Research Library

The purpose of this paper is to examine support needs of African refugee new parents in Canada. Separated from their traditional family and cultural supports, refugee new parents reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds. Refugees required support to access services and overcome barriers such as language, complex systems, and limited financial resources. Support preferences included emotional and information support from peers from their cultural community and culturally sensitive service providers. The purpose of this paper is to examine support needs of African refugee new parents in Canada. Separated from their traditional family and cultural supports, refugee new parents reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds. Refugees required support to access services and overcome barriers such as language, complex systems, and limited financial resources. Support preferences included emotional and information support from peers from their cultural community and culturally sensitive service providers.
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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

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.
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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.
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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

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

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

Acculturation has been associated with decreased physical activity among immigrants. This study assessed the process of changing physical activity patterns within the context of Latin American immigrant women’s migration experiences to Canada. Overall, 86 % of the participants of this study reported gaining weight since coming to Canada. Participants reported becoming more sedentary upon arriving in Canada. Only 27.3 % of recent and 41.7 % of non-recent immigrant women were considered sufficiently physically active. Lack of time, resources, social support, and migration stress were identified as key barriers to physical activity. Migration stress associated with social integration barriers strongly influence physical activity among Latin American immigrant women. Acculturation has been associated with decreased physical activity among immigrants. This study assessed the process of changing physical activity patterns within the context of Latin American immigrant women’s migration experiences to Canada. Overall, 86 % of the participants of this study reported gaining weight since coming to Canada. Participants reported becoming more sedentary upon arriving in Canada. Only 27.3 % of recent and 41.7 % of non-recent immigrant women were considered sufficiently physically active. Lack of time, resources, social support, and migration stress were identified as key barriers to physical activity. Migration stress associated with social integration barriers strongly influence physical activity among Latin American immigrant women.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly

Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries are conducted when there is a failure to progress in labor, or compromised fetal status. However, they place women at higher risk for immediate complications compared to vaginal deliveries. Mumtaz et al. (2014) showed that newcomer women in the prairie provinces experienced significantly higher C-section delivery rates compared to Canadian-born women, even though rates of recommendations by healthcare providers was equal. This on-going study aims to understand this trend, and explore how decisions regarding C-section deliveries are made within the experiences of newcomer and Canadian-born women. A focused ethnography was conducted at a universityaffiliated hospital in Edmonton, Alberta for an 8-month period in 2015. The study population comprised: 1) newcomer women who immigrated to Canada after 2004 and 2) Canadian-born women. Both groups consisted of women who have a higher risk of undergoing a C-section. Data collection strategies included participant observation of prenatal appointments, labour and delivery along with in-depth interviews with the women. Preliminary findings indicate that decisions to have emergency C-sections were solely due to physician recommendations. Women stated the safety of the baby as the main reason for following physician recommendations. Caesarean section (C-section) deliveries are conducted when there is a failure to progress in labor, or compromised fetal status. However, they place women at higher risk for immediate complications compared to vaginal deliveries. Mumtaz et al. (2014) showed that newcomer women in the prairie provinces experienced significantly higher C-section delivery rates compared to Canadian-born women, even though rates of recommendations by healthcare providers was equal. This on-going study aims to understand this trend, and explore how decisions regarding C-section deliveries are made within the experiences of newcomer and Canadian-born women. A focused ethnography was conducted at a universityaffiliated hospital in Edmonton, Alberta for an 8-month period in 2015. The study population comprised: 1) newcomer women who immigrated to Canada after 2004 and 2) Canadian-born women. Both groups consisted of women who have a higher risk of undergoing a C-section. Data collection strategies included participant observation of prenatal appointments, labour and delivery along with in-depth interviews with the women. Preliminary findings indicate that decisions to have emergency C-sections were solely due to physician recommendations. Women stated the safety of the baby as the main reason for following physician recommendations.
This publication has no Abstract to dispaly