Language barriers and cultural differences are causing pregnant African women to oppose vital Caesarean operations at Mater Dei Hospital, The Sunday Times has learnt.

In the past two months, Mater Dei Hospital dealt with three pregnant, immigrant women who resisted a Caesarean section to deliver the baby.

When contacted, hospital superintendent Frank Bartolo said doctors had to take a quick decision in two of the cases when an urgent Caesarean was required because of foetal distress.

A third case was not as time sensitive, but the hospital authorities still requested a court order authorising doctors to perform surgery and save the baby's life.

The reason behind African women's reluctance to go under the knife is entrenched in their cultural beliefs.

Lora Pullicino, a nurse who works with the Jesuit Refugee Service, pointed out that for thousands of years, women in African countries have given birth naturally when their body indicated the time had come.

Moreover, the language barrier is also causing big problems, with many women not understanding what the medical professionals are trying to tell them.

This language difficulty also means that pregnant African women do not have access to antenatal classes and do not have the opportunity to build a rapport with medical professionals taking care of them.

Ms Pullicino said a third reason could be because they feared not being able to work after surgery. This is exacerbated by the fact that their family is not present to assist them.