Notes
Location
Edmonton, Alberta
Key recommendations
Reviewing eligibility criteria for and improving access to English as a second language programmes to reduce migration stress and facilitate healthy behaviours; developing programmes to support immigrants navigate the education and social systems; creating programmes to enhance social support systems and incorporate culturally competent mental health initiatives to support immigrant women maintain the health advantage they bring to Canada
Key populations
Latin American immigrant women
Key findings
Latin American immigrant women’s physical acitivity is affected due to migration-related factors in Canada. While 86% of the women in this research gained weight since migrating to Canada, only 27.3 % of recent and 41.7 % of non-recent immigrant women were considered sufficiently physically active. The factors influencing physical activity of the participants were lack of time, resources, social support, and migration-related stress. The qualitative accounts show that Latin American women consider changes in their dietary and physical activity patterns as well as psychosocial effects of the migration process as the factors leading to weight gain, specifically.
Gaps identified
“We found that policy, community, and organizational factors related to resettlement processes were associated with reduced physical activity and psychosocial health. Such factors included lack of access to ESL (English as a second language) programmes, failure to recognize immigrants’ credentials, lack of social support systems in the community, and lack of programmes to help immigrants navigate the Canadian social system. Our participants also identified several interpersonal and individual factors that influenced their physical activity patterns and psychosocial health, including financial constraints, lack of personal support systems, stress, and depression” (p. 1247)
Community organizations
NA
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
36 Latin American immigrant women, 18 recent (<10 years in Canada) and 18 non-recent (>10 years in Canada), participated.
ISBN: 1488-3473
