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Refugee Reproductive Health Network (ReproNet)

The network serves as a hub for students, advocates, refugee women, and researchers working to integrate refugee women’s health issues and concerns into their research, events, and programs.
April 2026
Apr 12
Apr 12, 2026 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Public Health Program Annual Spring Symposium
Touro University California (TUC) Campus Farragut Inn Ballroom, 1310 Club Drive, Mare Island
Vallejo, CA 94592 United States
Find out more
June 2026
Jun 26
Jun 26, 2026 June 26 - June 28
International Refugee and Migration Health Conference
Sheraton San Diego Resort, 1380 Harbor Island Drive
San Diego, CA 92101 United States
Find out more
November 2026
Nov 01
Nov 01, 2026 All day
American Public Health Association Conference
APHA, San Antonio, Texas
Find out more
Full Calendar

Latest Resources

MHI
Hepatitis B Women’s Reproductive Health
Hep B (Pashto)
This video explains hepatitis B vaccines including eligibility, side effects, and more.
View Resource
MHI
Hepatitis B Women’s Reproductive Health
Hep B (Dari)
This video explains hepatitis B vaccines including eligibility, side effects, and more.
View Resource
Screenshot 2025-03-20 at 11.13
Women’s Reproductive Health
Introduction to Menopause [Arabic]
This video discusses the significance of menopause transition and its impact on women’s health in Arabic.
View Resource
Screenshot 2025-03-20 at 11.12
Women’s Reproductive Health
Introduction to Menopause [English]
This video discusses the significance of menopause transition and its impact on women’s health.
View Resource

About ReproNet

ReproNet is a University of California–led network dedicated to advancing reproductive health equity for refugee and immigrant communities. Founded in 2019 by the University of California, Irvine, and partner UC campuses, ReproNet works in partnership with refugee communities, providers, and organizations to deliver culturally and linguistically responsive reproductive health education, tools, and training.

Since 2010, more than 685,000 refugees and Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders have resettled in the United States, over half of whom are women and girls of reproductive age. Many face barriers to accessing essential reproductive and obstetric care, including prenatal and postnatal care, contraception, and abortion services. These challenges are often compounded by language barriers, cultural differences, limited
health literacy, and unfamiliarity with the U.S. health care system.

ReproNet, University of California, Irvine

Principal Investigator Heike Thiel de Bocanegra, PHD, MPH

Adjunct Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology

hthiel@hs.uci.edu

Community Impact

Since 2020, ReproNet has delivered over 50 reproductive health literacy sessions on cervical cancer, family planning, and maternal and postpartum health through cultural orientation programs at World Relief, reaching refugee Afghan women across seven cohorts. Program evaluations show that participants not only increased knowledge, but also took meaningful health actions for themselves and others.

“I shared what I learned about miscarriage and its reasons with a sibling who is dealing with this problem, ensuring she knows not to blame herself.”

“Some neighbors were afraid of Pap smear exams. I explained the importance and encouraged them to get screened as soon as possible.”

“One neighbor experienced postpartum depression. I supported her in visiting the clinic and sharing her situation with a doctor.”

These experiences highlight how culturally responsive reproductive health education empowers refugee women to support their families and communities.

Supporting Timely Care

ReproNet’s resources also support timely health care–seeking in clinical settings.

“While working in a local emergency department, I encountered an Arabic-speaking patient with postpartum bleeding who shared that she had seen a ReproNet video encouraging her to seek care. Seeing how these resources directly supported a patient in seeking timely care was incredibly meaningful.”
— AH, 2022–2023 UCI Reproductive Health Equity Scholar

In response to COVID-19, ReproNet expanded digital and virtual approaches to continue engaging refugee communities safely and effectively.

Goals

Strengthen refugee/academic community partnerships by creating an interactive reproductive health network between academic centers, refugee communities, and refugee service providers.
Engage in dialogue with female and male refugees to capture experiences and preferences for RH services
Improve refugee reproductive health literacy (RHL) through a publicly available digital library of multilingual reproductive health resources, in-person and virtual reproductive health literacy (RHL) classes, and provider-capacity building.

What We Do

ReproNet regularly hosts women’s health sessions in California. In collaboration with local refugee communities, ReproNet has cultivated profound relationships to engage in meaningful conversations with refugee women about their reproductive health preferences over the past four years.

500+
Refugee Women Served
10
Presentations at national conferences, webinars, and regional networks.
60+
Online and in-person reproductive health sessions held
Worked with California Office of Refugee Health on integrating pregnancy intention and contraceptive use question into refugee health assessment
30+
ReproNet partners
2
Peer-review publications

Our Partners

The Refugee Reproductive Health Network (ReproNet) received funding from the Patient Outcome Research Institute 14471-UCI-IC , the National Library of Medicine G08 LM014109, and private donations.

References
  1. Center of Excellence in Refugee Health – Minnesota Department of Health.
    http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/refugee/coe/index.html. Accessed December 15, 2018.
  2. Burns K, Male S, Pierotti D. The reproductive health of refugees. Int Fam Plan Perspective
    [Internet]. 2000 [cited 2019 Feb 22];26. Available from: https://search.proquest.com/openview/465ecc90f50d14bcf112eaef27ee3b36/1?cbl=51907&pq-origsite=gscholar
  3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Refugee women and children face heightened risk of sexual violence amid tensions and overcrowding at reception facilities on Greek islands [Internet]. UNHCR. 2018 [cited 2018 Mar 9]. Available from: http://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2018/2/5a7d67c4b/refugee-women-children-face-heightened-risk-sexual-violence-amid-tensions.html
  4. Thiel de Bocanegra H, Carter-Pokras O, Ingleby JD, Pottie K, Tchangalova N, Allen SI, Smith-Gagen J, Hidalgo B. Addressing refugee health through evidence-based policies: a case study. Ann Epidemiol. 2018 Jun;28(6):411-419. doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2017.05.010.Epub 2017 May 12. PMID: 28554498; PMCID: PMC5682239.7. Barnes DM, Harrison CL. Refugee women's reproductive health in early resettlement. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2004. 33(6): p. 723-8.
  5. Barnes DM, Harrison CL. Refugee women's reproductive health in early resettlement. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs, 2004. 33(6): p. 723-8.
  6. Gagnon AJ, Wahoush O, Dougherty G, Saucier JF, Dennis CL, Merry L, Stanger E, Stewart DE. The childbearing health and related service needs of newcomers (CHARSNN) study protocol. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2006 Dec 26;6:31. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-6-31. PMID: 17190589; PMCID: PMC1797193.
  7. Thiel de Bocanegra H, Khan N, Mody S, Goliaei Z, Banna S. Community readiness for virtual health engagement – Brief. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute 2021; 1–5. Available at: https://www.pcori.org/sites/default/files/Community-Readiness-for-Virtual-Health-Engagement.pdf

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