420 Empowering refugee female healthcare workers: a community-driven approach to advancing equity and inclusion

Abstract OP 27: Refugees and Asylum Seekers 3, B210 (FCSH), September 4, 2025, 16:00 - 17:00 Aim Lebanon’s healthcare system is in crisis, disproportionately affecting informal healthcare workers, particularly refugee women who entered the health job market massively during the multicritical situation in Lebanon. These women play a crucial role in delivering essential health services within refugee communities but face systemic barriers, including gender discrimination, economic precarity, and exclusion from formal labor protections. This study examines a grassroots initiative advocating for the rights and well-being of female refugee informal health workers, promoting equity to reach a more just health system while enhancing their resilience and social cohesion. Methods A Participatory Action Research approach engaged Syrian refugee female healthcare workers employed informally in workshops to identify key challenges and co-develop interventions. As a result, the group decided to create a support group “Working Women”. Subsequent reflective meetings and focus group discussions assessed the impact of a refugee-led support network on participants’ self-efficacy, work conditions, and life quality. A thematic analysis was used to interpret the data Results PAR facilitated collective problem-solving, enabling women to advocate for their rights and operate collective services. Over 18 months, Working Women recruited 200 members, developed a strategic plan, and received training through local NGO partnerships. The group established a daycare network, engaged in advocacy for legal recognition and fair wages, and produced a documentary to raise awareness about their struggles. These efforts strengthened social activism and institutional linkages, enhancing their visibility within Lebanon’s health sector and facilitating their life and working conditions. Conclusion Grassroots initiatives like Working Women offer scalable solutions to integrate refugee women into healthcare services while fostering their economic and social resilience. Recognizing and institutionalizing their contributions is essential to building equitable and sustainable health systems. Policies must move beyond viewing refugee women as passive beneficiaries to acknowledging them as key stakeholders in shaping inclusive healthcare frameworks.