Agency, Initiative, and Obstacles to Health Among Indigenous Immigrant Women From Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Multi-ethnic, indigenous Mexican immigrants from Oaxaca, the poorest state in Mexico, have engaged in transnational migration to the United States in increasing numbers since the early 1980s and the economic crisis in Mexico. Indigenous women migrants constitute a significant segment of this population, significant to nursing because of their major role in watching over the health of their families. This article reports selected research findings of an exploratory study of the migration and health experiences of Mexican indigenous women from Oaxaca that focus on their strengths while recognizing their vulnerabilities for health problems. Implications for nursing practice and praxis are identified.