Abstract
Background: Providing midwifery care to Roma women is a significant public health issue due to their status as a vulnerable population, often facing unique challenges and discrimination in accessing healthcare. Cultural competence refers to the ability of maternity providers to understand and incorporate cultural factors within the broader healthcare system. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the cultural competence of obstetricians/gynecologists and midwives working in Western Greece who provide midwifery care to Roma women. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted using a questionnaire from the Roma Women's Empowerment and Fight against discrimination in Access to Health (REACH) project, which focuses on empowering Roma women and combating healthcare access discrimination. The questionnaire covered three areas: the cultural competence of maternity professionals, their knowledge of Roma women's lifestyle, and participants' demographics. The sample included 100 maternity professionals from hospitals and health centers in Western Greece. Results: Cultural competence was found to be moderate to high, with a mean score of 6.9 (SD = 2.2) for the ability to provide adequate care. In the past six months, 33% had provided care to 1-5 Roma women with communication issues, and 53% frequently faced challenges in service delivery. Common problems included Roma women not understanding the information provided (72.9%), and not having necessary documents (41.7%). Obstetricians/gynecologists had higher knowledge scores compared to midwives, and higher educational attainment correlated with better knowledge. Older age was associated with higher cultural competence (p = 0.048). Conclusions: Cultural competence was positively correlated with knowledge levels, with obstetricians/gynecologists exhibiting higher competence than midwives. Enhancing cultural competence among perinatal care providers is crucial to addressing health disparities faced by Roma women. The study's cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data may limit the generalizability and introduce bias. Enhancing cultural competence through targeted training programs can help address healthcare disparities faced by Roma women.