Migrant and Refugee Patients
The provision of reproductive and sexual health services to people from migrant and refugee backgrounds necessities culturally considerations. This may include translation of information, utilisation of translators, and consideration to access to female health professionals. Additionally, the nature of the concepts discussed in consultations may or may not have an equivalent concept in the service user’s own culture and language.
For information on translation and interpreter services in Victoria go to the Better Health Channel website.
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Common Threads Common Practice: Best practice Guide
This guide is intended for health practitioners who work with immigrant and refugee people in sexual and reproductive health, community and clinical settings. (Source: Multicultural Centre For Women’s Health)
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CEH: The Complete Multilingual Guide to Contraception in Australia
The Centre for Health and Ethnicity (CEH) has released a multilingual contraception resource, available in several languages. It includes information about how pregnancy and contraceptives work, lists all contraceptive methods including long-acting reversible contraception, and contact details for where to get help.
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Cultural Considerations in Health Assessment
This tip sheet lists issues that should be considered when conducting health assessments with clients from migrant and refugee backgrounds. These issues can affect a client’s health status and their understanding of health and illness, and also impact on future care plans.
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Contraception - Translated Fact Sheets
Better Health Channel has released translated fact sheets on contraception in a range of community languages.
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Abortion - Translated Fact Sheets
Better Health Channel has released translated fact sheets on abortion in a range of community languages.
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Safe Abortion - Low Literacy Instructions
Women on Waves have developed low-literacy instructions for safe medical abortion and abortion aftercare. This resource exists in nine languages.
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The Orange Door - Family Violence Resource
This document provides key information about The Orange Door, a new way to access services for women, children and young people who are experiencing family violence; and families who need support with the care of children or young people. The document is available in multiple languages. (Source: CEH)
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Published Papers and Articles
”It is good to know now... Before it’s too late”: Promoting sexual health literacy amongst resettled young people with refugee backgrounds
McMichael, C & Gifford, S 2009, Sexuality & Culture, vol. 13, pp. 218-236.
Narratives of sexual health risk and protection amongst young people from refugee backgrounds in Melbourne, Australia
McMichael, C & Gifford, S 2010, Culture, Health & Sexuality, vol. 12, pp. 263-277. McNair, R, Kavanagh, A, Agius, P & Tong, B 2005
Sexual and reproductive health communication among Sudanese and Eritrean women: an exploratory study from Brisbane, Australia
Rogers, C & Earnest, J 2015, Culture, Health & Sexuality, vol. 17, pp. 223-236
Young people from culturally diverse backgrounds and their use of services for sexual and reproductive health needs: a structured scoping review
Botfield, JR, Newman, CE & Zwi, AB 2015, Sexual Health, DOI: 10.1071/SH15090