Health-Seeking Behavior of Afghan Women Immigrants: An Ethnographic Study.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, in light of gender inequity, new concern has been raised for health-seeking behavior of women in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions and health-seeking behaviors of Afghan immigrant women residing in Mashhad, Iran. METHOD: An ethnographic design was used to examine the health-seeking behavior of Afghan women. This study took place in Tollab Tabarsi area of Mashhad, Iran, from March 2013 to July 2014. For gathering of data, participant observations, fieldwork, and formal interviews were included. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen Afghan women immigrants and five health care professionals were interviewed. The overarching category derived from the data was gender inequity. The emergent three themes were cultural taboos, women position, and information gap. DISCUSSIONS: The displaced Afghan women were found to be at significant risk of adverse health events, which affected both their physical health and mental health.

Women's sexual and reproductive health care needs assessment: an Iranian perspective.

BACKGROUND: Reproductive health problems are a leading cause of women's ill health and mortality worldwide. There is a need to investigate sexual and reproductive health care needs in different societies and cultural contexts. Despite the success in health care promotion in the Iranian health care system, women still need to receive sexual health care and appropriate HIV/AIDS services. However, studies on the sexual and reproductive health care needs of Iranian women are lacking. AIMS: This study aimed to investigate the sexual and reproductive health care needs of women referred to health care centres in an urban area of the Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 2013 on 514 women living in an urban area in the north of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Taking into consideration ethical principles, data were collected using the Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Needs Assessment Questionnaire. RESULTS: The findings showed a greater need for the provision of care by practitioners in the sexual history and activities domain (73%) compared with other domains. Also, the woman's age and the location where she sought treatment and care for sexually transmitted infections were predictors of sexual activities needs. CONCLUSIONS: Owing to the high prevalence of women's referral to health care centres seeking treatment of sexual disorders, there is a need for the provision of sexual counseling centres and services promoting women's reproductive health care.