Research Library

The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy. The entire healthcare system, including primary healthcare (PHC) services, has been disrupted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. As the crisis threatens all citizens significantly, further barriers to accessing care exist for those who are most vulnerable, experience marginalization, and have pre-existing challenges. We aimed to explore immigrants’ lived experiences in accessing and receiving PHC services during the pandemic. A multiphase mixed-methods study using a sequential explanatory design was employed. The first study includes a systematic review that synthesizes the evidence on the experiences that immigrant patients have receiving PHC. Study two provides insights from a recently employed “COVID-19 Experiences and Impacts Survey” data and compares the experiences of Albertans that were born in and outside Canada. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were performed, using STATA. The third study is a qualitative inquiry that aims to gain a deeper understanding of the newcomers’ (living in Canada ≤5 years) and providers’ experiences in PHC during the pandemic. A thematic analysis was applied, using NVivo software. Immigrants reported many challenges in accessing and receiving PHC, and these challenges have been increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this thesis yielded six recommendations that can inform PHC quality improvement initiatives and PHC policy.
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Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability. Discrimination negatively impacts students’ ability to adapt to and deal with the educational stressors of a new environment. When students experience discrimination, their options are to fight, fawn, or flee—that is, skip school. Results show that experiences of discrimination and psychological isolation are significant predictors of truancy (skipping school). I also find support for the effects of length of residency, paid employment, and participation in voluntary activities on increasing truancy, suggesting the importance of acculturation, socio-economic status, and time availability.
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People from South Sudan arrived in Edmonton as landed immigrants in the early 1990s from countries that hosted them as refugees from the Second Sudanese Civil War. Today, Edmonton is home to more than 5,000 people from South Sudan. Alberta alone houses almost 30,000, the largest South Sudanese Canadian community in the country. Here, many South Sudanese work in nursing homes and meat-packaging plants. This, alongside high COVID death rates in the community, language barriers, financial strain, and mental health stigma, resulted in Edmonton’s South Sudanese community being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. People from South Sudan arrived in Edmonton as landed immigrants in the early 1990s from countries that hosted them as refugees from the Second Sudanese Civil War. Today, Edmonton is home to more than 5,000 people from South Sudan. Alberta alone houses almost 30,000, the largest South Sudanese Canadian community in the country. Here, many South Sudanese work in nursing homes and meat-packaging plants. This, alongside high COVID death rates in the community, language barriers, financial strain, and mental health stigma, resulted in Edmonton’s South Sudanese community being disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
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The Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) conducted a survey of Edmonton’s Muslim community to understand their specific needs and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just under 20% of the community had partial knowledge, no knowledge, or an uncertain amount of knowledge about COVID-19, where the two most popular information sources were the government and social media. A third of respondents did not have adequate resources for physical distancing. Mental health was the highest reported concern for the community, and the IFSSA proposes recommendations for improving mental healthcare access and information sharing. The Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) conducted a survey of Edmonton’s Muslim community to understand their specific needs and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Just under 20% of the community had partial knowledge, no knowledge, or an uncertain amount of knowledge about COVID-19, where the two most popular information sources were the government and social media. A third of respondents did not have adequate resources for physical distancing. Mental health was the highest reported concern for the community, and the IFSSA proposes recommendations for improving mental healthcare access and information sharing.
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Non-status migrants are individuals who do not hold a valid immigration document or official status to stay in Canada. This case study in Calgary, AB conducted interviews on the experiences of non-status Filipino migrants seeking access to health, social, and community services. Challenges and risks to accessing services are discussed. Non-status migrants are individuals who do not hold a valid immigration document or official status to stay in Canada. This case study in Calgary, AB conducted interviews on the experiences of non-status Filipino migrants seeking access to health, social, and community services. Challenges and risks to accessing services are discussed.
