Perspectives on Preventive Health Care and Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening Among Iraqi Women Refugees

Since the Iraq war began in 2003, over 4 million Iraqis have been displaced. Little is known about preventive cancer care
in this population, but stark disparities have been documented. The purpose of this study was to assess the perspectives of
Iraqi women refugees on preventive care and perceived barriers to breast cancer screening. Interviews were conducted in Arabic
with twenty Iraqi refugee women by a bilingual (English/Arabic) medical student, transcribed, translated and coded according
to established qualitative content and thematic analysis procedures. Psychosocial barriers, culturally mediated beliefs, and
health consequences of war were identified as major themes, ultimately showing what factors, alone and collectively, have
impeded Iraqi refugee women’s ability and motivation to obtain breast cancer screening. To improve cancer prevention and decrease
disparities in care in this most vulnerable population, culturally appropriate health education and outreach programs, as
well as further community-level targeted studies, are needed.