Accessibility and acceptability of health promotion services in New Zealand for minority refugee women

Refugees are forced to flee their native country to escape war or oppression. They are resilient and generally have a high level of motivation to rebuild their lives, as well as to make a meaningful contribution to the host country. However, refugees in general have complex health needs and they often face significant barriers in accessing health services in their host countries. Health promotion has been identified as an effective approach for increasing service utilization by minority populations such as refugees, and contributing to their overall positive health outcomes. This qualitative study examined the accessibility and acceptability of health promotion services for Bhutanese refugee women who resettled in New Zealand. The study consisted of two phases: focus group discussions with 32 Bhutanese women and eight Bhutanese men, followed by individual interviews with 12 health professionals including five nurses, four doctors and three midwives. The data were collected in two regional towns of New Zealand in 2014. The study's conceptual framework utilized the strategies and actions underpinning the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Findings of this study revealed that Bhutanese women were missing some essential health promotion services, such as antenatal education sessions mainly due to language and cultural barriers. This study recommends to develop health promotion resources in the Nepali language; and to deliver the health promotion sessions by culturally and linguistically competent providers. This study also uncovered resiliency and strengths of Bhutanese women that could be recognized, strengthened and utilized in promoting their health and well-being.