Refugee women's reproductive health in early resettlement.
OBJECTIVE
To describe reproductive health needs and screening rates for breast and cervical cancer for newly arrived (less than 90 days) refugee women in the United States.


METHODS
A retrospective study of existing medical charts from 1996 to 2000.


METHODS
Refugee health screening clinic, central Texas.


METHODS
Refugee women (n = 283) newly arrived in the United States from Cuba (31.1%), Bosnia (26.1%), Vietnam (24.7%), and other countries (18.0%); age range = 18 to 74 years, mean age = 34.4 years.


METHODS
Frequency of reproductive health problems and breast and cervical cancer screening rates.


RESULTS
Twenty-five percent of women in the sample were pregnant or had a reproductive health problem. A significant percentage older than 40 (86%) had never had a mammogram when compared to American women of the same age (33%). Only 24% reported having had a Pap test within the previous 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
The risk of not receiving adequate reproductive health care is higher among newly arrived refugee women compared to nonrefugee women in the United States. For refugee women to enjoy optimum health, their individual needs and health care system issues must be addressed.
Barnes
Donelle M
DM
Harris School of Nursing, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 298620 Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA. d.barnes@tcu.edu
Harrison
Cara L
CL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000208:ethnology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003462:Cuba / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000592:standards; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014744:Vietnam / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000592:standards