Health care of refugee women.

BACKGROUND: Women refugees have endured major discrimination and poverty in their countries of origin or countries of displacement. This has had a major impact on their physical and psychological health. The experience of resettlement places a further burden on their health.

OBJECTIVE: This article aims to provide a simple approach to the health assessment and management of women refugees, taking into account specific issues related to migration and resettlement.

DISCUSSION: Because of the complexities of their realities related to gender, social and economic status, and premigration and resettlement experiences, women refugees need a multiplicity of health interventions. The identification of the major physical and psychological health issues with consideration of gender issues and premigration and resettlement experiences, represents more adequate basis for the assessment and management of the health care of women refugees.