Research Library

To date, very little is known about intimate partner violence (IPV) service providers’ experiences serving trans and immigrant women (IPV) survivors and their barriers in reporting and/or accessing formal services. Employing constructivist grounded theory, two vignettes were constructed – one featuring a trans woman and the other an immigrant woman, both seeking IPV services. American and Canadian IPV service providers responded to open-ended survey questions about both scenarios, resulting in several emergent themes including, but not limited to: service provider biases, shelter conflicts, and distrust of systems. Policy implications and future research are also addressed. To date, very little is known about intimate partner violence (IPV) service providers’ experiences serving trans and immigrant women (IPV) survivors and their barriers in reporting and/or accessing formal services. Employing constructivist grounded theory, two vignettes were constructed – one featuring a trans woman and the other an immigrant woman, both seeking IPV services. American and Canadian IPV service providers responded to open-ended survey questions about both scenarios, resulting in several emergent themes including, but not limited to: service provider biases, shelter conflicts, and distrust of systems. Policy implications and future research are also addressed.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Racialized, low-income, and migrant communities in East and Northeast Calgary were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, yet faced vaccine access barriers. This article is a formative evaluation of a low-barrier, community-engaged vaccine outreach clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on June 5–6, 2021. Stakeholder respondents felt the clinic was effective (99.2%), efficient (96.9%), patient-centered (92.3%), and safe (90.8%), and that the outreach model was scalable 94.6% (123/130). Suggested improvements include increased time for clinic planning and promotion, more multilingual staff, and further efforts to reduce accessibility barriers, such as priority check-in for people with disabilities. These findings support the value of community-engaged outreach to improve vaccine equity among other marginalized newcomer communities. Racialized, low-income, and migrant communities in East and Northeast Calgary were disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, yet faced vaccine access barriers. This article is a formative evaluation of a low-barrier, community-engaged vaccine outreach clinic in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on June 5–6, 2021. Stakeholder respondents felt the clinic was effective (99.2%), efficient (96.9%), patient-centered (92.3%), and safe (90.8%), and that the outreach model was scalable 94.6% (123/130). Suggested improvements include increased time for clinic planning and promotion, more multilingual staff, and further efforts to reduce accessibility barriers, such as priority check-in for people with disabilities. These findings support the value of community-engaged outreach to improve vaccine equity among other marginalized newcomer communities.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Older Muslim immigrants experience multiple vulnerabilities living in Canada. This study explores the experiences of Muslim older adults in Edmonton, AB during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify ways to build community resilience. Three major themes were: 1) loneliness, 2) decreased access to resources for connection, 3) capacity limits on services. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges associated with aging in the Muslim population and contributed to further marginalization, with mosques being sites of support during times of crises. Policymakers and service providers must explore ways of engaging mosque-based support systems in meeting the needs of older Muslim adults during pandemics. Older Muslim immigrants experience multiple vulnerabilities living in Canada. This study explores the experiences of Muslim older adults in Edmonton, AB during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify ways to build community resilience. Three major themes were: 1) loneliness, 2) decreased access to resources for connection, 3) capacity limits on services. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated challenges associated with aging in the Muslim population and contributed to further marginalization, with mosques being sites of support during times of crises. Policymakers and service providers must explore ways of engaging mosque-based support systems in meeting the needs of older Muslim adults during pandemics.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Health literacy is an important public health concern and can be defined as ‘the degree or extent to which the individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions’. Research on health literacy among recent immigrants to Canada is not that extensive, so this research described health literacy status among Nepalese immigrants residing in Calgary, Alberta. Noteworthy levels of limited health literacy and marginal health literacy were observed among the Nepalese immigrant population. Multidirectional, culturally tailored, community-led, collaborative initiatives are needed to improve health literacy among the immigrant population, to lessen health disparities and to promote better health outcomes. Health literacy is an important public health concern and can be defined as ‘the degree or extent to which the individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services to make appropriate health decisions’. Research on health literacy among recent immigrants to Canada is not that extensive, so this research described health literacy status among Nepalese immigrants residing in Calgary, Alberta. Noteworthy levels of limited health literacy and marginal health literacy were observed among the Nepalese immigrant population. Multidirectional, culturally tailored, community-led, collaborative initiatives are needed to improve health literacy among the immigrant population, to lessen health disparities and to promote better health outcomes.
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As Canada and other high-income countries continue to welcome newcomers, this study aimed to 1) understand newcomer parents’ attitudes towards routine-childhood vaccinations (RCVs), and 2) identify barriers newcomer parents face when accessing RCVs in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton and High River). Overall, parents in the focus groups were motivated and willing to vaccinate their children but experienced several barriers related to their capability and opportunity to access RCVs. Five main themes emerged: 1) lack of reputable information about RCVs, 2) language barriers when looking for information and asking questions about RCVs, 3) lack of access to a primary care provider (PCP), 4) lack of affordable and convenient transportation options, and 5) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of available vaccine appointments. The findings highlight that several barriers faced by newcomer families ultimately stem from issues related to accessing information about RCVs and the challenges families face once at vaccination clinics, highlighting opportunities for health systems to better support newcomers in accessing RCVs. As Canada and other high-income countries continue to welcome newcomers, this study aimed to 1) understand newcomer parents’ attitudes towards routine-childhood vaccinations (RCVs), and 2) identify barriers newcomer parents face when accessing RCVs in Alberta (Calgary, Edmonton and High River). Overall, parents in the focus groups were motivated and willing to vaccinate their children but experienced several barriers related to their capability and opportunity to access RCVs. Five main themes emerged: 1) lack of reputable information about RCVs, 2) language barriers when looking for information and asking questions about RCVs, 3) lack of access to a primary care provider (PCP), 4) lack of affordable and convenient transportation options, and 5) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of available vaccine appointments. The findings highlight that several barriers faced by newcomer families ultimately stem from issues related to accessing information about RCVs and the challenges families face once at vaccination clinics, highlighting opportunities for health systems to better support newcomers in accessing RCVs.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences. This qualitative study used basic interpretive inquiry to explore experiences of vicarious resilience among racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners who have worked with resilient attempted genocide survivor clients within a counselling setting. Five self-identified racialized and ethnically diverse mental health practitioners participated in semistructured interviews regarding their experiences.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

We employed a qualitative descriptive approach to better understand willingness to share health information by South Asian participants in Edmonton, AB and operated through a lens that considered the cultural and sociodemographic aspect of ethnocultural communities. The results of this study show that health researchers should aim to develop a mutually beneficial information-sharing partnership with communities, with an emphasis on the ethnocultural and socio-ecological aspects of health within populations. The findings support the need for culturally sensitive and respectful engagement with the community, ethically sound research practices that make participants feel comfortable in sharing their information, and an easy sharing process to share health information feasibly. We employed a qualitative descriptive approach to better understand willingness to share health information by South Asian participants in Edmonton, AB and operated through a lens that considered the cultural and sociodemographic aspect of ethnocultural communities. The results of this study show that health researchers should aim to develop a mutually beneficial information-sharing partnership with communities, with an emphasis on the ethnocultural and socio-ecological aspects of health within populations. The findings support the need for culturally sensitive and respectful engagement with the community, ethically sound research practices that make participants feel comfortable in sharing their information, and an easy sharing process to share health information feasibly.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This study examined the underexplored relationship between winter sport, newcomer participation, integration, and national identity. This study examined the underexplored relationship between winter sport, newcomer participation, integration, and national identity.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Although the number of students attending university has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, discrepancies remain across racialized student groups. Students who immigrate to Canada also face a number of barriers to university participation. However, few studies investigate variations in university participation across racialized immigrant student groups. We draw on an intersectional approach to analyze student data from the Toronto District School Board. We employ multilevel logistic regression to examine if there are interactive effects of being both racialized and having an immigrant status on confirming a university enrollment. Looking at self-identified race and immigrant status of students in combination reveals that there are important differences in the likelihood of confirming and offer of university admission between several self-identified racial categories, depending on if they were foreign-born. Although the number of students attending university has been steadily increasing over the past 20 years, discrepancies remain across racialized student groups. Students who immigrate to Canada also face a number of barriers to university participation. However, few studies investigate variations in university participation across racialized immigrant student groups. We draw on an intersectional approach to analyze student data from the Toronto District School Board. We employ multilevel logistic regression to examine if there are interactive effects of being both racialized and having an immigrant status on confirming a university enrollment. Looking at self-identified race and immigrant status of students in combination reveals that there are important differences in the likelihood of confirming and offer of university admission between several self-identified racial categories, depending on if they were foreign-born.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

This paper provides insights into the little-explored gendered perspective of the parenting practices of Somali immigrant mothers in Alberta. Mothers were interviewed about their parenting practices in a postmigration context, including challenges. Results suggest the need for anti-racist and culturally safe health, education, and child policies and practices. This paper provides insights into the little-explored gendered perspective of the parenting practices of Somali immigrant mothers in Alberta. Mothers were interviewed about their parenting practices in a postmigration context, including challenges. Results suggest the need for anti-racist and culturally safe health, education, and child policies and practices.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly