Publications

Objectives: This study explored views of Moroccan migrant women
on barriers and facilitators to the organized breast cancer screening
program in Brussels (Belgium), and the potential of targeted printed
invitations to increase this population’s attendance to the program.
Methods: We conducted one expert interview with the breast cancer
screening program coordinator on current practices and challenges
with regards to ...

This dissertation aims to contribute to the critical studies on Harmful Cultural Practices (HCP). HCP is a humanitarian framework associated with the critique of cultural traditions that promote gender inequality, violating women’s right to health, life, dignity and personal integrity. The HCP framework is predominantly used to scrutinize women’s body management practices in non-Western societies. This dissertation sets its primary scope as ...

Cervical cancer screening (CCS) has been proven to reducing mortality of cervical cancer; yet migrant women show a lower participation in screening compared to non-migrants. This study explores the perspectives of healthcare workers and community workers on the factors influencing the CCS participation of migrant women living in Portugal. A qualitative study with online focus groups was conducted. Healthcare workers experienced in CCS and ...

Objective: HIV/AIDS among migrants from resource-limited countries remains a public health challenge in the European Union. There are about 13,352 people with HIV/AIDS receiving treatment in Belgium, of whom 4,550 are sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrant women. Yet research on the characteristics and sexual behaviour of these women remains patchy. We examine the sexual behaviour of SSA migrant women infected with HIV in Belgium. Methods: We ...

Antiretroviral treatment has significantly reduced AIDS-related deaths but the increased number of people
living with HIV/AIDS and experiencing stigma remains a global health challenge. Self-stigma deeply affects
the lives of people with HIV/AIDS and may thwart prevention efforts. This paper explores the drivers of selfstigma,
experiences and the coping strategies common to HIV-positive sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrant
women in ...

Spirituality/religion serves important roles in coping, survival and maintaining overall wellbeing within African cultures and communities, especially when diagnosed with a chronic disease like HIV/AIDS that can have a profound effect on physical and mental health. However, spirituality/religion can be problematic to some patients and cause caregiving difficulties. The objective of this paper was to examine the role of spirituality/religion as a ...

Patients with HIV not only have to deal with the challenges of living with an incurable disease
but also with the dilemma of whether or not to disclose their status to their partners,
families and friends. This study explores the extent to which sub-Saharan African (SSA) migrant
women in Belgium disclose their HIV positive status, reasons for disclosure/non-disclosure
and how they deal with HIV disclosure. A qualitative study ...

This article launches a frame to investigate the inequalities underlying the human rights violations migrant women may experience. Drawing on intersectionality theory and on Ratna Kapur's concept of 'normative boundaries of belonging', the article puts forward the notion of 'intersecting borders of inequality'. The notion interrogates three types of borders that may construe migrant women as outsiders or lesser members in society: formal, ...