Mediators of Health Literacy: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Stakeholder Experiences Supporting Women of Refugee Background From Myanmar in Western Australia

Refugee background populations face persistent health inequities in settlement countries, influenced by intersecting linguistic, cultural, gendered and structural barriers. These intersecting barriers can influence their access to and appraisal of health information, effectively impeding functional health literacy. Women of refugee background from Myanmar often draw upon trusted healthcare and settlement service providers, interpreters and community networks to help them navigate these barriers to accessing and making sense of health information. Little is known about how these stakeholders provide this support. Underpinned by participatory action research principles, this study aimed to explore community leaders’, service providers’ and interpreters’ experiences of facilitating health information access and understanding for women of refugee background from Myanmar living in Western Australia. Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 participants who were community leaders, service providers and interpreters, recruited by purposive and snowball sampling. Data analysis involved reflexive thematic analysis and member checking. Three themes and 11 subthemes were developed: (1) providing health information through conversation (subthemes: reciprocity facilitates an exchange of information; reciprocal conversations require trust; finding the language to communicate; limited information resources to support the conversation); (2) overcoming barriers to information access (subthemes: navigating services requires information and support; transport and location can enhance accessibility; reaching women through community networks) and (3) advocating for women to promote good health (subthemes: information empowers women with knowledge and skills; preparing women for the broader healthcare system; role‐modelling skills to promote self‐advocacy; investment to enhance community resources). In these themes, insights into participants’ experiences in mediating health literacy skills and navigating systemic inequities are revealed. Participant recommendations are presented with calls for improved health information resources in Myanmar languages, consistent interpreter engagement in primary healthcare and hospital settings, investment in community‐led partnerships and employment pathways.