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Article
Publication date: 11 January 2024

Sou Hyun Jang, Yong Jeong Yi and Yun-Mi Song

The primary objective was to develop a user-centered mobile health application (app) tailored to the specific health information needs of among immigrant women from diverse…

Abstract

Purpose

The primary objective was to develop a user-centered mobile health application (app) tailored to the specific health information needs of among immigrant women from diverse backgrounds in Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

In-depth interviews were conducted with 24 immigrant women to gain insights into their health information-seeking behavior. Based on the findings, a mobile app was designed and developed. A beta version of the app underwent validation by an MD and seven expert reviewers who assessed the app for content accuracy and conformance to mobile heuristics. Last, immigrant women (n = 12) evaluated the usability of the app.

Findings

The study revealed that the interviewed immigrant women had strong health information needs related to pregnancy and parenting. Most of them used multiple sources to find and verify health information. Language barriers were identified as a major obstacle to accessing and evaluating health information. The results of the user test indicated that the app effectively facilitated study participants' search for reliable health information, meeting their specific needs.

Research limitations/implications

This research extended the literature by addressing the limited availability of mobile apps tailored to the health information needs of immigrant women in Korea.

Originality/value

By incorporating multilingual support and focusing on pregnancy and parenting information, the health app serves as a valuable tool to bridge the gap in health information access and to facilitate the well-being of immigrant women in the country.

Article
Publication date: 1 November 2023

Keri Elliott Revens, Lennin Caro, Sarai Guerrero Ordonez, Amanda Walsh and Daniel Alvarez-Orlachia

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Latinos across the United States though data on emerging immigrant communities is lacking. The purpose of this study is to better…

Abstract

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted Latinos across the United States though data on emerging immigrant communities is lacking. The purpose of this study is to better understand how Latino immigrants were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing a community health clinic in Charlotte, North Carolina to quickly respond to their needs.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed method, rapid appraisal using community-based participatory research approaches conducted in February to April 2021 by a team of bilingual researchers. Project consisted of a Spanish, electronic survey distributed through community leaders and in-person interviews conducted in Spanish at COVID-19 vaccine clinics. SPSS Version 26 was used for quantitative analysis. Ordinal and binary logistic regression tests were performed to assess the associations among several outcome and four predictor variables: documentation status, status of health insurance, level of trust in the vaccine and place of birth. Qualitative analysis used rapid appraisal and grounded theory approaches.

Findings

Latino immigrants experienced job and income loss, resulting in difficulty paying for food, housing and health care. Participants experienced emotional and financial stress and isolation from family. Undocumented immigrants were more likely to experience detrimental impacts than documented immigrants. Most wanted the vaccine but felt barriers like trust and insurance may prevent them.

Research limitations/implications

Findings from this study are locally relevant to Latino immigrants living in the Charlotte area of North Carolina and findings may not be generalizable to other Latinos. Participants were recruited through faith networks and those who are not connected may not be represented. In addition, interview participants were sampled during vaccination clinics and likely had positive views of the vaccine.

Practical implications

As a direct result of this project, community health clinic (CHC) held vaccination clinics to instill more confidence in the vaccination process. Spanish-speaking staff were available to assist with paperwork and answer questions onsite. The importance of familismo in decision-making and the reported presence of misinformation about the vaccine prompted CHC to continue providing accurate information about the vaccine in Spanish, and to strategize marketing materials to reflect a family-centric approach to better appeal to Latinos. Findings were used to obtain funding for expansion of clinical and behavioral health services in the community through mobile units, increasing accessibility for Latino immigrants.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this was the first study to examine the effects of the pandemic on a growing and disproportionately underrepresented group in an emerging immigrant state. Findings informed culturally competent COVID-19 vaccine clinics, marketing strategies and the expansion of medical and behavioral health services for a local community clinic.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 19 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 November 2023

Athanasios Michalis, Demosthenes B. Panagiotakos, Apostolos Papadopoulos and Vassiliki Costarelli

The study aims to have adults discuss experiences, practices needs and feelings related to health management, diet and food security.

