Women's Health and Gender-Specific Considerations

Abstract

Women's health is largely influenced by cultural beliefs, local traditions, and access to care across the world. Immigrant and refugee women experience health in varied ways; prior experiences with health care and beliefs about health should be explored with women on their arrival to the United States. Topics that should be discussed include menstrual practices, contraception and beliefs about family planning, prior screening for preventable diseases, pregnancies and experiences with childbirth, sexual assault and trauma, and history of traditional practices, including female genital mutilation (dependent on area of origin).

Keywords: Contraceptive beliefs; Family planning; Female genital mutilation; Immigrant women's health; Menstrual practices and beliefs; Pregnancy; Refugees; Women’s health.