Page 132 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 132
ko Prosen, Sabina Ličen, Urška Bogataj, Doroteja Rebec, and Igor Karnjuš
My husband does not support the use of contraceptives. [. . .] with us,
the husband decides about contraception use. [INTE_35_3_BIH]
Even though some of the migrant women are Muslim, it seems that reli-
gion does not impact reproductive freedom as much as one would expect.
A woman from Iran, for example, noted:
Contraception is, of course, available in Iran. They both (the husband
and wife) decide if they want to use it, if they want to have more chil-
dren or not. [INTE_33_1_IR]
Health-Related Practices
Besides contraception, to treat gynaecological problems some women use
complementary and alternative medicine methods. Certain methods may be
hazardous to their health:
I use homoeopathic medicines and other herbs. In Slovenia, they are
hard to get. It is easier in Ukraine, although some time ago they were
forbidden for use. Today, they are available again in Ukraine. [INTE_32_1
_UKR]
A woman from Russia described a similarly hazardous experience involv-
ing oral contraceptives:
I talked to my friends from Russia living here in Slovenia. They bring
something (meaning medication) from Russia, but I’m not sure whether
I will still need contraception or not (laughs). [INTE_37_1_RU]
On the other hand, a few women only use medications prescribed by a
medical doctor (school medicine) or over-the-counter medicines available
in pharmacies. The use of such medicines ranges from occasional use in ac-
cordance with the prescribed intake regime to excessive use:
When I have PMS (premenstrual syndrome) [. . .] it’s always unbearable
and at that time I eat quite a lot of analgesics (names an analgesic that
is available over the counter). [INTE_22_1_SRB]
Discussion
Evidence from this study focused on women’s description of their experi-
ences as patients in the health system of their host country (while looking
130
My husband does not support the use of contraceptives. [. . .] with us,
the husband decides about contraception use. [INTE_35_3_BIH]
Even though some of the migrant women are Muslim, it seems that reli-
gion does not impact reproductive freedom as much as one would expect.
A woman from Iran, for example, noted:
Contraception is, of course, available in Iran. They both (the husband
and wife) decide if they want to use it, if they want to have more chil-
dren or not. [INTE_33_1_IR]
Health-Related Practices
Besides contraception, to treat gynaecological problems some women use
complementary and alternative medicine methods. Certain methods may be
hazardous to their health:
I use homoeopathic medicines and other herbs. In Slovenia, they are
hard to get. It is easier in Ukraine, although some time ago they were
forbidden for use. Today, they are available again in Ukraine. [INTE_32_1
_UKR]
A woman from Russia described a similarly hazardous experience involv-
ing oral contraceptives:
I talked to my friends from Russia living here in Slovenia. They bring
something (meaning medication) from Russia, but I’m not sure whether
I will still need contraception or not (laughs). [INTE_37_1_RU]
On the other hand, a few women only use medications prescribed by a
medical doctor (school medicine) or over-the-counter medicines available
in pharmacies. The use of such medicines ranges from occasional use in ac-
cordance with the prescribed intake regime to excessive use:
When I have PMS (premenstrual syndrome) [. . .] it’s always unbearable
and at that time I eat quite a lot of analgesics (names an analgesic that
is available over the counter). [INTE_22_1_SRB]
Discussion
Evidence from this study focused on women’s description of their experi-
ences as patients in the health system of their host country (while looking
130
