OB-GYN Care for Afghans: A Toolkit for Clinicians
This toolkit is a resource for health care providers who provide obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) care to Afghan newcomers. The toolkit includes information regarding Afghanistan, health care and health outcomes in Afghanistan, traditional practices and cultural norms for pregnant and postpartum Afghan women, recommendations for providing OB-GYN care and general health care to new Afghan arrivals, and tools for providers and patients.
PDF for print:
Key Takeaways: OB-GYN Care for Afghans (PDF)
Key Takeaways: OB-GYN Care for Afghans (PDF)
Complete tool directory
Afghan Refugee and Humanitarian Parolee Health Profile
History, cultural beliefs, health concerns and priorities, health care and access, and more to consider when caring for or assisting Afghan refugees and humanitarian parolees.
History, cultural beliefs, health concerns and priorities, health care and access, and more to consider when caring for or assisting Afghan refugees and humanitarian parolees.
- Switchboard: Cultural and Practical Considerations for Working with Afghan Clients, Afghan History - Module 1
- Switchboard: Cultural Backgrounder: Afghan
- Switchboard: Who are the Afghan Newcomers Part I: Key Events in Recent Afghan History
- Switchboard: Who Are The Afghan Newcomers Part II: Social And Cultural Characteristics
- Switchboard: Who Are The Afghan Newcomers Part III: Transitioning To A U.S. Culture
- Switchboard: Who are the Afghan Newcomers? Understanding the Background and Socio-Cultural Strengths and Needs of Afghan Evacuees to the U.S.
Strengths-based approaches
- Dr. Vivian Chávez: Cultural Humility (YouTube)
- Switchboard: Who are the Afghan Newcomers? Understanding the Background and Socio-Cultural Strengths and Needs of Afghan Evacuees to the U.S.
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Being culturally and trauma-informed while assisting displaced Afghan families (PDF)
- University of Minnesota: Afghan Evacuees Health Resources
Cultural considerations
For providers
Afghan Refugee and Humanitarian Parolee Health Profile
History, cultural beliefs, health concerns and priorities, health care and access, and more to consider when caring for or assisting Afghan refugees and humanitarian parolees.
History, cultural beliefs, health concerns and priorities, health care and access, and more to consider when caring for or assisting Afghan refugees and humanitarian parolees.
- Switchboard: Cultural and Practical Considerations for Working with Afghan Clients, Gender & Gender Sensitive Services
- American Family Physician Journal: Caring for Muslim Patients Who Fast During Ramadan
- Switchboard: Cultural and Practical Considerations for Working with Afghan Clients, Cultural and Religious Considerations - Module 4
- De Gruyter: Animal-derived medications: cultural considerations and available alternatives
For patients
Health care navigation
For providers
- American College of Emergency Physicians: Quick Communication Guide for Afghan Patients
- Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health: Key Clinical and Cultural Considerations for the Domestic Medical Screening
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Afghan Men Supporting Women’s Wellness
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Healthy Spaces Toolkit
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Providing Culturally Sensitive Sexual and Reproductive Health Education for Newcomer Youth
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Sexual and Reproductive Health for Afghans
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Women’s Wellness
- Switchboard: Assisting Newcomers with Navigating the U.S. HealthCare System: An Introduction for Direct Service Providers
- Switchboard: Cultural and Practical Considerations for Working with Afghan Clients, Language & Working with Interpreters - Module 2
- Switchboard: Who are the Afghan Newcomers Part III: Transitioning to a U.S. Culture
- Switchboard: Problem-Solving Health Care Access Issues: Supporting Clients In Overcoming Common Obstacles
For patients
- Immunize.org: VIS Translations (Dari, Pashto)
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Healthcare Navigation Toolkit
- How to Get a Prescription (Dari, Pashto)
- Know Your Rights: For Dari Speakers (Dari)
- Know Your Rights: For Pashto Speakers (Pashto)
- Prescription Refills and Safety: For Dari Speakers (Dari)
- Prescription Refills and Safety: For Pashto Speakers (Pashto)
- Requesting an Interpreter: For Dari Speakers (Dari)
- Requesting an Interpreter: For Pashto Speakers (Pashto)
- Video Training for Newcomers
- University of California, Irvine: ReproNet Digital Library
- USAHello: What to expect at a women’s doctor appointment (Dari/Persian, Pashto)
Medical history
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Motivational Interviewing
- New York Health Department - Medical Providers’ Guide to Managing the Care of Domestic Violence Patients Within a Cultural Context (PDF)
- Page 25 includes tips for why, when, and how to have sensitive conversations with patients alone
Family planning
For providers
