Developing awareness of refugee women’s health needs

Raising awareness of the health needs of refugee women can assist practitioners in better meeting their needs.

Useful resources and sources of information include:

The Meeting the health needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK area of this site has more information

Resource Pack to help General Practitioners and other Primary Health Care Professionals in their work with Refugees and Asylum Seekers

HARPWEB

The assessment and recording area of this website provides guidance on how health professionals and others can sensitively assess and develop an understanding of refugees’ health and care needs.

Training can raise the awareness of the range of diverse needs within refugee communities, including those relating to women’s health. The developing understanding and awareness of refugee experiences and developing cultural competence and understanding areas of this website provide further guidance.

Refugee clients’ needs should be considered holistically. Further guidance is provided in this website on refugee children and young people and survivors of torture. The health promotion area of this website also provides useful guidance on a wide range of health issues.

It is important to remember that, despite what may have been traumatic experiences, most refugee women are not suffering from mental illnesses.

Many refugee women will be very resilient and will have many positive coping strategies. The mental health area of this website provides further guidance.