In African societies, cultural food practices often restrict or prohibit the consumption of certain foods during pregnancy (1). These practices are shaped by cultural, religious, or societal values and beliefs (2). For instance, in some African countries, pregnant women are advised to avoid red meat and eggs due to cultural beliefs that these foods may harm the mother or the fetus (1). Some of these practices may persist after migration, and how healthcare professionals (HCPs) perceive their influence on African migrant women’s food practices in Australia remains unexplored. Gaining insight into HCPs’ perceptions is essential for improving culturally responsive care and supporting African migrant women in making informed dietary choices during pregnancy and postpartum. Understanding HCPs’ perceptions will provide insight into how these practices are understood and addressed in clinical settings. The aim of this study was to explore HCPs’ perceptions of the cultural food practices of African migrant women during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Australia. HCPs were recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 HCPs who had experience providing antenatal care to African migrant women in Australia. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, inductively coded using NVivo 14, and analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis (3). Most participants (n = 13) were midwives, and two were obstetricians and gynaecologists. Three themes were identified: 1) HCPs’ perceptions of women’s cultural food practices, 2) challenges in delivering general healthy eating information, and 3) strategies for providing effective nutrition advice. Most participants (n = 10) discussed their perceptions of women continuing their traditional dietary practices after migrating to Australia; fewer than half (n = 5) were aware of specific restrictive food practices among the African migrant women they had supported. HCPs perceived that the healthy eating information provided to these women was not always effective and culturally appropriate due to limited consultation time and a lack of culturally appropriate resources. Participants expressed a need for in-service education, tailored nutrition resources including common African foods to enhance culturally appropriate care, and increased continuity of care. This study highlights a gap in HCPs’ awareness of food related cultural practices among African migrant women. Limited awareness of potential food restrictions during pregnancy may negatively impact maternal and infant health. The challenges HCPs face in providing culturally appropriate healthy eating information underscore the need for systemic changes in healthcare. Addressing these gaps through supportive training for HCPs and increasing access to culturally tailored resources, ideally developed in collaboration with dietitians, is urgently needed.
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