Health perceptions and lived vulnerabilities of undocumented migrant women living in settlements in southern Spain: An interpretative phenomenological study

• The study explores the experiences of undocumented migrant women living in informal settlements from a gender and intersectional perspective. • Five main categories were identified: perceptions and beliefs about health; precarious living conditions; insecurity and environmental risks; job insecurity and employment barriers; and difficulties in accessing basic services. • Adverse living conditions and irregular administrative status negatively affect the health and well-being of these women. • The need for gender-sensitive public policies is highlighted in order to address the complexity of their situation and improve the social and healthcare response for this vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of residing in a settlement as an undocumented migrant woman from a gender and intersectional perspective, focusing on their health perceptions as well as on living conditions directly related to health. Drawing on an interpretive phenomenological approach, nine semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2023 with African women with undocumented status living in settlements in southern Spain. Participants were recruited through a snowball sampling strategy, and data collection was carried out until discourse saturation was reached. Five superordinate themes were identified: perceptions and beliefs about health; living conditions; insecurity and environmental risks within the settlement; job insecurity and barriers to employment; and difficulties in accessing basic services. This study contributes to advancing health research by incorporating a gender and intersectional perspective that enhances the understanding of migrant women's needs to improve social and healthcare services. It also highlights the urgent need for public policies that address this complex reality through an integrative and gender-sensitive approach.