Highlights a model program for the delivery of culturally sensitive and appropriate perinatal care to Southeast Asian refugees resettled in North America. Long Beach, California’s Southeast Asian Health Project (SEAHP) was initiated to respond to several problems, including the low numbers of pregnant women seeking prenatal care, the late date at which they seek care, poor maternal nutrition, and low-birth-weight neonates. Outreach to the Southeast Asian community was the first order of business, with bilingual, bicultural workers disseminating information about prenatal care in local markets, Buddhist temples, and other gathering places. These same outreach workers helped develop resource materials in 3 Southeast Asian languages and taught oral classes on topics ranging from labor and delivery to infant feeding and safety. In addition, SEAHP conducted training sessions for medical center and hospital professional and ancillary staff on the health care practices and beliefs of Southeast Asian childbearing women. After 3 years of operation, SEAHP was evaluated by its clients, most of whom cited the bilingual, bicultural workers as the primary reason for both their use of and their satisfaction with services. Physicians and nurses also received commendation for culturally sensitive attitudes and behaviors.
