Abstract
Background:
Difficulties in intercultural encounters and communication in health care is well known. Swedish primary child health nurses' have daily encounter with Somali parents for health counseling of their young children. Little is known about their experiences of the intercultural understanding of the health counseling encounters.
Aim:
To describe Swedish primary child health nurses' experiences of health counseling Somali parents.
Methods:
A qualitative design was used. Five child health nurses were strategic selected for interviews. A content analysis was used in the analysis.
Findings:
The primary child health nurses' experienced both facilitators and barriers in the encounters of health counseling, as well as within their profession and in the Somali parenting.
Conclusion:
Health counseling as an educational process. Time is important in intercultural encounters with health counseling in primary child health care to identify and show an interest in the Somali family's life history and perceived needs.