Help-seeking pathways and barriers to accessing health care services were surveyed in 51 West African refugee women who had settled recently in Perth, Western Australia, and in 100 Australian women. Shame or fear of what family and friends might think, fear of being judged by the treatment provider, fear of hospitalization, and logistical difficulties were significant impediments to accessing health care services for the refugee women. Surprisingly, barriers often were greater for the more-educated refugee women and strengthened with years of residence in Australia. Strategies to help at-risk women overcome these barriers need to be implemented to ensure appropriate access to health care services. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

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Negro refugee Australia human Africa, Western Refugees middle aged health service Aged ethnology Health Services Needs and Demand Mental Disorders sexually transmitted disease mental disease Sexually Transmitted Diseases Young Adult Humans Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent African Continental Ancestry Group female Aged, 80 and over Socioeconomic Factors Africa socioeconomics Western Australia cultural factor Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Article Shame adult patient attitude Patient Acceptance of Health Care Healthcare Disparities health care disparity attitude to health Health Services Accessibility health care delivery