Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 2, 2018, Pages 380-387

Learning from UJAMBO: Perspectives on Gynecologic Care in African Immigrant and Refugee Women in Boston, Massachusetts (Article)

Mehta P.K.* , Saia K. , Mody D. , Crosby S.S. , Raj A. , Maru S. , Piwowarczyk L.
  • a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, School of Medicine, Program in Health Policy and Systems Management, School of Public Health, Maternal & Womens Health Policy, LSU Consortium for Health Transformation, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
  • b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States
  • c Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
  • d Department of Internal Medicine/Immigrant and Refugee Health Program, Boston University Medical Center, Boston University School of Public Health & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
  • e Center on Gender Equity and Health/Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • f Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States
  • g Department of Psychiatry/Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Boston University Medical Center & Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

African-born immigrant women, and particularly refugees and asylum seekers, are at risk for reproductive health disparities but inadequately use relevant gynecologic services. We sought to elucidate perspectives on gynecologic care in a population of Congolese and Somali immigrants. We conducted a secondary qualitative analysis of focus group data using a grounded theory approach and the Integrated Behavioral Model as our theoretical framework. Thirty one women participated in six focus groups. Participant beliefs included the states of pregnancy and/or pain as triggers for care, preferences included having female providers and those with familiarity with female genital cutting. Barriers included stigma, lack of partner support, and lack of resources to access care. Experiential attitudes, normative beliefs, and environmental constraints significantly mediated care preferences for/barriers to gynecologic health service utilization in this population. Centering of patient perspectives to adapt delivery of gynecologic care to immigrants and refugees may improve utilization and reduce disparities. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

Author Keywords

Gynecology Refugees Health services reproductive health African immigrants qualitative

Index Keywords

information processing refugee Massachusetts human epidemiology Refugees middle aged statistics and numerical data health service Congo ethnology African American qualitative research Reproductive Health Services Young Adult Humans migrant psychology Adolescent Emigrants and Immigrants female Social Stigma Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult grounded theory Somalia patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Focus Groups African Americans attitude to health health care delivery Health Services Accessibility Boston
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85031429958&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0659-4&partnerID=40&md5=570996bbf4926cd4b70b4221010fcddb
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0659-4
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English