Please note, this is not an open access database or repository. We have focused on creating simple summaries of reports and articles that we have accessed through websites and academic journals, with a focus on key findings, so that even if a full report is not free to access you can reference it. When possible, we include a link to wherever the original document is hosted (which may or may not be open-access). If you come across a link that is no longer active, please let us know and we can update it. There are also some reports that will have been submitted directly to the project. In this case, these reports are uploaded directly with permission from the author or publisher. Any original documents found on this site are stored in Canada on our secure servers
In this study we investigate how a request for a female obstetrician can affect and challenges of providing intrapartum care to immigrant women. To answer these questions, we interviewed service providers in one of the large Edmonton hospitals. We interviewed 13 female and 7 male physicians. Physicians recognized the validity of immigrant women’s preference and requests for female health care providers and expressed sympathy for them. However, they were also resistant and expressed several concerns about accommodating these requests. These concerns included (1) a fear of perpetuating and exacerbating gender inequalities in medicine, (2) the ability of the health system to meet the demands, and (3) implications of these requests for training and quality of care. Although physicians were sympathetic to immigrant women’s requests for female obstetricians, they placed greater value on maintaining gender equity both within the medical profession and in wider society. In other words, they resisted accommodating gender-of-health-care-provider requests. We then see a need for greater research to shape policy that meets the professional and personal values of both physicians and patients. In this study we investigate how a request for a female obstetrician can affect and challenges of providing intrapartum care to immigrant women. To answer these questions, we interviewed service providers in one of the large Edmonton hospitals. We interviewed 13 female and 7 male physicians. Physicians recognized the validity of immigrant women’s preference and requests for female health care providers and expressed sympathy for them. However, they were also resistant and expressed several concerns about accommodating these requests. These concerns included (1) a fear of perpetuating and exacerbating gender inequalities in medicine, (2) the ability of the health system to meet the demands, and (3) implications of these requests for training and quality of care. Although physicians were sympathetic to immigrant women’s requests for female obstetricians, they placed greater value on maintaining gender equity both within the medical profession and in wider society. In other words, they resisted accommodating gender-of-health-care-provider requests. We then see a need for greater research to shape policy that meets the professional and personal values of both physicians and patients.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes. Experiences of refugees have rarely been described through the concept of resilience because of them dealing with the challenges of flight, exile, forced migration, and resettlement. Researchers were approached by eight South Sudanese refugee women resettled in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who were interested in exploring alternative notions of resilience through reflection, dialogue, and action. Using Photovoice, a technique that employs still photography and text captions, participants of this study used aesthetic expression to deconstruct and reconstruct notions of resilience. Faith and spirituality, circles of support, and the global community were the key overarching themes describing participants’ resilience process which enabled participants to survive their past, foster support in the present and harness hope for the future. At each stage, we also identified supporting factors and threats to resiliency. In conclusion, we suggest that resettlement service providers need to foster the resiliency in their programmes.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need. The “Accessing Mental Health Services in Alberta” research project was initiated by the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies (AAISA) to assess the diversity of mental health services available to newcomers in Alberta and offer recommendations for improving accessibility. The report highlights the challenges that newcomers face when accessing mental health services, as well as gaps in the existing mental health system in Alberta. Overall, the report emphasizes the importance of addressing the specific needs of newcomers in mental health service provision and improving accessibility to ensure that all Albertans have access to the care they need.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
This Canadian study examined criminal gang involvement of youth from immigrant families. Our analysis showed that gang-involved youth had experienced multiple, severe and prolonged personal and interpersonal challenges in all facets of their lives and that gradual disintegration of their relationships with family, school and community had resulted in the unravelling of self-concept, ethnic identity, sense of belonging and sense of citizenship and progressively propelled them towards membership in high-risk social cliques and criminal gangs. Our findings brought attention to the need for coordinated, comprehensive support for youth from immigrant families through family-based, school-based and community-based programs. This Canadian study examined criminal gang involvement of youth from immigrant families. Our analysis showed that gang-involved youth had experienced multiple, severe and prolonged personal and interpersonal challenges in all facets of their lives and that gradual disintegration of their relationships with family, school and community had resulted in the unravelling of self-concept, ethnic identity, sense of belonging and sense of citizenship and progressively propelled them towards membership in high-risk social cliques and criminal gangs. Our findings brought attention to the need for coordinated, comprehensive support for youth from immigrant families through family-based, school-based and community-based programs.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
