"She was my voice": Lived Experiences of Refugee Women of Reproductive Age With Interpreters During Resettlement in New Zealand

Abstract

Women of reproductive age are the most vulnerable refugees, often facing many risks while migrating to and resettling in their resettlement country. Women refugees are less likely to speak the language of their host country, often facing a language barrier as they enter a new environment in which they cannot communicate. As such, they rely on interpreters to help them access healthcare and other essential services. Although interpreters are crucial in facilitating communication, very few studies have reflected refugee women’s lived experiences by presenting their own perspectives. This research addresses an important gap by enabling refugee women of reproductive age to share their experiences of working with interpreters while resettling in New Zealand. By voicing their experiences, 19 refugee women from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Colombia provide valuable insights, allowing a deeper understanding of how they experienced interpreting services. By giving a voice to refugee women, this study makes a significant contribution towards more mindful and comprehensive language provision, health services and related industry practices for refugee and migrant communities. Ultimately this study enabled refugee women to voice their experiences, to better understand and improve the services offered to them as they settle in New Zealand.