how adopting a Feminist Ethics of Care approach that emphasizes communities of care and mutual responsibility among care actors can help us reimagine maternal healthcare for migrants in transitory destinations. Projected Learning Outcomes: Participants will: 1. Gain insight into the complexities of providing maternal care for migrant women in transitory destinations. 2. Understand how violence and the gendered realities of migration intersect with maternal health and well-being. 3. Reflect on the influence of socio-political shifts and deterrence policies on migrant mothers on the move. 4. Discuss how women’s migration journeys, aspirations, and resources shape the ways in which they (dis)engage with services and how they (de)prioritize care for themselves and their children.

FAQs

Why does the workshop focus on migration and maternal health gaps for forcibly displaced women?

It highlights that migration is increasingly feminized and that forcibly displaced pregnant women and new mothers face elevated physical and mental health risks due to migration adversities and disruptions in care.

What evidence sources will the workshop use?

The session will present qualitative data from three pilot studies conducted in northern Colombia, Tunisia, and the Canary Islands, alongside findings from a scoping review of maternal health guidelines.

What learning outcomes are expected for participants?

Participants will gain insight into complexities of providing maternal care in transitory destinations, understand intersections of violence and gendered migration realities with maternal well-being, reflect on socio-political shifts and deterrence policies, and discuss how migration journeys shape engagement with services.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Mabel