International migrants experience first-hand differences between countries in terms of the social meanings, spatial regulation and prevalence of smoking. This research centred on the smoking-related perceptions, experiences and behaviours of recent migrants from China to Canada. Participants of this study observed that smoking remains almost ubiquitous in China due to ineffective spatial restrictions and the social importance of smoking among men. By contrast, smoking bans in Canada were perceived as effective due to widespread compliance and expectations of enforcement. They were conscious that male smoking was both less prevalent and less socially valued in Canada; conversely, female smoking was perceived as more accepted in Canada than in China. There was broad agreement that smoking was tolerated in Canada, provided it occurred in appropriate places. Complying with widespread spatial restrictions brought about changes in smokers’ behaviours: they smoked less often and consumed fewer cigarettes. Because smoking was more difficult to perform, participants thought the Canadian context supported quitting. Non-smokers were enthusiastic about smoke-free environments in Canada and had become acculturated to air that did not smell of smoke. These findings affirm the importance of comprehensive smoking bans, backed by enforcement, in contributing to the denormalisation of smoking and the protection of non-smokers. International migrants experience first-hand differences between countries in terms of the social meanings, spatial regulation and prevalence of smoking. This research centred on the smoking-related perceptions, experiences and behaviours of recent migrants from China to Canada. Participants of this study observed that smoking remains almost ubiquitous in China due to ineffective spatial restrictions and the social importance of smoking among men. By contrast, smoking bans in Canada were perceived as effective due to widespread compliance and expectations of enforcement. They were conscious that male smoking was both less prevalent and less socially valued in Canada; conversely, female smoking was perceived as more accepted in Canada than in China. There was broad agreement that smoking was tolerated in Canada, provided it occurred in appropriate places. Complying with widespread spatial restrictions brought about changes in smokers’ behaviours: they smoked less often and consumed fewer cigarettes. Because smoking was more difficult to perform, participants thought the Canadian context supported quitting. Non-smokers were enthusiastic about smoke-free environments in Canada and had become acculturated to air that did not smell of smoke. These findings affirm the importance of comprehensive smoking bans, backed by enforcement, in contributing to the denormalisation of smoking and the protection of non-smokers.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Religious groups and churches have always played, and continue to play, vital roles in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. In the 1980s, several not-for-profit agencies emerged with Catholic and Mennonite roots to respond to the arrival of thousands of refugees to the province from Southeast Asia and Central America. Today, these agencies are particularly interesting as they both challenge prevailing views on secularization and the provision of public services and play an exceptionally active role in providing services to newcomers. This paper explores the interplay between the prevalence of a liberal secular ideology in Canada and the shifting identities of faith-based organizations in Alberta. Based on archival research and interviews, this paper demonstrates that it is the shifting and, often conflicting, views of staff and volunteers that have contributed to the secularization of identities in most of these agencies. Religious groups and churches have always played, and continue to play, vital roles in the settlement and integration of newcomers to Canada. In the 1980s, several not-for-profit agencies emerged with Catholic and Mennonite roots to respond to the arrival of thousands of refugees to the province from Southeast Asia and Central America. Today, these agencies are particularly interesting as they both challenge prevailing views on secularization and the provision of public services and play an exceptionally active role in providing services to newcomers. This paper explores the interplay between the prevalence of a liberal secular ideology in Canada and the shifting identities of faith-based organizations in Alberta. Based on archival research and interviews, this paper demonstrates that it is the shifting and, often conflicting, views of staff and volunteers that have contributed to the secularization of identities in most of these agencies.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Research on how Sudanese communities in Canada understand mental health and illness is lacking. Southern Sudanese community members in Calgary, Brooks, and Toronto completed interviews. Major themes from the interviews included: associating mental illness with being crazy; stigma; social isolation; stress as a cause; assuming those with mental health concerns have poor hygiene; positive mental health as being in a ‘good situation’ and ‘having a normal life’; and mental health as multi-dimensional. Research on how Sudanese communities in Canada understand mental health and illness is lacking. Southern Sudanese community members in Calgary, Brooks, and Toronto completed interviews. Major themes from the interviews included: associating mental illness with being crazy; stigma; social isolation; stress as a cause; assuming those with mental health concerns have poor hygiene; positive mental health as being in a ‘good situation’ and ‘having a normal life’; and mental health as multi-dimensional.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
