Sterile Spaces: Unveiling Disparities in OB-GYN Care for Muslim and Immigrant Women

The exam room is silent except for the hum of fluorescent lights casting a sterile glow. For many, the hospital is a place of comfort, but for racialized communities, it often feels distant and impersonal, carrying undertones of mistrust. During clerkship, I see this mistrust in the eyes of my patients—women hesitant to voice their concerns in a foreign language, anxious in a healthcare system that doesn’t understand their culture. For them, hospitals are places of unfamiliarity, where they must balance modesty and identity while striving to be heard. This is a story of healthcare disparities and resilience—and the urgent need for a system that listens and adapts.

As a medical student from a racialized, first-generation immigrant and Muslim background, I am shaped by the stories of my community. The blend of racial, socioeconomic, cultural, and religious dimensions uniquely impacts OB-GYN care. This article explores the disparities facing these women and suggests ways to create more equitable and culturally competent healthcare.

Cultural Sensitivity: A Baseline of Respect
Many Muslim women have specific cultural and religious needs in OB-GYN settings. While Islam does not mandate female healthcare providers, cultural practices within many communities emphasize modesty and privacy, creating an expectation that can limit care access if unmet. A lack of female providers or flexible policies can discourage women from seeking care, delaying treatment and leading to adverse outcomes.
Viewing these challenges through intersectional feminism helps us understand the multifaceted experiences of Muslim and immigrant women, acknowledging how racial, religious, and socioeconomic factors impact healthcare access and outcomes. By considering these intersections, we can create compassionate, tailored healthcare approaches that honor diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.

Maternal Health Disparities
Racialized and immigrant women in Canada face significant maternal health disparities. Studies show higher rates of maternal mortality and severe complications, partially driven by socioeconomic barriers like lower income, lack of insurance, and limited understanding of the healthcare system. For many immigrant women in low-wage jobs, regular prenatal and postnatal care may be financially out of reach, increasing the risk of complications for mother and child.

Building Competency Through Policy and Education
As future healthcare providers, it’s essential to advocate for cultural competency training, policy changes, and community partnerships that address these systemic issues. Cultural competency training and community partnerships with community organizations allow providers to better understand the unique challenges racialized folks face, such as language or modesty barriers.
Mentorship and representation initiatives also help bridge the gap in care by supporting women from marginalized backgrounds who aspire to join the medical field. This promotes inclusivity within the healthcare field and inspires future providers to bring diverse insights and compassion to medicine.

Addressing Language Barriers
For immigrant women who aren’t fluent in English, navigating the healthcare system is a challenge. Medical terminology is complex, and misunderstandings can lead to poor health outcomes or even medical errors. In OB-GYN care, where clear communication is crucial, a lack of interpreter services can make it difficult to make informed decisions. Consent for procedures, birth plans, and pain management all require that the patient understands what is being communicated.
Many hospitals lack sufficient interpreter services, and some available interpreters may not speak the specific dialects patients require. This communication gap prevents many immigrant women from making fully informed decisions about their health. Improving access to trained interpreters and culturally relevant educational materials is essential for bridging this gap. As future providers, we can advocate for these resources to become standard in healthcare, ensuring patients are understood and empowered in their care.

The Need for Systemic Change
The disparities faced by Muslim and immigrant women in OB-GYN care stem from complex socioeconomic, racial, and cultural factors. Addressing these challenges requires collective effort across healthcare providers, policymakers, and educators to create a more inclusive healthcare system.
1. Cultural Competence Training: Medical education should emphasize cultural competence, training providers to communicate effectively with diverse populations. For Muslim women, this includes understanding modesty preferences, religious practices, and dietary restrictions, which can make a meaningful difference in patient care.
2. Expanding Interpreter Services: Healthcare systems must prioritize language accessibility, investing in medical interpreter services and multilingual educational materials. This enables women to make informed decisions based on consent and understanding.
3. Community Engagement and Education: Partnering with community leaders can improve health literacy and build trust among immigrant communities. Educational initiatives led by trusted figures help address cultural stigmas and promote preventive OB-GYN care.

In the sterile spaces of hospitals and clinics, where trust and intimacy should flourish, many women from my community encounter barriers rooted in misunderstanding and prejudice. These aren’t just walls; they’re complex mazes of challenges in a system that wasn’t built with them in mind. Recognizing and addressing these needs is not just about providing care but about respecting, empowering, and truly seeing the people we serve.

Acknowledgments
To my little sister, Judy—may your life be filled with mentors and people who hold space for you and support you, the way you do for me. Your presence has been a source of strength and stability, and I am endlessly grateful for the joy and perspective you bring to my life.