Purpose: To develop knowledge and implement policies appropriate to increasing cultural competency in service delivery when working with refugees. Design and Method: This qualitative research study was designed using grounded theory to thematically analyze the processes of help-seeking from the experiences of six Central American refugee women and their families' experiences with the health care system in Canada. Findings: Information from the participants indicated that the Central American experience poses an important clinical challenge for both physical and mental health services. A model of help-seeking was developed collaboratively with the women based on their experiences. Conclusion: The findings from this study provide a greater understanding of the effectiveness of the health care system in reaching the ethnocultural communities while providing data on the group's physical and mental health care needs and reasons for seeking care. In an advocacy approach with the Central American refugee women, the author in this study provides policy implications and educational considerations for health personnel to be responsive to subcultural variation in our society. © Common Ground.

Central America Background and purpose Policy and educational considerations Advocacy approaches Help-seeking model Refugee women

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