Introduction: The first moments after birth are marked with the most intense emotions. These moments are also important from a cultural perspective, but they are often overlooked. In this age of global migration it has become increasingly important for midwives to be knowledgeable of the practices of different cultures, with which we coexist. Midwife needs to discover and facilitate basic human needs. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to establish a starting point for encouraging progress in the area of culture competence amongst midwive. Incorporated in this thesis are crucial aspects of childcare for certain cultures that are present in Slovenia. Methods: The thesis is based on quality description method with the help of case study. Two individual women were part of our study, both of which came from specific cultures and had their newborns delivered in Slovenian maternity hospitals. The results are shown with the help of tables. Results: In both cases of the study, the interviewees were of Islamic faith, and even though they were of the same religion, certain customs and traditions differ, showing the need for individual approach to each woman. In both instances, the subjects expressed fear of the midwives not understanding their beliefs, which is why they remained unknown to the midwives and mothers had to adjust to the environment. The cultural background in both instances was not given the attention and appreciation to the right degree. Discussion and conclusion: Our society is growing ever more varied and multicultural and it appears that in the future this will only become more prevalent. Based on the results gathered from the study, we can say that the cultural competence of medical professionals in Slovenia is still lacking. Midwives should be appropriately educated with existing cultural beliefs regarding the period of pregnancy, birth, postnatal period and also regarding newborn care. But we must also not forget that it is imperative that we educate people, whose certain beliefs have been proven wrong, based on factual proof. This must be done for the well being of the mother and child.
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