Maternal Health Understandings and Experiences of Bhutanese Refugee Women Pre- and Post-Settlement: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

Refugee maternal health is an under-studied area in health science research since refugee women have complex health histories that consistently change throughout their resettlement journey. This study examined setting-based maternal health understanding among Bhutanese refugee women resettled in Greensboro, NC. We utilized qualitative case-study methods to examine n = 12 interviews within three different cases based on birth settings. Themes around women’s experiences of familial support, impact of setting-based maternal health access, and quality of care experienced were significant findings. Study aims were to help providers improve patient-provider interaction in relaying adequate care information and assess women’s pre-settlement health history for appropriate care.