Barriers to and Enablers of Preventive Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Among Women Seeking Asylum in Melbourne, Victoria: A Qualitative Study

Women seeking asylum experience markedly poorer health outcomes than refugees, other migrants, and host populations, with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs that are complex and multidimensional. This qualitative study explored the barriers to and enablers of accessing preventive SRH care among women seeking asylum in Australia. Between March 2022 and September 2023, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve women from eight countries. Using a socioecological framework, analysis revealed that access to preventive SRH care is shaped by intersecting factors at individual, interpersonal, community, and policy levels. Key barriers included limited knowledge of preventive care, psychosocial and financial constraints, fragmented health services, and restrictive immigration policies. Enabling factors included culturally concordant care, continuity with trusted general practitioners, and supportive community and social relationships. The findings underscore how structural and relational factors intersect to influence SRH access and highlight the need for coordinated, multi-level strategies to promote equitable SRH care for women seeking asylum in Australia.