Paperless Pregnancies is a project about improving access to prenatal healthcare for women without a residence permit – undocumented migrants. In the Netherlands, this marginalised group is highly at risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, like preterm birth and perinatal death. Even though these women are excluded from all citizen rights like having health insurance, by law they have the right to receive prenatal care. In reality, undocumented migrants start prenatal care late – an essential factor in higher pregnancy risks. Paperless Pregnancies provides information to migrant women to give them timely access to prenatal care. The tool helps them navigate the Dutch prenatal care system and educates them about their healthcare rights.
The treatment and rights of migrants remains a much-disputed topic, one that has been reignited with the reception of Ukrainian refugees and the recent overflows seen at the registration centre for asylum seekers. Where the current Dutch political agenda is shaped to discourage asylum seekers, Paperless Pregnancies favours the wellbeing and health of women over their status. Although this design can not change the system or policies that undocumented migrants are subject to, it can support undocumented women in making the most of the aid and rights they are entitled to.
