Bridging cultural and linguistic barriers: South Asian minority women’s experiences of radiotherapy for cervical cancer in Norway

Introduction

This study explored the experiences of women with South Asian ethnicity who received chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer in Norway. Research on how they cope with radiotherapy, as well as the challenges they face in relation to cancer care, is crucial to generate new knowledge about the situation of minority women. This study sought to promote a more equitable healthcare service and provide more personalised information for minority women.

Methods

This study has a qualitative, exploratory design and applied a phenomenological and hermeneutical approach based on individual in-depth interviews with seven South Asian women. These women moved to Norway after the age of 18 and subsequently received chemoradiotherapy for cervical cancer. The interviews were conducted in each woman’s own language. The data were interpreted via reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The data analysis revealed that a lack of cultural understanding among healthcare professionals made the treatment experience challenging for the interviewed women, while a lack of familiarity with the Norwegian language made health information less accessible to them. Linguistic and cultural barriers rendered the women vulnerable, both during their treatment and during the scheduled clinical follow-up period, which was often reported to be a lonely experience.

Conclusion

The experiences of minority women with cervical cancer who are treated with radiotherapy are influenced by challenges related to culture and language. This highlights a clear need for individually tailored health information and access to professional interpreters. Additionally, there is a need for support groups conducted in minority languages.