Post-resettlement health services: An exploration of perceptions and behaviors of women in the Bhutanese refugee community

Introduction: Extant research investigating the health perceptions and behaviors of Bhutanese refugees is limited, especially in regards to Bhutanese women. The purpose of the current research was to explore Bhutanese women’s perceived experiences with health services received post-resettlement as well as their post-resettlement health care practices and continued use of pre-resettlement health behaviors.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized in the current study. Three audio-recorded focus groups were conducted with Nepali-speaking women in the Bhutanese refugee community. Participants were also asked to complete a demographic questionnaire. English transcripts were coded and analyzed using a grounded theory, constant comparison approach.

Results: A total of 32 Bhutanese women participated in the focus groups. Perceptions of post-resettlement health services were generally positive despite reports of chronic, sometimes undertreated health conditions. Difficulties identifying insurance and paying for services, obtaining reliable transportation, overcoming language/communication barriers, and successfully addressing chronic health conditions were frequently reported. Current health practices were limited to adherence to prescribed treatments and low-intensity physical activity. Participants also expressed a continued desire to utilize traditional, pre-resettlement medical practices.

Conclusions: Bhutanese women’s challenges to receiving health care services parallel the barriers experienced by other refugee populations. Health educators and health professionals should consider such barriers when designing and implementing health programs and offering health services to individuals in the Bhutanese refugee community. Additional research is warranted to better understand the social and economic ramifications of poor health outcomes within this community.