A CLINICAL INVESTIGATION TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICE DELIVERY IN PRIMARY CARE TO REFUGEES FROM BURMA

Abstract

In 2014–2015, Australia granted over 2000 humanitarian visas to people from Burma. During initial refugee health assessments conducted at local health centres, primary care practitioners (PCP) observed that these refugees are quiet, modest and polite; rarely acknowledge sexual health problems and typically answer in the affirmative. Consequently, PCP found it challenging to understand their health needs. Our study aimed to gain insight into how migration affected the reproductive health needs of this group, their ability to access an unfamiliar health system, and to identify elements of a sexual health service model for adaptation to refugee communities. As we targeted the sensitive needs of..