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Motivational Interviewing
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Sexual and Reproductive Health for Afghans
- Switchboard: Providing Culturally Sensitive Sexual and Reproductive Health Information for Newcomer Youth
For patients
Prenatal care
For providers
- Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health: Afghan Arrivals Pre- and Postnatal Care (YouTube)
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Orienting Afghan Newcomers to Prenatal Care and Delivery in the United States
For patients
- Immunize.org: VIS Translations (Dari, Pashto)
- Southeast Clinical Networks, NHS: Maternity information translations
- Switchboard: Afghan Nutrition Guide
Labor and delivery
For providers
- Southeast Clinical Networks, NHS: Maternity information translations
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Orienting Afghan Newcomers to Prenatal Care and Delivery in the United States
For patients
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Urgent Maternal Warning Signs Educational Materials (Dari, Pashto)
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: I Speak Cards (Dari, Pashto)
- Southeast Clinical Networks, NHS
- University of California, Irvine: ReproNet Digital Library
Postpartum care
For providers
For patients
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to bathe your newborn
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items Frequently Asked Questions
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Infant Formula Preparation and Storage
- Saint Luke's: Step-by-Step: Taking a Child's Rectal Temperature
- Southeast Clinical Networks, NHS
- University of California, Irvine: ReproNet Digital Library
Mental health
For providers
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Mental Health Refugee Health Domestic Guidance
- Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health: Afghan Humanitarian Arrivals: Post resettlement stressors, coping strategies, and the Afghan Symptom Checklist (YouTube)
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Mental Health Toolkit
- Stanford Medicine: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
- Switchboard: Facilitating Discussions About Mental Health with Afghan Newcomer Communities
- Switchboard: Faith-Based Healing Among Afghan Muslims: Guidance For Refugee Service Providers In The U.S.
- Switchboard: Panel Discussion on Faith-Based Healing and Coping Practices Among Afghan Muslims
- Switchboard: Psychological First Aid (PFA) to Support Clients Affected by the Crisis in Afghanistan (YouTube)
- Switchboard: Strengthening Family Resilience Among Afghan Newcomers
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network: Psychological first aid for displaced children and families
For patients
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Curated Health Resources
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Mental Health Toolkit
- Switchboard: Refugee Health Screener-15 (RHS-15) Packet (available in Dari and Pashto)
Lead toxicity
For providers
- Afghan Health Initiative: Lead Prevention Program
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Lead Poisoning
- Switchboard: Lead Poisoning Prevention
- Switchboard: Lead Poisoning Testing & Treatment
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Lead Screening During Pregnancy and Lactation
- Vermont Department of Health: Lead Poisoning Prevention Guidance for Parents and Caregivers
For patients
Connecting to other resources
For providers
- National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: HEAL Project (Dari, Pashto)
- The Administration for Children and Families: Key State Contacts
- The National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants: Commonly Requested Services and Supports
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Acknowledgements
This resource was created by a work group established by the Minnesota Center of Excellence in Newcomer Health. We thank our partners and collaborators:
- Atefa Aghaei, PhD, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health
- Jessica Deffler, MD, Thomas Jefferson University
- Ahmad Fahim Pirzada, MD, University of California Davis, Department of Public Health
- Nicole Glumac, RN, BSN, M Health Fairview Clinic Bethesda
- Ribhav Gupta, MS, MS4, University of Minnesota Medical School
- Rashika Kenchanoor Shetty, BS, University of Minnesota Medical School; Mobile Health Initiative
- Sarah Kuech, RN, MPH, MCHES, Minnesota Department of Health
- Blain Mamo, MPH, Minnesota Department of Health
- Samantha Pace, MD, Hennepin County Medical Center
- Kelly Reger, MD, University of Minnesota Medical School
- Sheila Roy, MD, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Lily Rubenstein, RN, BSN, PHN, Minnesota Department of Health
- Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, PhD, MPH, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Jamie Thompson, BA, Minnesota Department of Health
- Soma Yousofi, MD, Maternal Child Health Rescue, Inc.
The Minnesota Center for Excellence in Newcomer Health is supported by NU50CK000563 from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last Updated: 08/02/2024