Delivering Health Care to Refugee and Immigrant Women in Clarkston, GA: Opening a Women’s Clinic [28M]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Refugee women are a vulnerable population who experience barriers accessing healthcare and disparities in health outcomes. Eighty-five women from the Clarkston Community Health Center (CCHC), a primary care clinic serving an uninsured refugee and immigrant population, were surveyed using a women’s health needs assessment. Eighty-four percent of reproductive aged women experienced unmet family planning needs, 46% of women over 40 years had never had a mammogram, and 29% of women over 21 years had never had a pap smear. While the survey didn’t specifically address sexually transmitted infections (STIs), 38/82 (46%) requested access to STI screening. Lack of knowledge and access to care were cited as common barriers. METHODS: Using the CCHC infrastructure, funding from Emory School of Medicine, and volunteer community providers, we opened a women’s clinic in January 2017. We have collected data on number of patients, presenting complaints, services provided, and referrals. RESULTS: As of September 2017, the clinic has served 230 women. Out of the 185 women offering reasons for attending clinic, 24% presented for contraception, 14% for STI testing or treatment, 10% for Pap smears, 3% for breast complaints, and the other 49% for specific gynecologic complaints. We have performed 80 pap smears, tested or treated 63 women for STI’s, and provided 33 women with contraception. We have referred 46 women for mammograms or other evaluation. CONCLUSION: The needs assessment was critical to the development of the clinic. However, it underestimated the STI related needs of the population. This may be important to others considering a similar undertaking.