Working with refugees: Health education and communication issues in a child health clinic

Abstract

Objective To explore the views of a group of Turkish and Kurdish women refugees about child feeding issues and communication with health professionals in a child health clinic.

Design This was a qualitative study using focus groups.

Setting A four partner general practice surgery in North London with a large Turkish and Kurdish refugee practice population.

Method Three focus groups were set up at the surgery recruiting women who had children aged under five. Twenty-four women participated. Group meetings were audiotaped, translated and transcribed.

Results Four themes emerged from analysis of transcriptions of the groups. These were: anxiety about feeding, cultural issues around nutrition and diet, social and psychological issues and concerns about communication with health professionals.

Conclusion Even with good advocacy provision and appropriately translated health education information, communication problems can remain. Social isolation and relationship problems were frequently referred to in the groups but not as often presented in clinic. The women had very good knowledge of healthy eating and the importance of nutrition but expressed anxiety about feeding and behavioural problems in their children. They also had more complex worries than those initially presented in clinic and required a more holistic approach to child health education than they were given.