| Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the experiences of African refugee
women seeking health care services in refugee camps for their mental and physical health needs.
The study seeks to elucidate the challenges, barriers, facilitators, and needs encountered in
accessing and receiving healthcare services by women in a refugee camp.
Background: According to the UNHCR, “refugees are people who have fled war, violence,
conflict or persecution and have crossed an international border to find safety in another
country”. Many refugees end up in refugee camps, majority of whom are women. Healthcare
providers in refugee camps face challenges when providing appropriate physical and mental
health care to refugees who come from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of need.
Refugee women may have trouble with their identity after going through trauma and many
refugee women are diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Methods: This study utilized the qualitative research design to explore the healthcare
experiences of African women living in refugee camps. The dissertation conceptual model was
created from Madelein Leininger’s Sunrise Model, which was then used to generate questions
and the interview guide. The principal investigator recruited participants by contacting the
Director of The Office for Refugees and through referrals from study participants. Interviews
were recorded and transcribed verbatim using Otter.ti software. Thematic analysis was
conducted using Atlas.ti software. Participants included African women currently residing in
Boise, Idaho, and had spent time living in a refugee camps. Participant’s countries of origin were
Congo, Somalia, Rwanda, and Liberia.
Results: Fourteen African women participated in semi-structured interviews. Five themes
described the healthcare experiences of the African women in refugee camps: inadequate
medical equipment and resources, perception of lack of compassion by healthcare personnel,
healthcare access at high cost, lack of adequate food and clean water, and perceived lack of
support for mental health and trauma.
Discussion: African women face barriers and complexities when accessing healthcare services in
refugee camps. There is a need for future research to explore additional factors influencing
refugee healthcare such as gender-based violence and cultural barriers to medical access that will
inform policy and intervention strategies.
Keywords: Women Refugees, Refugee Health, Refugee Camps, Refugee Camp Healthcare |