Dutch midwives perceive a mixture of rewards and difficulties when caring for non-western women.

Context Migration is a common event, with increasing numbers of migrants living in developed parts of the world. A range of studies have shown that the maternity healthcare needs of migrant women and those from minority ethnic groups are not always met as effectively as those of women in the majority population. A large proportion of those receiving maternity care from Dutch midwives are of non-western in origin, with at least one parent born in Africa, Asia, South America or Turkey. This group of women has been shown to make less than optimal use of antenatal care, characterised by later initial contact with the care system. Higher rates of perinatal mortality have also been observed among some non-western groups. Boerleider and colleagues sought to explore Dutch midwives’ experiences of treating non-western clients.