Immigrant Women Research Articles

Zoom & WhatsApp digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) enhance community engaged research with women immigrants from Mexico

ABSTRACT This article demonstrates how digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) (Zoom/WhatsApp) unexpectedly and counterintuitively proved to be valuable tools for community-engaged health research when, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were integrated into a research study testing a peer support group intervention with female immigrants from Mexico. Because of pandemic restrictions, we changed the study protocol to hold meetings remotely via Zoom rather than in person as originally planned. Because we recognized that this would lack some opportunities for participants to interact and develop relationships, we created a WhatsApp chat for each group. Despite challenges for participants to use ICTs and participant-stated preference for in-person meetings, the results demonstrated that participants overwhelmingly endorsed these technologies as promoting access, participation, engagement, and satisfaction. Zoom/WhatsApp created a valuable environment both as a method for conducting research with this population, but also as part of the intervention for immigrant women to support and learn from each other. ICT adaptations have now permanently changed the way we conduct community-engaged health research.

Racialization processes and depressive symptoms among pregnant Mexican-origin immigrant women.

This study examines how racialization processes (conceptualized as multilevel and dynamic processes) shape prenatal mental health by testing the association of discrimination and the John Henryism hypothesis on depressive symptoms for pregnant Mexican-origin immigrant women. We analyzed baseline data (n = 218) from a healthy lifestyle intervention for pregnant Latinas in Detroit, Michigan. Using separate multiple linear regression models, we examined the independent and joint associations of discrimination and John Henryism with depressive symptoms and effect modification by socioeconomic position. Discrimination was positively associated with depressive symptoms (β = 2.84; p < .001) when adjusting for covariates. This association did not vary by socioeconomic position. Women primarily attributed discrimination to language use, racial background, and nativity. We did not find support for the John Henryism hypothesis, meaning that the hypothesized association between John Henryism and depressive symptoms did not vary by socioeconomic position. Examinations of joint associations of discrimination and John Henryism on depressive symptoms indicate a positive association between discrimination and depressive symptoms (β = 2.81; p < .001) and no association of John Henryism and depressive symptoms (β = -0.83; p > .05). Results suggest complex pathways by which racialization processes affect health and highlight the importance of considering experiences of race, class, and gender within racialization processes.

가정폭력 피해 이주여성 지원 제도 및 서비스에 대한 고찰: 문제점과 개선 방안을 중심으로

While public awareness on domestic violence has increased over the past few decades in Korea, little is known about domestic violence issues pertaining to immigrant women. This study is an attempt to provide an overview of domestic violence issues, legal and policy structures, and current social service system in place for battered immigrant women in Korea. The findings show that various sound legal and policy framework has been established over the past years, resulting in provisions added to the existing laws on domestic violence, policies developed specifying support for battered immigrant women and implementation of social service agencies to assist and protect the battered immigrant women and their families. Using the AAAQ framework by UN, we examined the current service delivery system. The result shows that service availability, accessibility, and acceptability are found to be quite compromised by gaps between the policy and practice. A large number of service providers are located in metropolitan areas, reducing the accessibility of battered women in other regions. A limited budget is also a barrier to provide comprehensive services to all in need. Lastly, a lack of translator and interpreter services limits accessibility and acceptability as both the service providers and the victims are unable to communicate with language barriers. Based on the findings, we suggested implications for policy and practice.

결혼이주여성의 문화적응과 초등학생 자녀의 학교적응 간의 구조적 관계: 학교활동참여와 양육효능감 매개를 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of the cultural adaptation types (assimilation and integration) of marriage immigrant women on their children's school adjustment, mediated by school activity participation and parenting efficacy. For this purpose, data from the first year of the Multicultural Adolescents Panel Study(MAPS) 2nd cohort(MAPS 2) conducted by the Korea Youth Policy Institute were utilized, involving 2,224 households with fourth-grade elementary school students. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling using AMOS 22.0 were conducted, and path analysis utilizing phantom variables was performed to verify the influence of each path. The main findings of this study are as follows: First, the cultural adaptation type of marriage immigrant women had a significant effect on school activity participation, but had negative effects on parenting efficacy, and had no effects on school adjustment. Second, in the relationship between the cultural adaptation assimilation type of immigrant women and school adjustment of their children, both school activity participation and parenting efficacy were found to have significant dual mediating effects. Furthermore, parenting efficacy was found to have a significant partially mediating effect in the relationship between cultural adaptation assimilation type and school adjustment of their children, while it had a significant statically mediating effect in the relationship between cultural adaptation integration type and school adjustment of their children. Based on the findings, educational implications were discussed.

Association of the bitter taste genes TAS2R38 and CA6 and breast cancer risk; a case-control study of Polish women in Poland and Polish immigrants in USA.

It is known that the perception of bitterness is mediated by type 2 bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs). However, recent reports have suggested that the carbonic anhydrase 6 (CA6) gene may also influence bitterness sensing. Genetic variants in these genes could influence dietary intake of brassica vegetables, whose increased consumption has been observed in the literature, though inconsistently, to decrease breast cancer (BC) risk. We hypothesized that the estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between BC and taster diplotype (PAV/PAV) and/or genotype A/A, will be in the direction of increased BC risk, potentially due to reduced consumption of brassica vegetables. Using a case-control study of BC in Polish women in Poland (210 cases and 262 controls) and Polish immigrant women to USA (78 cases and 170 controls) we evaluated the association of the taster diplotypes in TAS2R38 gene and genotypes in the CA6 gene and BC risk in these two populations individually and jointly. No significant increase in risk was observed for the TAS2R38 PAV/PAV diplotype (tasters) in each population individually or in the joint population. For the CA6 gene, in the joint population, we observed an increased BC risk for the combined G/A and G/G genotypes (non-tasters) vs A/A (tasters), OR = 1.41 (95% CI 1.04-1.90, p = 0.026) which after adjustment for False Discovery Rate (FDR), was not significant at p≤0.05 level. However, for the joint population and for the combined genotype of the two genes AVI/AVI+G* (non-tasters) vs. PAV/*+A/A (tasters), we observed a significant increase in BC risk, OR = 1.77 (95%CI 1.47-2.74, p = 0.01), for the non-tasters, which remained significant after FDR adjustment. In conclusion for the joint population and the joint effect for the two bitter sensing genes, we observed an increase in BC risk for the bitterness non-tasters, association which is in the opposite direction to our original hypothesis.