Given the Canadian government’s focus on refugee resettlement in light of global crises, many schools are receiving increased enrolment of students who have experienced the trauma associated with living in, and fleeing from, regions experiencing armed conflict. The authors assert that given the numbers of such students entering Calgarian classrooms, it is important that educators have at least some knowledge of trauma-informed teaching practice. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in trauma-informed teaching practice, the article encourages a move away from a deficit perspective on children from refugee backgrounds, toward one of hope, befitting the resiliency such children bring to their new country. Given the Canadian government’s focus on refugee resettlement in light of global crises, many schools are receiving increased enrolment of students who have experienced the trauma associated with living in, and fleeing from, regions experiencing armed conflict. The authors assert that given the numbers of such students entering Calgarian classrooms, it is important that educators have at least some knowledge of trauma-informed teaching practice. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in trauma-informed teaching practice, the article encourages a move away from a deficit perspective on children from refugee backgrounds, toward one of hope, befitting the resiliency such children bring to their new country.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
We study the association between changing residence and risks of attempted suicide and violent assault injury in Alberta, Canada. Changing residence is associated with an increase in the risk of both attempted suicide and violent assault injury. In the case of attempted suicide, this effect is strongest for persons between 20 and 35years of age. For violent assault injuries, persons from rural regions that have recently moved to urban regions have higher risk of injuries, and women of rural origin are at higher risk of violent assault injury than women of urban origin. Our findings reveal an association between risk of intentional injuries and change of residence adjusting for geographical differences in injury risk. These findings suggest that intentional injury risk is associated with change in community at intraregional scales and that these populations may benefit from support that helps integrate them into their new communities. We study the association between changing residence and risks of attempted suicide and violent assault injury in Alberta, Canada. Changing residence is associated with an increase in the risk of both attempted suicide and violent assault injury. In the case of attempted suicide, this effect is strongest for persons between 20 and 35years of age. For violent assault injuries, persons from rural regions that have recently moved to urban regions have higher risk of injuries, and women of rural origin are at higher risk of violent assault injury than women of urban origin. Our findings reveal an association between risk of intentional injuries and change of residence adjusting for geographical differences in injury risk. These findings suggest that intentional injury risk is associated with change in community at intraregional scales and that these populations may benefit from support that helps integrate them into their new communities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
When re-establishing their lives in Canada, international migrants with dependent children regularly encounter dramatically different conditions for family life. The parents’ employment situation, the limited availability of extended kin to help with child rearing, and a multicultural and relatively more permissive social environment, all of these invite or even demand changes in newcomers’ family practices. Yet, more information is needed about the ways in which skilled immigrants negotiate the changed conditions for work and family life in this country, and the impact this has on family dynamics during settlement. This study explores how coming to Canada impacted participants’ situations of paid work, parenting practices, and familial gender relations. Findings suggest that strained economic and social resources often limited the extent to which mothers and fathers were able to maintain an organization of family life similar to what they had established in their country of origin. However, while in some cases, shifts in family formation caused heightened levels of stress and strain and further entrenched the doing of conventional gender roles, in others, changed conditions acted as a catalyst for positive change. When re-establishing their lives in Canada, international migrants with dependent children regularly encounter dramatically different conditions for family life. The parents’ employment situation, the limited availability of extended kin to help with child rearing, and a multicultural and relatively more permissive social environment, all of these invite or even demand changes in newcomers’ family practices. Yet, more information is needed about the ways in which skilled immigrants negotiate the changed conditions for work and family life in this country, and the impact this has on family dynamics during settlement. This study explores how coming to Canada impacted participants’ situations of paid work, parenting practices, and familial gender relations. Findings suggest that strained economic and social resources often limited the extent to which mothers and fathers were able to maintain an organization of family life similar to what they had established in their country of origin. However, while in some cases, shifts in family formation caused heightened levels of stress and strain and further entrenched the doing of conventional gender roles, in others, changed conditions acted as a catalyst for positive change.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly
