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Female refugees can be a vulnerable population, often having suffered through traumatic events that pose risks to their health, especially during pregnancy. Pregnancy can be an entry point into the health care system, providing health care professionals the opportunity to gain women’s trust, connect refugees with resources, and optimize the health of mother and child. Policies surrounding the provision and funding of health care services to refugees can impact access to and quality of care. The aim of our study was to understand the experiences of health care professionals caring for pregnant refugee women in Calgary, AB. Health care providers described several barriers when caring for pregnant refugees, including language barriers, difficulty navigating the health care system, and cultural barriers such as managing traditional gender dynamics, only wanting a female provider and differences in medical practices. Providers managed these barriers through using a team-based approach to care, coordinating the patient’s care with other services, and addressing both the medical and social needs of the patient. The federal funding cuts added additional challenges, as many refugees were left without adequate health coverage and the system was complicated to understand. Health care providers developed creative strategies to maximize coverage for their patients including paying out of pocket or relying on donations to care for uninsured refugees. Finally, the recent Syrian refugee influx has increased the demand on service providers and further strained already limited resources. Female refugees can be a vulnerable population, often having suffered through traumatic events that pose risks to their health, especially during pregnancy. Pregnancy can be an entry point into the health care system, providing health care professionals the opportunity to gain women’s trust, connect refugees with resources, and optimize the health of mother and child. Policies surrounding the provision and funding of health care services to refugees can impact access to and quality of care. The aim of our study was to understand the experiences of health care professionals caring for pregnant refugee women in Calgary, AB. Health care providers described several barriers when caring for pregnant refugees, including language barriers, difficulty navigating the health care system, and cultural barriers such as managing traditional gender dynamics, only wanting a female provider and differences in medical practices. Providers managed these barriers through using a team-based approach to care, coordinating the patient’s care with other services, and addressing both the medical and social needs of the patient. The federal funding cuts added additional challenges, as many refugees were left without adequate health coverage and the system was complicated to understand. Health care providers developed creative strategies to maximize coverage for their patients including paying out of pocket or relying on donations to care for uninsured refugees. Finally, the recent Syrian refugee influx has increased the demand on service providers and further strained already limited resources.
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Syrian refugees resettling in Alberta face complex integration challenges. Social connections are a key foundation to successful integration. The goal of this study was to better understand the nature of social networks, social support and social capital among Syrian refugees arriving in Alberta in 2015 and in 2016. The study also focused on comparing the resettlement experience of refugees from larger centers and small centers in Alberta, differentiating the experience of government assisted refugees (GARs), privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) and blended visa office referred (BVOR) refugees. The study found that social relationships are crucial to settlement and integration. The importance of ethno-cultural communities, sponsors and community organizations in settlement and integration is discussed. Overall, the study found that while newcomers were making friends and building ties, these were still nebulous and largely focused on settlement needs or linking to socio-cultural community. GARs had stronger links to settlement agencies as compared to PSRs who were more closely linked to community networks. Refugees in smaller centers reported a higher level of belonging and reported more engagement with settlement or community organizations, but had lower rates of participation in recreation or religious activities. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada, they simultaneously felt challenged while managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion. Syrian refugees resettling in Alberta face complex integration challenges. Social connections are a key foundation to successful integration. The goal of this study was to better understand the nature of social networks, social support and social capital among Syrian refugees arriving in Alberta in 2015 and in 2016. The study also focused on comparing the resettlement experience of refugees from larger centers and small centers in Alberta, differentiating the experience of government assisted refugees (GARs), privately sponsored refugees (PSRs) and blended visa office referred (BVOR) refugees. The study found that social relationships are crucial to settlement and integration. The importance of ethno-cultural communities, sponsors and community organizations in settlement and integration is discussed. Overall, the study found that while newcomers were making friends and building ties, these were still nebulous and largely focused on settlement needs or linking to socio-cultural community. GARs had stronger links to settlement agencies as compared to PSRs who were more closely linked to community networks. Refugees in smaller centers reported a higher level of belonging and reported more engagement with settlement or community organizations, but had lower rates of participation in recreation or religious activities. While most participants experienced a certain sense of belonging to Canada, they simultaneously felt challenged while managing settlement concerns and combatting racism and social exclusion.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Uninsured maternity patients comprise a small but complex group of patients and include marginalized Canadians, undocumented immigrants, visitors, and non-Canadians seeking health care and/ or citizenship for their newborn. This study found a trend of uninsured deliveries in Calgary that is accounted for by non-Canadian patients. Midwives and physicians agree on provision of emergency care but not preventive care. Across medical specialties, fewer caregivers felt obliged to care for non-Canadian patients seeking citizenship for their newborn. Among physicians, 61% were aware of the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s guidelines on liability coverage for non-Canadian patients, and only 28% consistently protected themselves legally. There is large variation regarding whether physicians bill for services when the patient is uninsured. In Calgary, the study observed an increase in numbers of uninsured maternity patients. Differing ethical perspectives on the care of these patients may lead to conflict within health care teams because of differences on ethical perspectives of care among team members. Health care providers require education to understand the implications and challenges of obstetrical care of non-Canadians. Uninsured maternity patients comprise a small but complex group of patients and include marginalized Canadians, undocumented immigrants, visitors, and non-Canadians seeking health care and/ or citizenship for their newborn. This study found a trend of uninsured deliveries in Calgary that is accounted for by non-Canadian patients. Midwives and physicians agree on provision of emergency care but not preventive care. Across medical specialties, fewer caregivers felt obliged to care for non-Canadian patients seeking citizenship for their newborn. Among physicians, 61% were aware of the Canadian Medical Protective Association’s guidelines on liability coverage for non-Canadian patients, and only 28% consistently protected themselves legally. There is large variation regarding whether physicians bill for services when the patient is uninsured. In Calgary, the study observed an increase in numbers of uninsured maternity patients. Differing ethical perspectives on the care of these patients may lead to conflict within health care teams because of differences on ethical perspectives of care among team members. Health care providers require education to understand the implications and challenges of obstetrical care of non-Canadians.
