Immigrant Communities Research Articles

Intersectional analysis of intimate partner violence against Nigerian nurses in the United States

AbstractIntimate partner violence (IPV) against Nigerian nurses in the US is a complex issue intersecting gender, occupation, culture, economics, and migration. This study adopts an intersectional feminist and adult learning framework to explore the causes and potential solutions. Drawing on a thematic analysis of ten media reports and commentaries on various reported cases of IPV against Nigerian nurses, key themes that emerged include: gender‐based power dynamics, cultural expectations, clashes between patriarchal societies and gender equality, open communication, psychological factors, perceived “anti‐male” legal system, and immigrant struggles. Adult learning and education (ALE) interventions, employing transformative and experiential learning, can empower Nigerian nurses and the Nigerian immigrant community in general to challenge traditional norms, address power imbalances, and foster equality in relationships. The study calls for targeted and culturally sensitive support services to create safer environments for Nigerian nurses and families in the US. Further research is recommended to assess the long‐term impact and representativeness of the findings.

Abstract A052: Perspectives of African immigrants on community health needs and clinical trials

Abstract INTRODUCTION In the past decade, Jacksonville, Florida has seen an increase in African immigrants. However, little is known about their health needs and perspectives related to community health and clinical trials. The Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center (MCCCC) Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) Office and Programs partnered with multiple community-based organizations as part of the FL Community Engagement Alliance Against COVID-19 to hold a series of focus groups with African immigrants to better understand their perspectives surroudning these determinants. METHODS This was a qualitative study with African immigrants residing in Jacksonville, Florida. Data was collected by community partner, Jocelyn Turner Consulting, who has led multiple community-based studies in Florida. Recruitment was in partnership with African businesses and churches. Using a guide developed by MCCCC COE, three focus groups were held to explore African immigrants’ 1) general experiences, 2) access to social services, 3) perspective of community health and diseases, 4) access and use of healthcare services, 5) knowledge and participation in clinical trials, and 6) appropriate strategies for providing community education and enhancing participation in research studies. RESULTS 24 participants participated in the focus groups. 83% had recently immigrated from Africa (Democratic of the Congo, Benin, Ghana, Sudan, Mali, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Nigeria). The remaining 17% recently immigrated from Haiti or came to the US as a baby. Participants reported suprise to the proliferation of chronic diseases, such as increased cancer diagnoses of those who immigrated to the United States. Most participants associated this with the Western sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits, and lack of access to fresh food. Participants connected to refugee organizations reported knowledge of the ability to access health education resources and mental/physical care services, but those not connected with similar organizations expressed limited knowledge about access. Similarly, participants with no connection to refugee organizations reported not knowing where to access healthcare services and not seeking services until home remedies had failed. Only 33% of participants reported knowledge of clinical trials and all reported mistrust of research. Many of the participants expressed a need for health-related information upon arrival in the United States. CONCLUSION There is currently little infrastructure in place to support African immigrants in Jacksonville, Florida, which can contribute to cancer health disparities in this population. Strong community engagement is needed to partner with African immigrant communities to address culturally specific needs identified of this underrepresented population. The needs expressed by participants include information on physical activity, nutrition, and healthcare/clinical trials. A strong partnership with African immigrant communities has the potential to address cancer disparities and increase both trust and participation in clinical trials. Citation Format: Jocelyn Turner, Laureen Husband, Jessica Otero, Opeyemi Bolajoko, Parisa Fathi, Jennifer Crook, Folakemi Odedina. Perspectives of African immigrants on community health needs and clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A052.

Relocating Oneself Beyond Barriers

South-Asian diasporic authors write out of their specific cultural, individual and collective needs that relate to their experiences of racism, ethnic discrimination and sexism in the new space. The task at hand is to re-structure and re-constitute alien paradigms to suit the spaces inhabited by the immigrant. Immigrant writing involves a powerful “presencing” of source and host cultures. There are indeed variations within the immigrant groups in terms of the degree of retention of ethnic cultural values, the behavioural patterns and the degree of accommodation arrived at with the demands of the host culture. These various facets of immigrant experience, that are thrown into focus as a result of cross-cultural encounter, point to the shared experiences of the immigrant communities, which constitute the ethos of the diaspora. Diaspora is an important conceptual tool because it highlights the multiple standpoints borne of migration and displacement. It illuminates an ambivalent politics of positioning and being positioned, of identification and being identified.In her debut collection of short stories Interpreter of Maladies, also called, “stories of Bengal, Boston and Beyond”, Jhumpa Lahiri probes deeply into the maladies of cultural dislocation and the consequential emotional trauma. This paper analyses four short stories titled “A Temporary Matter”, “The Third and Final Continent”, “Mrs. Sen’s” and “Interpreter of Maladies” in the anthology and attempts to trace how the immigrants who vacillate between two cultures overcome the identity crisis they face.

Community-engaged Research Disruption: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Research With Communities

Abstract: Background: The pandemic has had dire consequences on community-engaged research. Objectives: We describe research challenges imposed by the pandemic on our breast and cervical cancer intervention study with Southeast Asian immigrant women, and strategies used to maintain study continuity. Methods: The pandemic's impact on the research team, recruitment and retention of participants, study design, and strategies executed to these issues are described. Results: Strategies employed to address research challenges include implementing coronavirus disease 2019 protocols for conducting community research; recruiting participants online, outside of the planned community locations, and through social media; and enhancing the study design by using respondent-driven sampling. In addition to educating communities about early cancer detection, we also provided information and resources about coronavirus disease 2019, including transmission mitigation, testing, and vaccination. Conclusions: Continuing to engage the communities in our study is critical to our long-term goal of eliminating cancer screening disparities in Southeast Asian immigrant communities.

Fransa'daki Göçmen Topluluklar Arasında Miras Dili Olarak Türkçe

Language functions as the strongest bond connecting individuals to fundamental cultural elements of their society. In the context of immigrant communities, the heritage language plays a crucial role in protecting cultural heritage and transferring it to young generations; and thus, it should be attributed a special attention. The present study is conducted to explore the current state of Turkish language use among Turkish immigrants in France and their opinions regarding its protection and transference to new generations. For this purpose, the data gathered from Turkish immigrants (N=348) was analysed to identify the rates of Turkish language use and the degrees of importance attributed to protecting and transferring Turkish onto new generations. The findings and the implications are meant to shed light on the up-to-date dynamics in the state of Turkish among immigrant communities in France while contributing to the research focusing on heritage languages and the protection of cultural heritages.

The Languages of Food and Imagined Communities at a Somali Restaurant in Bellville, South Africa

Abstract This study is an ethnographic account of an ethnic restaurant of the Somali immigrant community in South Africa. It seeks to examine the role that a Somali restaurant plays with regard to the food cooked, served, and consumed as well as the linguistic and non-linguistic ways in which the guests, Somalis and non-Somalis, negotiate their ethnic and national identities and communities in relation to the food and the wider physical and social context of the restaurant, located in the Bellville region of South Africa. A secular environment, South Africa can also be described as fairly xenophobic and Afrophobic. For the collection of data, the study focused on the restaurateur, employees, and guests. The findings indicated that through food memories, habits, and practices, and an aura of conviviality and homeliness, the Somali and non-Somali immigrants developed and sustained a sense of community and solidarity. This is as opposed to the mainly commercial and uniform feel of western (or American) (or) fast food restaurants. As a corollary of this, it is the case that immigrants carry with them norms and values which ought to be drawn from by the host society.

Individual English Proficiency, Community Language Resources, and Immigrants’ Employment in Western New York: Evidence from the American Community Survey

This study examines associations between the ability to speak English, community language resources, and employment among immigrants in Western New York, United States. Building on existing literature that demonstrates the importance of individual human capital (English proficiency), social networks, and ethnic community resources in immigrants’ labor market outcomes, we introduce the concept of community-level language resources as a facilitator of immigrants’ economic integration. Using data from the American Community Survey and a measure of community language resources (the percentage of bilinguals among people speaking the same language in a community), we find that greater community language resources are associated with a significant increase in the likelihood of being employed for immigrant men with limited English proficiency. Regression analyses also show that neither individual English proficiency nor community language resources are significantly associated with immigrant women's probability of being employed. This study calls for attention to community language resources and individual human capital when designing research on and developing policies for immigrant populations. Findings also show the need for a gender-aware approach to research and practice with immigrant communities.

Associations of depression with hypertension and citizenship among U.S. adults: A cross-sectional study of the interactions of hypertension and citizenship

With the increasing prevalence of hypertension-related cardiovascular deaths and depression, this study examined the associations of depression with hypertension, citizenship status, and interaction of hypertension and citizenship status among U.S. adults. Data from the 2015–2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), including 63,985 individuals, were analyzed. Depression status was the outcome, with hypertension and U.S. citizenship status as the main independent variables. Using odds ratio (OR) estimates, we evaluated the associations between hypertension and depression, and citizenship status. The result indicates that a higher proportion of U.S. adults with hypertension reported depression compared to those who did not have hypertension (42.9 % vs. 37.5 %). In terms of U.S. citizenship status, a higher proportion of U.S. citizens reported depression than non-citizens (39.6 % vs. 31.6 %). However, non-citizens with hypertension were more likely to report depression compared to U.S. citizens without hypertension (OR = 1.46; 95 % CI = 1.15, 1.86). While hypertension marginally increased the odds of depression among the general U.S. population, being a non-U.S. citizen with hypertension significantly increased the risk of depression by 46 %. The findings imply that the healthy immigrant paradox, in the context of hypertension-depression prevention and control, may not apply to non-citizens with hypertension. We therefore recommend community-based screenings and more tailored interventions to address these health disparities while taking into consideration the unique cultural norms, behaviors and healthcare barriers encountered by specific immigrant communities.

Follicular DNA Damage and Pesticide Exposure Among Latinx Children in Rural and Urban Communities

The intersectional risks of children in United States immigrant communities include environmental exposures. Pesticide exposures and their biological outcomes are not well characterized in this population group. We assessed pesticide exposure and related these exposures to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in Latinx children from rural, farmworker families (FW; N = 30) and from urban, non-farmworker families (NFW; N = 15) living in North Carolina. DSBs were quantified in hair follicular cells by immunostaining of 53BP1, and exposure to 72 pesticides and pesticide degradation products were determined using silicone wristbands. Cholinesterase activity was measured in blood samples. DSB frequencies were higher in FW compared to NFW children. Seasonal effects were detected in the FW group, with highest DNA damage levels in April–June and lowest levels in October–November. Acetylcholinesterase depression had the same seasonality and correlated with follicular DNA damage. Organophosphate pesticides were more frequently detected in FW than in NFW children. Participants with organophosphate detections had increased follicular DNA damage compared to participants without organophosphate detection. Follicular DNA damage did not correlate with organochlorine or pyrethroid detections and was not associated with the total number of pesticides detected in the wristbands. These results point to rural disparities in pesticide exposures and their outcomes in children from vulnerable immigrant communities. They suggest that among the different classes of pesticides, organophosphates have the strongest genotoxic effects. Assessing pesticide exposures and their consequences at the individual level is key to environmental surveillance programs. To this end, the minimally invasive combined approach used here is particularly well suited for children.

The Conundrum of Ethnic Discrimination and Identity Crisis in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Americanah

The issue of Racial discrimination has emerged as a pressing concern worldwide in general and in the United States in particular in recent times, posing a significant challenge to human rights. Racial discrimination constitutes a grave violation of human rights, which encompasses a broad spectrum of human rights violations, including the adoption of discriminatory practices, the marginalization of domestic issues, and the unjust targeting of ethnic or religious minorities, refugees, and immigrants, often branding them as criminals, either intentionally or inadvertently (Smith & Johnson, n.d.). In this context, the present study aims to examine the facet of ethnic and racial discrimination that is meted out against the African immigrant community in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah. This study tries to investigate the instances of racial discrimination that are orchestrated on the protagonist Ifemelu and her deep longing for ethnic identity after she migrated from Nigeria to America. This research paper also examines the myriad forms of racial politics and myths of sexism and racism prevalent in the American discourses in the light of Intersectionality theory.

Reflections on the position paper at the conference of the DVRW (German Ass. for Science of Religion), Bayreuth 2023, calling for integrated teaching of ‘religion’ for all students in Germany

In Germany, Austria, and to some extent in Switzerland, denominational instruction in religion or secular ethics at schools is the legally enshrined norm. Considering that these countries comprise about 100 million inhabitants, with Germany being the by far most populous nation in the EU, this is of cultural significance outside of the German-speaking realm too. A philosophy of inclusion of the Churches and recognised religious communities into the social life and education is pursued, that is legally entrenched in constitutions (notwithstanding the religious-philosophical neutrality of the state). This provides for their active inclusion into education on all levels, in forms of cooperation between state(s) and Church. The present (prevalent) structure of compulsory denominational religious instruction, or secular ethics, at choice, and of the academic training of teachers at denominational faculties of theology, or of other recognised religions, reflect his system. It is in force for over one century, now. This system has come under pressure by the ongoing secularisation that prevents the formation of sufficiently large classes for such separate instruction. As to knowledge about religion, there is also a trend in society for become aware or the role of religion in shaping culture. The presence of large Islamic immigrant communities, has sharpened awareness for differing value systems and mores, between religions and cultures. These factors of sociology of religion, and of societal change, led to developments towards integrated religious instruction, to the inclusion of perspectives and themes of science of religion in denominational curricula, and to the increased inclusion of themes of religion in secular ethics instruction. In this context, the German Association for Science of Religion (DVRW) endorsed a position paper, calling for an integrated instruction of religion (and ethics) for all students. It also calls for science of religion as regular study requirement to qualify for teaching such an integrated subject. This model is in force in only on state of Germany (and in some Swiss cantons). The position paper thus has aspects of promoting the position of the discipline. This review gives a critical analysis of arguments proposed in this position paper that was debated and endorsed at the recent conference of the DVRW in Bayreuth in September of 2023. My critique of this position paper is based on decades of teaching Protestant Religion at upper secondary schools, with the experience of applying instruction on other religions, on the basis of science of religion – as prescribed by the curriculum, about which I published, as with a teacher’s manual for the instruction on Hinduism (including Yoga), and Buddhism,1 as required by the curriculum. (This manual combines perspectives of science of religion, theological approaches, from the perspectives of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Protestant Christianity, and of history of culture.), by contributing to debate in the field,2 and lectures, on didactical consequences of secularisation for religious instruction,3 and professional publications,4 also in sociological perspective.5

Social Integration of Immigrant Communities in a Multicultural Context: A Case Study of Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong

This paper focuses on the diverse cultural landscape of Hong Kong and examines the social integration of Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers to the local society. It analyzes the challenges they face in achieving social integration, the underlying factors contributing to their integration issues, and the measures taken by the Hong Kong government and non-governmental organizations to enhance immigrants social integration. The study reveals that Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers experience lower levels of social integration, requiring further improvements in personal safety and employment protection.

Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Immigrant Families.

Introduction: Little is known about the experiences of immigrant families with COVID-19 illness. This mixed methods study compared child and household experiences at the time of a child's COVID-19 diagnosis between immigrant and US-born parents and explored immigrant Latino perspectives on underlying causes of COVID-19 disparities between immigrant and US-born families. Methods: Study data includes surveys of parents of a child with a positive SARS-CoV2 test resulting at Children's Hospital Colorado and focus groups with Latino immigrant adults. We compared household COVID-19 experiences, use of mitigation measures, vaccine intention and sociodemographic information between survey participants stratified by nativity and completed thematic qualitative data analysis. Results: Findings from quantitative data were reinforced by qualitative data including: lower socio-economic status and higher employment in essential services increased infections and spread in immigrant families and higher risk of limited information access related to language barriers and prevalent misinformation. Survey results showed no difference in COVID-19 vaccine intention by nativity. Focus group participants reported limited access to non-English language culturally-tailored vaccine information and competing work demands decreased uptake. Conclusion: Avoiding exacerbating disparities in the face of another public health emergency requires focused investments in policies and approaches specifically directed at immigrant communities.

Embodying The Everyday: Health And Heritage Practice Relationships In Latin American And Caribbean Immigrant Communities In New York City

The sociocultural factors related to immigrant health perceptions and practices have been long flattened and essentialized in discussions of urban community health, leading to programs and policies that fall short in holistically addressing community needs. Responding to this shortfall, in this article, I take a phenomenological approach to understanding the relationships between ecological heritage practices and health in Latin American and Caribbean immigrant communities in New York City. Through ethnographic accounts of heritage practices, I identify broad themes related to everyday practice: health care pluralism, space and time constraints, social identity, and biological health. Foodways and the preparation of traditional dishes featured prominently in the 20 semi-structured interviews and participant observation across four diverse neighborhoods. I use the embodied ecological heritage (EEH) framework to theorize the connections between the practice of heritage traditions and the well body. I illustrate how everyday negotiations around how practices are defined and described as “normal” in the context of the new environments of the immigrant experience, so capturing the fluidity of the heritage practices and the traditional body as a site of wellness. Focus on this fluidity of heritage practice stands to improve the ways in which immigrant community health resources might be developed and deployed, providing a holistic lens often lacking in urban public health systems.

Faith as a Cornerstone: Resilience, Adaptation, and Cultural Cohesion in Slovak Immigrant Communities in Canada

Faith as a Cornerstone: Resilience, Adaptation, and Cultural Cohesion in Slovak Immigrant Communities in Canada

Do the Kerala nurses in Germany break the myth of migration as a male-space?

In this paper, we are interested in the curious case of the Kerala nurses in Germany in the 1960s and '70s and their location in the context of gender-migration interface. These migrants challenge the myth of migration that migration is quintessentially a male-dominated space where women are largely represented as dependents. The moot point of this paper is to explore their cases within the larger context of gender-migration nexus and break this myth. As a women-driven immigrant community, the nurses from Kerala offer a perspectival shift in terms of understanding heteronormative structures within migrant households and outside, including adjustments in gender-roles and gender-based performances. Through this paper we argue that heteronormativity is often replaced by transnational patriarchy, because diaspora formation, similar to nation-building, is a patriarchal process.

Beyond the Body: Using Photovoice to Explore Social Determinants of Diabetes With South Asian Adolescents in the Peel Region of Ontario, Canada

ObjectivesThe higher prevalence of diabetes in the South Asian (SA) population living in Canada spans across generations and is often associated with individual risk factors while undermining the social determinants of health (SDOH). There is a scarcity of studies on the perspectives of SA adolescents with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Learning directly from these adolescents can fill a major gap by providing insight on how the SDOH contribute to disproportionate rates of T2DM in SA immigrant communities. MethodsIn this study, we used Photovoice, which is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) method that involves the use of photography to visually capture the challenges of diabetes prevention from the perspective of those with lived experiences. A group of 15 SA youth were recruited from an adolescent diabetes education program in the Peel Region of Ontario. The youth discussed their images and accompanied written narratives during focus groups. ResultsFour themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the photographs and participant narratives that influence the manifestation of T2DM in SA communities: 1) immigration and resettlement stressors; 2) food insecurity; 3) unhealthy school environments; and 4) academic pressures. ConclusionsFindings suggest the need to address T2DM as a response to unjust conditions and environments rather than as an epidemic entrenched in genetic predisposition, culture, and poor lifestyle choices.

Tinea Favosa: Negligence and Misdiagnosis in Three Cases in Shiraz During 2021 - 2022

Introduction: Tinea favosa, a dermatophytic infection primarily caused by Trichophyton schoenleinii, remains a notable dermatological concern. It is characterized clinically by yellowish cup-shaped crusts on the scalp, and these lesions can result in scarring or non-scarring alopecia. Case Presentation: Three cases of severe tinea favosa transmitted by T. schoenleinii in Afghan immigrants residing in Iran are presented. The prevalence of tinea favosa has declined in Iran, although in some parts of Iran, mostly in the northern cities, the prevalence is still fairly high. Environmental and socioeconomic factors are the most common causes of these differences and elevated prevalence in specific northern cities. Conclusions: The increasing trend of isolation of T. schoenleinii in the immigrant population in Iran should be considered a serious health problem that requires special attention, as it could be a potential source for the re-emergence of this dermatophytic infection in the region. This emerging trend necessitates specialized medical attention and raises broader questions about regional dermatological patterns and their consequences for public health. Tinea favosa epidemiology is subject to change due to shifting migration patterns, evolving socioeconomic conditions, increased international travel, and drug overuse. In light of these findings, we propose the following recommendations: We recommend training and educational programs for healthcare professionals, especially in regions with high immigrant populations, to enhance their ability to accurately diagnose and manage tinea favosa. We also recommend raising awareness about tinea favosa, its symptoms, and the importance of seeking timely medical attention. Targeting both immigrant communities and healthcare providers is crucial.

‘Strange symbols to the new dawn’: Lola Ridge, Anarchist Networks, and the Carceral Elegy

Lola Ridge is a poet whose work is both pedagogic and visionary. Born in Dublin, moving to Australasia and then to the US, Ridge characterized the transnational experience that helped to shape anarchist networks in New York in the early decades of the twentieth century. In addition to her involvement in the activities of the Ferrer Center Modern School, she both contributed to, and edited, a number of literary magazines. Her poems document the poverty of her surroundings and the complex pressures faced by the city's immigrant communities, as well as featuring a range of political activists and thinkers, from prominent figures to unidentified political groups ‘converging in meeting halls’. Throughout her writing life she engaged deeply with issues of social justice and with the figure of the prisoner as exemplary of social marginalization. This essay examines what may be termed Ridge's ‘carceral elegies’, situating them in the wider context of revolutionary Ireland, and its place in New York literary culture.

What Should Students Learn About the Importance of Cultural Brokering in Immigrant Communities?

What Should Students Learn About the Importance of Cultural Brokering in Immigrant Communities?