Marshallese mothers navigating discrimination in Hawai'i: Bwebwenato as method.

Abstract

Marshallese mothers face the highest rates of adverse maternal and child health outcomes compared to other ethnic groups in Hawai'i. Previous studies used interviews with healthcare providers to understand these disparate outcomes; however, the voices of Marshallese women are relatively absent. This project explores the bwebwenato (Marshallese mode of storytelling) of first-generation Marshallese mothers who navigated discrimination before, during, and after pregnancy in Hawai'i. Using collaborative methodology, we co-produced research that centers the bwebwenato of Marshallese women. In addition to the intersections of power and race in healthcare settings, Marshallese mothers chose to highlight the discrimination they faced growing up in Hawai'i. Through these stories, they profess their ability to navigate their cultural traditions and beliefs within and against a local racial hierarchy that places Micronesians at the bottom. Bwebwenato as a method has the potential to transform research into a more acceptable form for groups experiencing discrimination and patient-provider interactions into more equitable exchanges.