Talking about sexual and reproductive health through interpreters: The experiences of health care professionals consulting refugee and migrant women

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore the health care professional (HCP) experiences of working with interpreters when consulting refugee and migrant women who are not proficient in English around sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues, in order to identify service and policy implications.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 HCPs, including: nurses (8), general practitioners (GP) (5), health promotion officers (5), sexual therapists (2) and one midwife. Interviews were audio-recorded, professionally transcribed and thematically analysed using socio-ecological theory.

Results: Overall HCPs stated that language and cultural discordance were barriers to SRH communication with refugee and migrant women. The lack of women interpreters and concerns with the interpreters such as lack of health/SRH knowledge were the main considerations HCPs reported related to working with interpreters when consulting refugee and migrant women.

Conclusion: Communication barriers in the provision of SRH services to refugee and migrant women may not be avoided despite the use of interpreters. Great attention needs to be paid to the availability of women interpreters and training of interpreters to work in SRH.

Keywords: Health care professionals; Interpreters; Language barrier; Refugee and migrant women; Sexual and reproductive health.