Pregnant Women on the Move and the Response of the Slovenian Health System to Their Needs
Pregnant Women on the Move and the Response of the Slovenian Health System to Their Needs

Summary/Abstract: In the article we present our research on health care provided to female asylum seekers in Slovenia, and more specifically, analysis of some of their experiences when searching for medical help in the field of gynecology and obstetrics. In the introduction we briefly present general aspects of female migrations and discuss the complexity of pregnant migrants/refugees through a broader context, describing some crucial aspects of their health issues related to pregnancy. We then show how in the context of Slovene health care system their vulnerability is emphasized through three main levels of obstacles. Through qualitative research with ten asylum seekers we demonstrate that the first level of obstacles is due to their hindered access to healthcare institutions. Despite that legislation in Slovenia secures equal health rights to the majority of pregnant asylum seekers as to nationals, these women experience many difficulties when searching for health care. In the second level no dissemination of information concerning their entitlements and use of health service is exposed. With the third level we analyse language barriers that are related to language misunderstanding and the lack of professional interpreters/intercultural mediators.

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