Abstract
Background: African migration to Australia has grown in the past 20 to 25 years with many staying permanently. The end-of-life care needs for this community are not well understood leading to low utilisation of palliative and end-of-life care services by these migrants.
Project aims were to explore African migrants’ perceptions of dying well in Australia, describe African migrants’ perceptions of end-of-life and assess methodology and methods for the PhD project.
Methodology: A basic qualitative approach was used in this project. Three participants, migrants from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe were recruited from an African community living in Perth, Western Australia. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted in participants’ homes. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed using the six-step thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clarke (2006).
Results: Five major themes emerged from the data. These themes were (1) Here to stay; (2) Financial security; (3) Accessing appropriate care; (4) Community decision making; and (5) Children and their future.
Conclusion: The study found that dying well in Australia for migrants from Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe meant to be surrounded by family. The importance of family was not only to support a member in palliative or end-of-life care by being present but also, in decision making. The study also confirmed that the research methodology and methods used were appropriate to answer the research question in the main PhD project. The results of the PhD study will add to the existing body of literature and also expected to inform health care professionals about the needs and expectations of this community in relation to palliative and end-of-life care.