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to have adults discuss experiences, practices needs and feelings related to health management, diet and food security.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 22 immigrants were recruited from the Open School of Immigrants in Piraeus, Attica, Greece, to participate in focus group discussions. The discussions were audio recorded and thematically analyzed. Three major themes were developed: pathways to health care, nutrition management and experiences related to food shortages.

Findings

Most of the participants identified internet as the most commonly used way to obtain health advice; they also stated that unexpected ill-health is usually accompanied by feelings of fear, anxiety and loneliness. Immigrants, who had visited a public hospital in Greece, identified the language barrier as the most challenging issue, followed by the long waiting lists. Fear and anxiety of hospital visits was an important factor in their decision to vaccinate against COVID-19. Lack of time, high cost of healthy food and lack of knowledge were the most common obstacles to a healthy diet. One in two immigrants reported that they have faced food insecurity issues in the past. Stress, psychological distress and irritation were reported, due to food shortages, especially during the first few years of arriving in Greece. The exclusion of some foods, reduced portion sizes and buying cheaper foods were among the coping strategies to address food shortages.

Originality/value

The study offers an insight into immigrant’s experiences, practices and feelings about managing health issues and could be useful for health-care practitioners, researchers and policymakers.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 20 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 July 2023

Cansu Karadeniz Benli and Özen Kulakaç

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived social support on postpartum depression (PPD) in Arab immigrant mothers and Turkish mothers.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived social support on postpartum depression (PPD) in Arab immigrant mothers and Turkish mothers.

Design/methodology/approach

This descriptive study was conducted with 140 mothers between September 2017 and January 2018. The data was collected via the Turkish and Arabic versions of the sociodemographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Percentage and arithmetic mean calculations, independent samples t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, paired logistic regression analysis backward elimination method and Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to analyze the data.

Findings

The data revealed that the risk of PPD was twice as high in Arab immigrant mothers (56.3%) compared to Turkish mothers (29%). The EPDS mean score was 12.37 ± 6.28 for Arab immigrant mothers and 8.81 ± 5.48 for Turkish mothers. The social support mean score was found to be 50.70 ± 19.27 for Arab immigrant mothers and 61.41 ± 16.51 for Turkish mothers. The independent risk factors for Turkish mothers included mother’s age, monthly income level and infant’s age, while the independent risk factors for Arab immigrant mothers included number of children, husband’s status of employment and access to regular medical care during pregnancy. The negative correlation between EPDS and social support overall scores and subscale scores was found to be significant for both groups.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study on the impact of social support on PPD in Arab immigrant and Turkish women in the national and international literature. The study helped reveal the correlation between perceived social support and PPD, the PPD risk rates and risk factors according to citizenship status for the first time.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 19 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 July 2024

Violeta Alarcão, Pedro Candeias, Miodraga Stefanovska-Petkovska, Sónia Pintassilgo and Fernando Luís Machado

A growing body of evidence suggests that experiences of discrimination may affect physical and mental health through multiple pathways. This paper aims to characterize the extent…

Abstract

Purpose

A growing body of evidence suggests that experiences of discrimination may affect physical and mental health through multiple pathways. This paper aims to characterize the extent of everyday perceived discrimination among Brazilian and Cape Verdean immigrant adults in Portugal, to identify its forms and analyze its association with mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on data from the EQUALS4COVID19 (Equity in health in times of pandemic) project that implemented a cross-sectional survey combining online and face-to-face questionnaires for data collection between February and November 2022.

Findings

Women were less likely than men to report no discrimination experiences and more likely to report combined bases of discrimination. While Brazilian women were more likely than Cape Verdean counterparts to report gender and nationality-based discrimination, Cape Verdean women and men were more likely to report experiencing race-based discrimination. Gender (being identified as a woman) and length of stay in Portugal were the main predictors of depression, while resilience and perceived social support were protective factors. Participants with higher levels of resilience showed a significantly diminished association between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms.

