Overreliance on cultural doulas: the paradox of entrusting the communication and care of high-risk migrant women to cultural doulas

Cultural doulas are recognized as valuable in addressing gaps in migrant maternity care, yet their role presents a paradox. Entrusting the care of high-risk migrant women to minimally trained non-medical professionals paradoxically risks miscommunication and compromised care quality. Insufficient training, unclear roles, and the overextension of cultural doulas further exacerbate this issue, underscoring the need for systemic reforms. To resolve this paradox and improve maternal outcomes, the maternity care system must redefine the role of cultural doulas, prioritize professional interpretation services, and implement integrated care models tailored to the evidence based medical needs of migrant women.