The Health of Women from Refugee Backgrounds in Victoria, Australia

This thesis examines menopause, sexual health, and pelvic health among women from refugee backgrounds living in Australia. It shows that there is very little existing research on these health issues in refugee women. This thesis surveys refugee women living in Melbourne using health questionnaires in multiple languages. It finds that hot flushes, sexual difficulties and distress, and bladder and pelvic problems are common. It also shows that sexual distress and pelvic health problems are strongly linked to intimate partner abuse, rather than physical changes alone. This research highlights the need for culturally sensitive, trauma-informed healthcare to improve refugee women’s health outcomes.