Exploring the use of labor and delivery services by women of Haitian nationality in a Dominican Republic border town

Purpose Women of Haitian nationality comprise a sizeable proportion of all women seeking labor and delivery services in a public hospital in Dominican Republic (DR), along the central border of Haiti. The purpose of this paper is to better understand and address the needs of Haitian women receiving labor and delivery services in this border region. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a mixed-methods study to identify personal motivations, demographic characteristics, and migration history of women seeking labor and delivery services at a public hospital. Findings The majority of women (83 percent) were born in Haiti but spoke Spanish (74 percent) and were long-term residents of the DR (mean 7.8 years). While many women reported they felt they had a positive experience delivering at the public hospital, some described feeling unwelcome or resented. Research limitations/implications The study sample was small and from one hospital. Future studies could explore the differences in experiences among Haitian women who are long-term residents of the DR and those whose presence is more transient. Practical implications Women residing on both sides of the border would likely benefit from coordinated efforts by the Haitian and DR Ministries of Health to strengthen referral services to and from either country. Social implications Hospital staff and services in the DR should consider the unique needs of this population, which makes critical contributions to workforce and culture in the DR. Originality/value This study is the first to assess labor and delivery service seeking practices and experiences within this population.