Practical implications

This study highlights the need for further research on the interlocking influences of gender, race, nationality and other structures of power, on health and illness to increase our understanding of what would help meet the specific needs of migrants’ mental health and improve equitable health care.

Originality/value

The findings on the multiple and intersectional discrimination perceived by the Brazilian and Cape Verdean populations in Portugal illustrated the ways mental health can be affected by social structures, such as gender and ethnic hierarchies, and can be used to inform the relevance to design and implement programs on combating individual and institutional discrimination and improving the rights of all people.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 20 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 23 November 2023

Cesar Suva and Katerina Palova

Settlement services in Canada have only recently started offering support and programming for emotional wellness issues faced by newcomers to Canada (immigrants who have been in…

Abstract

Settlement services in Canada have only recently started offering support and programming for emotional wellness issues faced by newcomers to Canada (immigrants who have been in Canada for less than 5 years). Funding for such services has steadily increased over the past 5 years, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Greater investment in ensuring the emotional wellness of immigrants is spurring new settlement services and programming. These include a wide array of configurations and approaches across the different geographies of Canada. This is evidence that providing such services for newcomers is in the early stages of implementation, characterised by experimentation and precarity. Mental and emotional wellness programming is in contrast with more established services, such as those meant to provide language learning, where common assessment tools, measures of proficiency and progress are well established. With funding from the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), this chapter features data from a 2-year project that examined emotional wellness services for immigrants offered in four cities in western Canada between 2018 and 2020. The study used surveys and interviews with clients and focus groups with front-line staff to understand client needs and discern the issues and impact of emotional wellness programming. Findings include apparent limitations in staff capacity and expertise to provide help when needed, the inappropriateness of service models meant for other contexts and complex funding requirements resulting in issues of access and the overall precarity of such programming.

Details

Migrations and Diasporas
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-83797-147-3

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 March 2024

Lorna de Witt, Kathryn A. Pfaff, Roger Reka and Noeman Ahmad Mirza

Current and predicted continued dramatic increases in international migration and ethnocultural diversity of older adult cohorts pose challenges for health care services. Review…

Abstract

Purpose

Current and predicted continued dramatic increases in international migration and ethnocultural diversity of older adult cohorts pose challenges for health care services. Review studies on ethnoculturally diverse older adults and health care show a lack of focus on their service use experiences. This study aims to report a meta-ethnography that addresses this knowledge gap through answering the review question: How do ethnoculturally diverse older adults who are immigrants experience health careservices?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied a seven-phase method of meta-ethnography to guide the review. The authors conducted two literature searches (April 2018 and June 2020) in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Sociological Abstracts and Abstracts in Social Gerontology that yielded 17 papers eligible for review.

Findings

“There’s always something positive and something negative” is the overarching metaphor for answering the review question. Findings highlight positive and negative tensions within ethnoculturally diverse older adults’ health care use experiences of understanding and being understood, having trust in providers and the health care system, having needs, preferences and resources met and desire for self-care over dependency. The majority of experiences were negative. Tipping points towards negative experiences included language, fear, provider attitudes and behaviours, service flexibility, attitudes towards Western and traditional health care and having knowledge and resources.

Originality/value

The authors propose concrete actions to mitigate the tipping points. The authors discuss policy recommendations for health care system changes at the micro, meso and macro service levels to promote positive experiences and address mainstream service policy inequities.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 20 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2024

Waleed Sweileh

This paper aims to investigate research activity on barriers for minority and underserved groups to access and use mental health services.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate research activity on barriers for minority and underserved groups to access and use mental health services.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Scopus, relevant articles published from 1993 to 2022 were collected. The final list included 122 articles.

Findings

Research hotspots included cultural and ethnic barriers, obstacles encountered by LGBTQ+ individuals, challenges faced by refugees and immigrants, limited access in rural areas and barriers affecting special populations. The top 10 cited articles focused on language barriers, cultural stigma, gender-specific challenges and systemic obstacles. New research avenues included the role of technology in overcoming barriers to access mental health services.

