Researchers interviewed 19 international women studying at a university in Brazil to understand their health challenges. The women wanted to eat well, exercise, take care of their mental health, and get reproductive health care, but faced real obstacles. Money was tight, they missed traditional herbs from home, and they didn’t have enough time. Many also didn’t have accurate information about sexual health and felt uncomfortable accessing health services. The study shows that migrant students need better support that respects their cultural backgrounds while helping them stay healthy in their new country.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How migrant women who are studying at university take care of their health and what makes it difficult for them
  • Who participated: 19 international women students from different countries attending a public university in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, studied between April and August 2024
  • Key finding: While these women understood the importance of healthy eating, exercise, mental health care, and reproductive health, they struggled to actually do these things because of money problems, cultural differences, missing familiar foods and herbs, and not having enough time
  • What it means for you: If you’re a student moving to a new country, know that your health challenges are real and common—universities and health services should offer better support that understands your cultural background. This research suggests services need to be more welcoming and provide accurate health information.

The Research Details

This was a qualitative study, which means researchers asked open-ended questions rather than testing a specific hypothesis with numbers. The researchers interviewed 19 migrant women students and listened carefully to their stories and experiences. They used a framework called Symbolic Interactionism, which focuses on how people’s behaviors are shaped by their interactions with others and their culture. The interviews happened over five months (April through August 2024), and the researchers organized the information they collected into themes or patterns to understand common experiences.

This research approach is important because health care isn’t one-size-fits-all. By listening to women’s actual experiences rather than just collecting numbers, researchers can understand the real barriers they face. This helps health services design better support that actually works for migrant students instead of assuming what they need.

This study is small (19 women) and focused on one university in Brazil, so the findings may not apply to all migrant women everywhere. However, the detailed interviews provide rich, real-world insights. The study was recent (2024) and used established research methods. Readers should understand this describes experiences in this specific region and may differ in other places.

What the Results Show

The women in this study recognized that healthy behaviors were important. They wanted to eat balanced meals, exercise regularly, care for their mental health, and use natural plants and herbs—many from their home countries. However, several major barriers prevented them from doing these things. Money was a significant problem; many couldn’t afford healthy food or gym memberships. They also struggled with cultural adaptation, missing the familiar foods and traditional herbs available in their home countries. Time was another challenge—balancing school, work, and other responsibilities left little room for health care. Sexual and reproductive health was a particular concern. Many women had incomplete or incorrect information about contraception, sexually transmitted infections, and gynecological care. They also faced cultural taboos around discussing these topics and felt uncomfortable or unwelcome at health clinics.

The research revealed that migrant women wanted to maintain their cultural values while adapting to their new environment, but this balance was difficult. Health services in the area weren’t designed with migrant students in mind—they didn’t provide culturally sensitive care or information in ways that made sense to these women. The lack of accessible, trustworthy health information meant women weren’t getting important preventive care like STI testing and regular gynecological check-ups. Mental health care was recognized as important but was rarely accessed.

This research adds to existing knowledge about how migration affects health. Previous studies have shown that migrant populations face health disparities, but this study specifically highlights how cultural factors, financial barriers, and lack of tailored services affect young women in educational settings. It confirms what other research suggests: that one-size-fits-all health services don’t work well for diverse populations.

The study included only 19 women from one university in Brazil, so the findings may not apply to migrant women in other countries or settings. The research was qualitative, meaning it describes experiences rather than measuring how many women face each problem. The researchers didn’t follow these women over time, so we don’t know if their health behaviors or access to care changed. Additionally, the study was conducted in a specific border region with unique characteristics, which may differ from other areas.

The Bottom Line

Universities and health services should: (1) Provide culturally sensitive health education that respects migrant students’ backgrounds, (2) Offer affordable or free reproductive health services and accurate information about sexual health, (3) Hire staff who understand migrant experiences or provide cultural competency training, (4) Make mental health support easily accessible, (5) Provide information in multiple languages. Confidence level: Moderate—based on qualitative research with a small group, but the findings align with broader research on migrant health.

University administrators and health service providers should prioritize this. Migrant students and their families will find this relevant. Policy makers working on international student support should consider these findings. Health educators and counselors working with diverse populations should understand these barriers. People who aren’t migrant students may not need to apply these findings directly but should understand the challenges migrant peers face.

Changes in health behaviors and access to care would likely take several months to show results, depending on how quickly universities and health services implement improvements. Individual women might see benefits from better information and access within weeks to months.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly: (1) Number of meals with balanced nutrition, (2) Minutes of physical activity, (3) Mental health check-ins (mood rating 1-10), (4) Reproductive health appointments or screenings completed. This helps migrant students monitor progress on the health behaviors they identified as important.
  • Use the app to: Set reminders for affordable physical activities available on campus, log culturally appropriate meals you can access, find mental health resources specifically for international students, schedule and track reproductive health appointments, and access reliable sexual health information in your language.
  • Monthly review of health behavior trends. Set goals based on what’s realistic given time and financial constraints. Connect with other migrant students through the app for support and shared resources. Track barriers you encounter (cost, time, cultural adjustment) to identify patterns and problem-solve. Share feedback with university health services about what would help you most.

This research describes the experiences of 19 migrant women at one university in Brazil and may not apply to all migrant populations or settings. The findings are based on interviews and observations, not clinical testing. If you’re a migrant student struggling with health care access, speak with your university health center, student services, or a trusted health provider about your specific situation. This article is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice. If you have concerns about sexual or reproductive health, seek care from a qualified health provider regardless of your migration status.