Research Library

We studied how the gender of a medical provider affects the experience of immigrant women with obstetrical care. We interviewed 38 immigrant women from one hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. These women came from varied educational and ethnic backgrounds (predominately North/East African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian), but most were Muslim and married. Their average age was 27 years old. All of the women stated that they preferred a female provider. They explained their preference because they placed a high value on modesty, often as part of the Muslim faith. At the same time, the women deemed provider competency and having safe childbirth more important. Many said that they would accept care from a male provider if necessary. A small minority of the women reported experiencing psychological stress as a consequence of having received care from a male provider. Overall, women who participated in our study stated that they accepted care from male providers. But for some of them this compromise came at a price, and a small minority of women perceived it as hurtful. With this in mind, we see a need to identify those women for whom gender of provider is important. It will help with providing them with optimal care. We studied how the gender of a medical provider affects the experience of immigrant women with obstetrical care. We interviewed 38 immigrant women from one hospital in Edmonton, Alberta. These women came from varied educational and ethnic backgrounds (predominately North/East African, Middle Eastern, and South Asian), but most were Muslim and married. Their average age was 27 years old. All of the women stated that they preferred a female provider. They explained their preference because they placed a high value on modesty, often as part of the Muslim faith. At the same time, the women deemed provider competency and having safe childbirth more important. Many said that they would accept care from a male provider if necessary. A small minority of the women reported experiencing psychological stress as a consequence of having received care from a male provider. Overall, women who participated in our study stated that they accepted care from male providers. But for some of them this compromise came at a price, and a small minority of women perceived it as hurtful. With this in mind, we see a need to identify those women for whom gender of provider is important. It will help with providing them with optimal care.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study explores how immigrant parents in Alberta-Edmonton’s Filipino community adhere to preventive dental attendance (PDA) for their preschool children. We also look at the psychosocial factors influencing parental adherence. Results: Upon arriving in Canada, most Filipino parents thought that PDA was not a priority. After migration, however, they embraced new knowledge about the importance of PDA for their children. Discussion: Filipino parents were open to the Western model of preventive oral healthcare, with the duration of their time in Canada playing a key role in promoting regular dental visits for their children. This study explores how immigrant parents in Alberta-Edmonton’s Filipino community adhere to preventive dental attendance (PDA) for their preschool children. We also look at the psychosocial factors influencing parental adherence. Results: Upon arriving in Canada, most Filipino parents thought that PDA was not a priority. After migration, however, they embraced new knowledge about the importance of PDA for their children. Discussion: Filipino parents were open to the Western model of preventive oral healthcare, with the duration of their time in Canada playing a key role in promoting regular dental visits for their children.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers. Many African immigrants moving to Canada tend to experience deterioration of health with time in their host country due to the influence of multiple factors on their health care decisions. The purpose of this study was to understand the problems and decision dynamics relevant to Ghanaian adult immigrants’ health care choices with the first five to ten years of arrival in Calgary, Alberta. Thematic analysis revealed that participants’ healthcare choices were influenced by their pre-and post-migration experiences, which informed their pathways to care. Participants provided insights about tensions among themselves and with health providers in making healthcare choices as they settled in a new environment. Further, there is a need to provide health education programs and a strong support system to facilitate better health choices and encourage health care service use among recent newcomers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language. The home language environment and language abilities were compared between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and children with typical development, both from newcomer families in Edmonton. Children were in elementary school, mostly 6 and 7 year olds. The goal was to understand if there were differences in bilingual development between children with ASD and children with typical development at the same age. Specifically, we wanted to understand if children with ASD have the capacity to become bilingual and whether this is supported by their communities, clinicians and educators. We conclude that children with ASD are more at risk than children with typical development for losing their heritage language. In other words, children with ASD have the capacity to be bilingual, but have limited opportunities to develop their heritage language.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants. The purpose of this survey was to better understand why Calgarians who were born outside of Canada do or do not access Canadian settlement services during their migration process. Many people advocated for more relevant, accurate information to be provided pre-arrival. They really wanted to know more about living in Canada and the realities of daily life in Calgary. This related to different social and economic systems in Canada—banking, housing, childcare, children’s education, health care, transit, and how to dress for Calgary’s weather—as well as social norms about environmental protection and recycling. Respondents also recommended various way to advertise settlement services and to help newcomers to effectively navigate the local service system upon arrival in Calgary. Helping newcomers find the programs that exist to help them is critical. More widespread, however, is the disconnection between the attraction of skilled workers and professionals to Canada and the realities of the job market in Calgary. Respondents lamented that they arrived with hope and optimism, only to find they had little chance of working in their chosen field upon arrival. Moreover, they found few if any appropriate supports to help them transition quickly or easily into the work they were trained to do. What this survey has shown is that better advertising of existing programs and services is essential. In addition, different kinds of services and supports are needed for professional and non-skilled migrants.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

