Health-Seeking Behavior of Afghan Women Immigrants: An Ethnographic Study

Abstract Background: Nowadays, in light of gender inequity, new concern has been raised for health-seeking behavior of women in clinical setting. The aim of this study was to investigate the perceptions and health-seeking behaviors of Afghan immigrant women residing in Mashhad, Iran. Method: An ethnographic design was used to examine the health-seeking behavior of Afghan women. This study took place in Tollab Tabarsi area of Mashhad, Iran, from March 2013 to July 2014. For gathering of data, participant observations, fieldwork, and formal interviews were included. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Fourteen Afghan women immigrants and five health care professionals were interviewed. The overarching category derived from the data was gender inequity. The emergent three themes were cultural taboos, women position, and information gap. Discussions: The displaced Afghan women were found to be at significant risk of adverse health events, which affected both their physical health and mental health. Keywords: Afghan women; gender; health-seeking behavior; immigrants; inequality