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Despite the lack of a shared definition of integration, this concept word addresses the physical, psychological, and social progress of newcomers, and more. Newcomers are both immigrants and new-to-town individuals, meaning those who have relocated within Canada from other provinces or regions. By exploring literature and lived experiences, this research examines how accurately models of integration reflect and represent the views and experiences of newcomers. Our qualitative case study uses thematic coding of in-depth interviews with newcomers and settlement organizations. Results suggest that models and factors of integration do not fully or effectively reflect the process and desires of newcomers. Though new-to-town individuals possess advantages in their relocation process (e.g., not having to learn a new language or build a cultural foundation in their new location), they do not meet nor do they aspire to meet all the various factors and considerations of integration included in the models. Newcomers seek first to meet their own core needs followed by self-directed needs. In this article, an acculturation model is put forward that encompasses dynamics of individual newcomers’ peculiarities of circumstances. The conclusion is two-fold: Newcomers place priority on immediate core needs and strive to meet other needs leading to place attachment; and their sense of belonging can be brought into question with experiences of discrimination and racism. Despite the lack of a shared definition of integration, this concept word addresses the physical, psychological, and social progress of newcomers, and more. Newcomers are both immigrants and new-to-town individuals, meaning those who have relocated within Canada from other provinces or regions. By exploring literature and lived experiences, this research examines how accurately models of integration reflect and represent the views and experiences of newcomers. Our qualitative case study uses thematic coding of in-depth interviews with newcomers and settlement organizations. Results suggest that models and factors of integration do not fully or effectively reflect the process and desires of newcomers. Though new-to-town individuals possess advantages in their relocation process (e.g., not having to learn a new language or build a cultural foundation in their new location), they do not meet nor do they aspire to meet all the various factors and considerations of integration included in the models. Newcomers seek first to meet their own core needs followed by self-directed needs. In this article, an acculturation model is put forward that encompasses dynamics of individual newcomers’ peculiarities of circumstances. The conclusion is two-fold: Newcomers place priority on immediate core needs and strive to meet other needs leading to place attachment; and their sense of belonging can be brought into question with experiences of discrimination and racism.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The civil war in Syria caused an upheaval to all aspects of life for its citizens, resulting in an unprecedented number of Syrians arriving in Canada as refugees. While government and settlement agencies responded by addressing their immediate needs, other aspects of their integration, specifically their social integration, were much less prioritized and minimally resourced. This study drew on Ager & Strang’s (2008) Domains of Integration Framework and their description of social bridging to explore this aspect of social integration of refugees in greater detail. A qualitative descriptive methodology was applied to explore how Syrian refugees describe their experiences of building social bridges in Canada, and how these bridges impact their sense of belonging and overall integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve adult members of the Syrian refugee community, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. The civil war in Syria caused an upheaval to all aspects of life for its citizens, resulting in an unprecedented number of Syrians arriving in Canada as refugees. While government and settlement agencies responded by addressing their immediate needs, other aspects of their integration, specifically their social integration, were much less prioritized and minimally resourced. This study drew on Ager & Strang’s (2008) Domains of Integration Framework and their description of social bridging to explore this aspect of social integration of refugees in greater detail. A qualitative descriptive methodology was applied to explore how Syrian refugees describe their experiences of building social bridges in Canada, and how these bridges impact their sense of belonging and overall integration. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve adult members of the Syrian refugee community, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the data.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The increase in global migration means more immigrants are ageing in host countries with unique experiences and needs. Muslim immigrants in Canada are from diverse ethnocultural communities and experience unmet health and social needs in older age. A community-based participatory research project was conducted in Alberta, Canada, in 2017-2018 to understand the experiences and needs of healthy ageing in this population. Participants were asked about their experiences of growing old in Canada, unmet health and social needs, and community perspectives on healthy ageing. We identified two major themes: (a) intersections of exclusion: ageism, sexism, racism, and; (b) strategies for inclusion: local, national, transnational. Findings highlight both the vulnerability of Muslim immigrant older adults and their capacity for agency. The study findings point to the intersecting influences of exclusionary practices on social isolation and loneliness in immigrant older adults. They also call to adjust developing social policies and programs according to existing exclusionary practices to foster healthy ageing. The increase in global migration means more immigrants are ageing in host countries with unique experiences and needs. Muslim immigrants in Canada are from diverse ethnocultural communities and experience unmet health and social needs in older age. A community-based participatory research project was conducted in Alberta, Canada, in 2017-2018 to understand the experiences and needs of healthy ageing in this population. Participants were asked about their experiences of growing old in Canada, unmet health and social needs, and community perspectives on healthy ageing. We identified two major themes: (a) intersections of exclusion: ageism, sexism, racism, and; (b) strategies for inclusion: local, national, transnational. Findings highlight both the vulnerability of Muslim immigrant older adults and their capacity for agency. The study findings point to the intersecting influences of exclusionary practices on social isolation and loneliness in immigrant older adults. They also call to adjust developing social policies and programs according to existing exclusionary practices to foster healthy ageing.
