Examining the Relationship Between Midwifery Department Students' Intercultural Sensitivity and Xenophobic Attitudes Towards Immigrants: A Cross-Sectional Research

Objective: The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between the intercultural sensitivity of midwifery students and their xenophobic attitudes towards immigrants. Material and Methods: The study was conducted with 329 students studying midwifery. The data of the study were collected using a Personal Information Form, the Intercultural Sensitivity Scale (ICS) and the Xenophobia Scale (XS) and an online survey method. Permission was obtained from the ethics committee and the relevant institution for the study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS. Results: The students' total ICS score average was 78.60±6.18, and the total XS score average was 51.76±13.16. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the students' grades, having friends from different country/countries with whom they were in contact, choosing the midwifery profession willingly, considering working abroad after graduation, wanting to go to another country with Erasmus etc. programs during midwifery education, and experience of going abroad and the ICS score average (p<0.05). It was found that there was a statistically significant difference between the students' grades, knowing a language other than their mother tongue, having friends from different country/countries with whom they were in contact, choosing the midwifery profession willingly and the XS score average (p<0.05). Xenophobic attitude has a significant effect on the level of intercultural sensitivity (p=0.026). Conclusion: It was found that there was a weak negative significant relationship between the students' intercultural sensitivity level and their xenophobic attitudes. Accordingly, as the students' intercultural sensitivity increases, their xenophobic attitudes decrease.