Practical implications

Policymakers and practitioners can use this knowledge to develop targeted interventions, enhance cultural competence, reduce stigma, improve rural access and provide LGBTQ+-affirming care, ultimately promoting equitable mental health care.

Social implications

This research underscores the importance of addressing mental health service barriers for equity and social justice. Neglecting these disparities can worsen mental health, increase health-care costs, reduce productivity and lead to higher social welfare expenses, perpetuating disadvantages.

Originality/value

This paper's uniqueness lies in its comprehensive analysis of barriers and facilitators to mental health service utilization among minority and underserved groups. It serves as a basis for developing evidence-based strategies to improve service accessibility and enhance the well-being of marginalized communities.

Details

Mental Health and Social Inclusion, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-8308

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 July 2024

Charles Gyan, Batholomew Chireh and Oluwagbemiga Oyinlola

Refugee and immigrant youth (RIY) experience multifaceted challenges, but also have the potential to become resilient. Most of the existing literature focuses on the challenges…

Abstract

Purpose

Refugee and immigrant youth (RIY) experience multifaceted challenges, but also have the potential to become resilient. Most of the existing literature focuses on the challenges these RIY face with limited attention to their agency and resilience. This study aims to assess the factors that predict RIY’s resilience among refugee and immigrant youth in Montreal, Canada.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 93 RIY in Montreal was surveyed. A questionnaire consisting of validated scales was used for data collection.

Findings

The study found a positive correlation between educational level, personal resilience and relational resilience (p < 0.001). However, ethnicity did not have a significant correlation with the participant’s general level of resilience (p > 0.001). Cultural, religious, family, community ties, age and time lived in Montréal were found to be predictors of general resilience, relational resilience and personal resilience of the RIY (p < 0.001).

Originality/value

The study concluded that factors such as cultural, religious and community ties are major predictors of the resilience of RIY in Montreal. Hence, the need for mental health practitioners and resettlement organizations that work with RIY to focus on reconceptualizing resilience to incorporate the cultural, religious and community ties of RIY. This will help in developing services and programs that are culturally sensitive and effective in fostering the resilience of RIY.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. 20 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2024

George Ghassan Issa Kidess, Liam Browning, Nicole Oska, Liza Hinchey, Arwa Saleem, Sadie Knill, Malaak Elhage and Arash Javanbakht

Arab Americans experience higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of treatment compared to the general population. While some factors leading to this disparity have been…

Abstract

Purpose

Arab Americans experience higher rates of mental illness and lower rates of treatment compared to the general population. While some factors leading to this disparity have been proposed, data in the literature remains lacking. This study aims to explore the mental health perspectives of Arab Americans living in Southeastern Michigan regarding barriers to mental health treatment, treatment resource preferences and telemental health preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses were collected through an anonymous bilingual Qualtrics survey from both Arab and non-Arab participants (n = 294, ages 18+) in Southeastern Michigan. Participants’ perceptions regarding mental health barriers, resource preferences and telemental health were assessed. Comparisons were performed between Arabs and non-Arabs, and among Arabs.

Findings

Compared to non-Arabs, Arabs were less likely to seek mental health treatment from a therapist or a primary care provider and were more likely to not seek treatment. Arabs were more likely than non-Arabs to list fear of being called crazy by others and cultural barriers. With regards to preferences on telemental health utilization, no significant differences between Arab and non-Arab participants were found.

Originality/value

The results provide insights into Arab-American mental health perspectives, especially pertaining to mental health barriers, resources and telemental health preferences, adding a novel perspective on the mental health preferences of Arab-American subgroups, especially regarding gender and age differences. This study highlights the Arab-American population as a nuanced and diverse group, emphasizing the importance of future studies to show a more complete picture of Arab-American mental health.

Details

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-9894

Keywords

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