Enhancing Health Literacy Among Afghan Women in Iran: Addressing Barriers and Promoting Access to Healthcare

Health literacy plays a crucial role in determining health outcomes, especially for marginalized populations such as Afghan women in Iran. This research investigates the barriers that Afghan women face in improving their health literacy and accessing healthcare services. The study identifies key challenges such as language differences, cultural norms, socio-economic constraints, and gender-specific issues that hinder Afghan women's ability to navigate the Iranian healthcare system. Afghan women often speak Pashto or Dari, which creates significant communication barriers when interacting with healthcare providers who primarily speak Farsi. Cultural differences, such as the preference for traditional medicine and the stigmatization of seeking formal healthcare, particularly for reproductive or mental health, further complicate their ability to engage with the healthcare system. Additionally, socio-economic challenges, including financial insecurity and lack of social support, limit their access to medical services, health education, and preventive care. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys to assess the health literacy levels of Afghan women in Iran. The results revealed that a large percentage of Afghan women in the study had low health literacy, with significant barriers to understanding medical instructions, navigating health services, and engaging in health-promoting behaviors. The study suggests that enhancing health literacy in this population requires culturally sensitive interventions, including the development of multilingual health education materials, cultural competence training for healthcare providers, and community-based health education programs.Addressing these barriers will enable Afghan women to make informed health decisions, improve their access to healthcare, and ultimately enhance their overall health outcomes. This research contributes valuable insights into the role of health literacy in migrant populations and offers recommendations for improving healthcare access and health outcomes for Afghan women in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

health literacy ، Afghan women ، language barriers ، socio-economic challenges ، migrant health.