The study explores the challenges faced by refugees and how social justice-oriented counselling can help them overcome these challenges. The research involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 refugees who had experienced homelessness. The findings reveal that refugees face multiple challenges, including language barriers, lack of social support, and limited access to resources. Social justice-oriented counselling was found to be effective in helping refugees overcome these challenges and find a better life. The study offers insights into how counselling can be tailored to meet the unique needs of refugees and promote social justice. The study explores the challenges faced by refugees and how social justice-oriented counselling can help them overcome these challenges. The research involved in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 20 refugees who had experienced homelessness. The findings reveal that refugees face multiple challenges, including language barriers, lack of social support, and limited access to resources. Social justice-oriented counselling was found to be effective in helping refugees overcome these challenges and find a better life. The study offers insights into how counselling can be tailored to meet the unique needs of refugees and promote social justice.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

In this thesis, I consider ethnographic conversations I had during fieldwork in Fort McMurray and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 2016 with two sets of workers: Albertan trades-workers employed in the oil sands (pipe-fitters, welders and boilermakers) and Filipino/a Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) employed in the local service sector (cooks, caregivers and kitchen helpers). I analyse these workers’ self-reflections on their own work routines as providing a sightline into the ways labour market processes and regulatory frameworks are manifest in and negotiated through their lives. I suggest this is of broader significance for our understanding of the ways state-regulated labour markets re-fashion, and are re-fashioned by, the cultural identities of workers. In this thesis, I consider ethnographic conversations I had during fieldwork in Fort McMurray and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 2016 with two sets of workers: Albertan trades-workers employed in the oil sands (pipe-fitters, welders and boilermakers) and Filipino/a Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) employed in the local service sector (cooks, caregivers and kitchen helpers). I analyse these workers’ self-reflections on their own work routines as providing a sightline into the ways labour market processes and regulatory frameworks are manifest in and negotiated through their lives. I suggest this is of broader significance for our understanding of the ways state-regulated labour markets re-fashion, and are re-fashioned by, the cultural identities of workers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study examines stakeholders’ perspectives on the health and well-being of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and their families in Alberta, Canada. Stakeholders involved in providing services to TFWs perceived that the workers experience (1) barriers in accessing mental health services, (2) mental health challenges, (3) family health challenges, (4) occupational health challenges, and (5) income and social status as a social determinant of health. Immigration and class status intersect to influence the health of this vulnerable population in Canada. This study examines stakeholders’ perspectives on the health and well-being of temporary foreign workers (TFWs) and their families in Alberta, Canada. Stakeholders involved in providing services to TFWs perceived that the workers experience (1) barriers in accessing mental health services, (2) mental health challenges, (3) family health challenges, (4) occupational health challenges, and (5) income and social status as a social determinant of health. Immigration and class status intersect to influence the health of this vulnerable population in Canada.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Canada is a country with a complex linguistic and cultural landscape characterized by two official languages (English and French), a steady influx of immigrants, and a number of aboriginal communities. In a broader global environment bilingualism and multilingualism are increasingly recognized as a norm. In this paper, I review language background profiling practices at publicly funded Canadian elementary schools. While school boards recognize some aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism, most registration forms do not allow explicitly for the possibility of a child having more than one first/native language. Based on this paper’s analysis, I recommend (a) allowing parents to include more than one native language in registration forms, (b) include questions related to students’ dominance, primary language or most frequently used language; (c) distinguish between exposure to a language and spoken ability in a language. Canada is a country with a complex linguistic and cultural landscape characterized by two official languages (English and French), a steady influx of immigrants, and a number of aboriginal communities. In a broader global environment bilingualism and multilingualism are increasingly recognized as a norm. In this paper, I review language background profiling practices at publicly funded Canadian elementary schools. While school boards recognize some aspects of bilingualism and multilingualism, most registration forms do not allow explicitly for the possibility of a child having more than one first/native language. Based on this paper’s analysis, I recommend (a) allowing parents to include more than one native language in registration forms, (b) include questions related to students’ dominance, primary language or most frequently used language; (c) distinguish between exposure to a language and spoken ability in a language.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly