Page 38 - S. Ličen, I. Karnjuš, & M. Prosen (Eds.). (2019). Women, migrations and health: Ensuring transcultural healthcare. Koper, University of Primorska Press.
P. 38
ž Lenarčič and Mateja Sedmak
especially vulnerable group, which should have guaranteed early access to
reproductive health services, preventive health services, health promotion,
screening and diagnostic care, as well as prenatal and obstetric services. Un-
fortunately, as reported by Keyganert et al. (2014), compared with the general
EU population, migrant women from non-EU Member States are less often
screened for cervical and breast cancer, have less access to family planning
and contraception and a lower uptake of gynecological care, are more at
risk of unintended pregnancies, have fewer and later antenatal care visits,
have poorer pregnancy outcomes and higher infant and maternal mortal-
ity rates. Because entitlements to health services are based on legal status,
and because migrant women usually face communication obstacles and are
subjected to discriminatory practices and lack of cultural understanding, the
consequence is their limited access to a range of (reproductive) health infor-
mation, goods, facilities and services (Bofulin & Bešter, 2010).
The aim of this chapter is to present an overview of the current situation
of migrant women in Slovenia with regard to reproductive health through
(1) a presentation of the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of
migrant women, (2) a review of national legislation regulating the area of re-
productive health (for migrant women), (4) a review of scientific literature
dealing with the issue and (5) a presentation of existing best practices.
Demographic, Social and Economic Characteristics
of Migrant Women in Slovenia
The available statistical data¹ reveal a relatively low prevalence of migrant
women in Slovenia. The highest percentages of migrant women are from
other states of former Yugoslavia. Slovenia is not the final destination for
those who, for various reasons, migrate to Europe from other continents.
Slovenia is a small country, economically not very developed and less rec-
ognized in the wider political arena. Consequently, for economic, political,
climate or other reasons, the number of immigrants coming to Slovenia is
not high in comparison with other EU countries. The same is true when we
look at the immigration of women.
In Slovenia, as already mentioned, immigration from the states of former
Yugoslavia prevail, which started mostly for economic reasons back in the
1960s and 1970s. Slovenia faced a bigger migration wave, especially from the
territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the 1990s due to the war in Balkan
¹ Statistical data were obtained from the Slovenian national statistical agency (SURS, see http://
pxweb.stat.si).
36
especially vulnerable group, which should have guaranteed early access to
reproductive health services, preventive health services, health promotion,
screening and diagnostic care, as well as prenatal and obstetric services. Un-
fortunately, as reported by Keyganert et al. (2014), compared with the general
EU population, migrant women from non-EU Member States are less often
screened for cervical and breast cancer, have less access to family planning
and contraception and a lower uptake of gynecological care, are more at
risk of unintended pregnancies, have fewer and later antenatal care visits,
have poorer pregnancy outcomes and higher infant and maternal mortal-
ity rates. Because entitlements to health services are based on legal status,
and because migrant women usually face communication obstacles and are
subjected to discriminatory practices and lack of cultural understanding, the
consequence is their limited access to a range of (reproductive) health infor-
mation, goods, facilities and services (Bofulin & Bešter, 2010).
The aim of this chapter is to present an overview of the current situation
of migrant women in Slovenia with regard to reproductive health through
(1) a presentation of the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of
migrant women, (2) a review of national legislation regulating the area of re-
productive health (for migrant women), (4) a review of scientific literature
dealing with the issue and (5) a presentation of existing best practices.
Demographic, Social and Economic Characteristics
of Migrant Women in Slovenia
The available statistical data¹ reveal a relatively low prevalence of migrant
women in Slovenia. The highest percentages of migrant women are from
other states of former Yugoslavia. Slovenia is not the final destination for
those who, for various reasons, migrate to Europe from other continents.
Slovenia is a small country, economically not very developed and less rec-
ognized in the wider political arena. Consequently, for economic, political,
climate or other reasons, the number of immigrants coming to Slovenia is
not high in comparison with other EU countries. The same is true when we
look at the immigration of women.
In Slovenia, as already mentioned, immigration from the states of former
Yugoslavia prevail, which started mostly for economic reasons back in the
1960s and 1970s. Slovenia faced a bigger migration wave, especially from the
territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the 1990s due to the war in Balkan
¹ Statistical data were obtained from the Slovenian national statistical agency (SURS, see http://
pxweb.stat.si).
36