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In 2001, Rie Fujii, a 23-year-old Japanese national living without legal status in Calgary, Alberta, Canada left her two infant children alone in her apartment for 10 days while visiting her out-of-town boyfriend. The children, Domenic and Gemini, died of dehydration and starvation. Charged with two counts of second-degree homicide, Fujii plead guilty to manslaughter and received an 8-year sentence. Through an analysis of the publicly available judicial documents relating to the crimes of Rie Fujii, this paper explores how the law’s individualization and medicalization of crime and violence may obscure the multiple forms of everyday and structural violence that racialized women in white settler states such as Canada experience and may perpetrate. I argue that the law’s conceptualization of crime and violence conceals and thus advances the violence endemic to white settler colonialism. In 2001, Rie Fujii, a 23-year-old Japanese national living without legal status in Calgary, Alberta, Canada left her two infant children alone in her apartment for 10 days while visiting her out-of-town boyfriend. The children, Domenic and Gemini, died of dehydration and starvation. Charged with two counts of second-degree homicide, Fujii plead guilty to manslaughter and received an 8-year sentence. Through an analysis of the publicly available judicial documents relating to the crimes of Rie Fujii, this paper explores how the law’s individualization and medicalization of crime and violence may obscure the multiple forms of everyday and structural violence that racialized women in white settler states such as Canada experience and may perpetrate. I argue that the law’s conceptualization of crime and violence conceals and thus advances the violence endemic to white settler colonialism.
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IN 2007, THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT and the Alberta construction industry developed a ten-year strategy to increase the participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and immigrants in construction occupations. At the same time, construction employers began turning to temporary foreign workers (TFWS) as an alternative labour supply, and the number of TFWS working in Alberta construction jumped dramatically. This article examines the labour market effects of the influx of TFWS on employment rates of other marginalized groups in construction occupations. Drawing upon labour market segmentation theory, this study finds that the proportion of traditionally underrepresented workers in construction occupations was essentially unchanged over the study period. These groups of workers experienced higher-than-average employment volitility and remain a secondary source of labour supply. This study also finds that TFWS have become a new, hyperflexible source of secondary labour. The article discusses possible explanations for the findings and evaluates the effectiveness of the government’s ten-year strategy. IN 2007, THE ALBERTA GOVERNMENT and the Alberta construction industry developed a ten-year strategy to increase the participation of women, youth, Indigenous peoples, and immigrants in construction occupations. At the same time, construction employers began turning to temporary foreign workers (TFWS) as an alternative labour supply, and the number of TFWS working in Alberta construction jumped dramatically. This article examines the labour market effects of the influx of TFWS on employment rates of other marginalized groups in construction occupations. Drawing upon labour market segmentation theory, this study finds that the proportion of traditionally underrepresented workers in construction occupations was essentially unchanged over the study period. These groups of workers experienced higher-than-average employment volitility and remain a secondary source of labour supply. This study also finds that TFWS have become a new, hyperflexible source of secondary labour. The article discusses possible explanations for the findings and evaluates the effectiveness of the government’s ten-year strategy.
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Objectives: The increasing cost of clinical laboratory testing is a challenge in our health care system. This study calculates the annual clinical laboratory test costs. Results: While more women received laboratory testing (58.4%), men had slightly higher testing costs per capita. Except for Chinese, visible minority and Aboriginal populations had higher testing costs. There was an inverse correlation between testing cost and household income. Higher costs were found in those without postsecondary education and the unemployed. Furthermore, another factor that affect the costs is where patients live and access healthcare. Conclusions: Laboratory costs are different depending on social and economic background of patients. Objectives: The increasing cost of clinical laboratory testing is a challenge in our health care system. This study calculates the annual clinical laboratory test costs. Results: While more women received laboratory testing (58.4%), men had slightly higher testing costs per capita. Except for Chinese, visible minority and Aboriginal populations had higher testing costs. There was an inverse correlation between testing cost and household income. Higher costs were found in those without postsecondary education and the unemployed. Furthermore, another factor that affect the costs is where patients live and access healthcare. Conclusions: Laboratory costs are different depending on social and economic background of patients.
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