Accessing and navigating healthcare: A scoping review of the experiences of women of refugee background from Myanmar

Despite well‐documented health problems, healthcare access by women of refugee background in resettlement countries is typically poor. Suggested reasons include inadequate health literacy and resettlement challenges. A scoping review to explore the experiences of women of refugee background from Myanmar accessing and navigating healthcare was conducted following Arksey and O′Malley's framework, with an intersectional lens. Studies were analysed thematically following Braun and Clark's approach; four themes (eight subthemes) were constructed: Culture (Constructions of health; Navigating cultural tensions); Gender (Shifting gender roles; Sexual and reproductive health); Survivorship (Past health experiences; Strength in collectivism); and Language (The language barrier; Masked communication barriers). Intersectional factors of culture, gender, survivorship and language influenced women's experiences, shaping barriers and facilitators to healthcare. Community networks and bicultural peers are resources which may be enhanced. Research into trauma‐informed cultural competency programs, community education and bicultural health navigators is recommended to support women of refugee background from Myanmar.

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Accessing and navigating healthcare: A scoping review of the experiences of women of refugee background from Myanmar

Griffin

Ali

Nau

et al. 2022

Health Social Care Comm

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Understanding the Health Literacy Experiences and Practices of Australian-Resettled Myanmar Refugees: Relevance for Nutrition and Dietetics Practice

Wong,

Lassemillante,

White

et al. 2024

Nutrients

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Background/Objectives: Refugees typically experience poorer health compared with people from non-refugee backgrounds, and health literacy may play a part in this discrepancy. Using the WHO’s revised health literacy definitions as a framework, this qualitative study sought to examine the health literacy experiences and practices of Australian resettled refugees from Myanmar from refugee and service provider perspectives. Methods: Four refugee participant focus groups (n = 27) along with one focus group and four interviews with service providers (n = 7) were conducted in Melbourne, Australia, and analysed using deductive content analysis. Results: Our study found that in addition to individual health literacy, community literacy was practiced by Myanmar refugees, thus highlighting the relevance of social support to health literacy. Furthermore, our study found gaps in healthcare service provision and resourcing related to health literacy development and responsiveness by the healthcare system. Conclusions: Our study confirms the relevance of WHO’s revised health literacy definitions to Myanmar refugees while also discussing, in the context of nutrition and dietetics practice, the importance of understanding the different aspects of health literacy and how this relates to working with those who are most marginalised to improve their health and wellbeing.

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Factors Influencing Women's access to Healthcare Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Saxena,

Arsh,

Ashraf

et al. 2023

NRS

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Gender inequalities in accessing healthcare services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are consistently reported in the literature. Financial constraints and greater distance from healthcare facilities are the most reported barriers to the limited accessibility of women to healthcare services in these countries. However, these two barriers are not specific to women as men living in these countries also face these barriers, then why do gender disparities exist in accessing healthcare services? Objective: To explore this question, we conducted this study to identify factors influencing women’s access to healthcare services in LMICs. Methods: A review article was conducted in September 2023. PubMed, CINHAL, EMBASE and HMIC databases were searched. Additional searching was performed in Google Scholar. Qualitative studies published from the earliest record to August 2023 which reported barriers to women’s access to healthcare services in LMICs were included. Results: Results showed that individual-level factors that influence women’s access to healthcare services in LMICs include economic status and knowledge and beliefs, inter-personal level factors include social norms and support from family and friends, community-level factors include support from community members and transportation facilities while system-level factors that influence women’s access to healthcare services include the availability of healthcare services and providers, the role of the medical fraternity, health insurance coverage, availability and implementation of effective policies and evidence-based practice and research. Conclusion: The review identified a wide range of individual, interpersonal, community and system-level barriers that hinder women residing in LMICs from accessing appropriate healthcare services. There is a need to develop cost-effective, culturally appropriate approaches, guidelines, and policies to improve women’s access to healthcare services in LMICs.

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Accessing and navigating healthcare: A scoping review of the experiences of women of refugee background from Myanmar

Cited by 3 publications

References 82 publications