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This article looks at strategies of resistance that Sub-Saharan Africans employ while adapting to Canadian environment. We assert that the refugees engage in numerous economic, sociopolitical and cultural transnational activities. Their initiatives benefit the refugees themselves and the sending and receiving countries. They serve as anti-racism and development tools against the backdrop of racism that they endure in Canada, the trauma of war and displacement, as well as war-related destruction in the sending country. They also strengthen awareness and better understanding of multiculturalism among Canadians. In the process, the subjects drew on scarce resources and overcame atrocious difficulties in order to improve their lives and create uplifting stories and actions. Though transnational migration also generates problematic impacts, these barriers could be overcome if the benefits of transnational migration are extended. Thus, we draw on the subjects’ resilience to expand conceptions about transnational migration in order to turn it into a most fruitful avenue in the twenty-first century. This article looks at strategies of resistance that Sub-Saharan Africans employ while adapting to Canadian environment. We assert that the refugees engage in numerous economic, sociopolitical and cultural transnational activities. Their initiatives benefit the refugees themselves and the sending and receiving countries. They serve as anti-racism and development tools against the backdrop of racism that they endure in Canada, the trauma of war and displacement, as well as war-related destruction in the sending country. They also strengthen awareness and better understanding of multiculturalism among Canadians. In the process, the subjects drew on scarce resources and overcame atrocious difficulties in order to improve their lives and create uplifting stories and actions. Though transnational migration also generates problematic impacts, these barriers could be overcome if the benefits of transnational migration are extended. Thus, we draw on the subjects’ resilience to expand conceptions about transnational migration in order to turn it into a most fruitful avenue in the twenty-first century.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This article analyzes perspectives and strategies through which Black African immigrant youth in Calgary, Alberta, promote their social inclusion in Canadian society. This article stresses the agency and resilience among Black African youth in Calgary. Overall, the findings emphasize that Black African immigrant youths’ sense and strategies of inclusion are rooted in their ethnic group and religious associations. Specifically, participants identified 1) spaces of safety, 2) empowerment initiatives, and 3) support through social networks that made their sense of inclusion meaningful. The analysis of the agency of Black African youth illuminates the strength and power of the youth and their respective communities. Finding themselves in a new environment and context, they drew on continuous, centuries-long cultural knowledge and strategies to adapt to change. Not only are they coping, but they are also thriving and teaching and sharing their heritage and humanistic values with various peoples and cultures. This article analyzes perspectives and strategies through which Black African immigrant youth in Calgary, Alberta, promote their social inclusion in Canadian society. This article stresses the agency and resilience among Black African youth in Calgary. Overall, the findings emphasize that Black African immigrant youths’ sense and strategies of inclusion are rooted in their ethnic group and religious associations. Specifically, participants identified 1) spaces of safety, 2) empowerment initiatives, and 3) support through social networks that made their sense of inclusion meaningful. The analysis of the agency of Black African youth illuminates the strength and power of the youth and their respective communities. Finding themselves in a new environment and context, they drew on continuous, centuries-long cultural knowledge and strategies to adapt to change. Not only are they coping, but they are also thriving and teaching and sharing their heritage and humanistic values with various peoples and cultures.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly