Attitudes Towards Family Planning among Bhutanese, Burmese, and Iraqi Refugee Women: A Qualitative Study

The number of foreign-born people living in the United States continues to increase yearly. Foreign-born women in the United States, a group that includes both refugees and immigrants, continue to have higher birth rates when compared to their US-born counterparts. This study examines the cultural and socioeconomic factors influencing family planning choices of resettled refugee women living in the United States. Thirty-two Bhutanese, Burmese, and Iraqi women living in Philadelphia participated in interviews and focus groups. A grounded theory approach was used for analysis. Three overarching themes were identified: knowledge acquisition and experiential learning with trans-border migration and resettlement, changes in gender roles and family relations, and provider relationships and provision of care. Findings from the study show that a stable environment results in increased opportunities and personal freedoms, a sense of empowerment, and the desire for family planning. Women want to discuss options, but healthcare providers must begin the conversation. As health care providers in Hawai'i, a state with about 18% of residents being foreign-born, what can be learned from the Philadelphia refugee experience and family planning?