Iraqi Muslim Women and Primary Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives and Experiences in the Clinic Visit in the Western United States

Abstract

Immigrants to the U.S. are subject to healthcare disparities due to differences in language, culture, religion, and gender. Clinic visits are particularly challenging for both health providers and patients due to communication barriers, expectations of the visit that are informed by past experiences, strongly held values, and gender. This qualitative study used critical ethnography and postcolonial feminism to explore perceptions and experiences of 15 Iraqi Muslim women with refugee backgrounds and 10 primary healthcare providers as they shared about their clinical encounters. Semi-structured interviews and field notes were analyzed with a postcolonial feminist framework that highlighted perspectives of health providers and Iraqi Muslim women in regard to representation, gender, and values. Health providers were aware of the need for gender-concordant care and preservation of modesty for Muslim patients. Gaps in care stemmed from a need for greater understanding of values and expectations. Improvement in the quality of care requires a venue for open discourse between providers, staff, and patients to improve mutual understanding.