Investigating and Improving Access to Reproductive Healthcare for Vulnerable Migrant Women in France

Abstract

Background: Homelessness and housing instability in the host countries are central features of the experience of migration to the EU. Although migrant women across the EU encounter obstacles in accessing healthcare services, little is known on the health and access to healthcare services for unstably housed migrant women. The DSAFHIR project aims to better describe the risks faced by migrant women in situations of administrative and social vulnerability, to analyze the barriers to access healthcare and to test specific health interventions.
 Methods: The DSAFHIR project consists of a two-wave mixed-method survey and the implementation of two tailored sexual health interventions. 474 migrant women aged 18 to 77 years housed in social hotels were surveyed at inclusion. After the implementation of sexual health interventions, respondents were contacted for the follow-up survey (n=284).
 Discussion: The project provides needed data on migrant women’s health and healthcare access, including non-French speakers. It allows to draw lessons on feasibility and acceptability of quantitative and qualitative surveys on this hard-to-reach population. A high response rate in both waves of the survey (84% and 85%) suggests good acceptability. The attrition is comparable to other migrant longitudinal surveys (60% of the original sample completed the follow-up survey, or 40% of attrition), suggesting that relying on cell phones is possible for follow-up even in contexts of housing instability.

Caesarean delivery in a migration context: the role of prior delivery in the host country

“…We used data from the DSAFHIR study 38 (Rights and Health of Housed Migrant and Refugee Women) that investigated health and migration experiences of homeless migrant women housed in hotels as an emergency housing option in the Paris Metropolitan area in France. Since the early 2000s, the demand for emergency housing has increased in the Paris Metropolitan area, driven significantly by individuals and families migrating to France with few or no resources.…”

“…The questionnaire was administered in the respondents’ hotel rooms, in ten different languages. 38 Collected data included sociodemographic characteristics, migration trajectories, general, mental and reproductive health, access to healthcare services in France and experience of violence. Compared to migrant women in the general population in France, women in this sample had arrived in France more recently, had a high level of economic deprivation, and more often experienced language barriers and limited access to healthcare.…”

Definition, elements and stages of elaboration of research protocols

“…The expectation of contributing to the scientific community with the realization of this textual production is to make this methodological procedure better known. It is inferred that the state of the art regarding research protocols is still small compared to the conceptual scope found in international studies (Binik & Hey, 2019;Kumar & Joshna, 2019;Martín, Manjarrés & Martín, 2019;Poncet et al, 2019). Through the assertive understanding regarding the concepts elucidated in the present construct, it is expected that both teachers and students will become aware of the meaning and logic of the conception and execution of this research document.…”

“…In addition to the aspects already mentioned, the research protocol can be understood as a proficient tool in terms of ensuring a better connection between the scientist and his interviewees (Poncet et al, 2019). Another benefit pointed out by Poncet el al.…”