Attitudes Toward Police and Judges of Latina Immigrants With a Justice-Involved Child: Do Documentation Status and Family Deportations Matter?

Immigrants who are undocumented or who have experienced the deportation of family members may perceive legal actors such as police and judges differently than immigrants who are legal residents. Among a sample of 117 Latina immigrant women in California whose sons were arrested, we found that women who were undocumented had more negative specific attitudes toward police (i.e., stemming from their experience during their son’s arrest), and women with a history of family deportations had more negative general attitudes toward police (i.e., considering the police as an abstract group). Attitudes toward judges were neither associated with documentation status nor family deportations, suggesting that the association is unique to police during an era when police are increasingly involved in immigration enforcement.

Immigration Status and Breast Cancer Surgery Quality of Care Metrics: A Population-Level Analysis.

As immigrant women face challenges accessing health care, we hypothesized that immigration status would be associated with fewer women with breast cancer receiving surgery for curable disease, fewer undergoing breast conserving surgery (BCS), and longer wait time to surgery. A population-level retrospective cohort study, including women aged 18-70 years with Stage I-III breast cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2016 in Ontario was conducted. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess odds of undergoing surgery, receiving BCS and wait time to surgery. A total of 31,755 patients were included [26,253 (82.7%) Canadian-born and 5502 (17.3%) immigrant women]. Immigrant women were younger (mean age 51.6 vs. 56.1 years) and less often presented with Stage I/II disease (87.4% vs. 89.8%) (both p < .001). On multivariable analysis, there was no difference between immigrant women and Canadian-born women in odds of undergoing surgery [Stage I OR 0.93 (95% CI 0.79-1.11), Stage II 1.04 (0.89-1.22), Stage III 1.22 (0.94-1.57)], receiving BCS [Stage I 0.93 (0.82-1.05), Stage II 0.96 (0.86-1.07), Stage III 1.00 (0.83-1.22)], or wait time [Stage I 0.45 (-0.61-1.50), Stage II 0.33 (-0.86-1.52), Stage III 3.03 (-0.05-6.12)]. In exploratory analysis, new immigrants did not have surgery more than established immigrants (12.9% vs. 10.1%), and refugee women had longer wait time compared with economic-class immigrants (39.5 vs. 35.3 days). We observed differences in measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and disease characteristics between immigrant and Canadian-born women with breast cancer. Upon adjusting for these factors, no differences emerged in rate of surgery, rate of BCS, and time to surgery. The lack of disparity suggests barriers to accessing basic components of breast cancer care may be mitigated by the universal healthcare system in Canada.

“There Are Not Enough Lawyers, and There Are Not Enough Financial Resources”: Canadian and American Intimate Partner Violence Service Providers’ Perspectives for Better Supporting Immigrant Women Survivors

Immigrant women are at a high risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) and experience many challenges to help-seeking. Currently, little is known about IPV service providers’ perspectives for better supporting immigrant women within their agencies. Drawing on an intersectional framework, constructivist grounded theory (CGT) with a modified written vignette technique was employed. Online surveys were used to gather service providers’ perspectives on the vignette, which described an immigrant woman experiencing IPV. Responses from over 50 IPV service providers in the U.S. and Canada indicated the need for enhanced training to aid immigrant survivors. Further, several respondents recommended changes to the immigration/legal systems, as well as more resources for community outreach and language, legal, and housing support.

Integration of immigrant women in Europe: a multifaceted approach

PurposeThis work analyzes female immigrants’ integration in the dimensions of education, labor market participation and fertility in 15 European countries, considering individual characteristics, including cultural background, host countries’ attitudes towards immigrants, the role of women in the family and country-specific integration policy. All these aspects taken together are crucial to understand the main patterns of integration focusing on gender differences.Design/methodology/approachWe focus on second- and first-generation male and female immigrants between the age of 25 and 41, with a length of stay of at least ten years. Enrollment ratios for tertiary education in parents’ countries, the total fertility rate and the female labor force in the mother’s country represent ethnic background. Diversity in the destination regions is captured by local attitudes towards immigrants, the perceived role of women and national policies to integrate migrants [Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX)]. The data are drawn from the European Social Survey (ESS) for 2010–2018. Our results are based on ordinary least squares (OLS) and logit estimates; multilevel analysis was conducted.FindingsWe find significant evidence of gender role transmission from mother to daughter; age at immigration seems to be crucial to examine the importance of the culture of origin among immigrants. However, females are responsive to attitudes toward immigrants and gender equality in receiving societies, while integration policies, by defining the set of opportunities, may contribute to both genders’ tertiary education and women’s probability of being in the labor force.Social implicationsThis work underlines that integration policies favoring equal rights as nationals may contribute to both women’s tertiary education and their probability of being in the labor force.Originality/valueWe explore female integration in Europe in the dimensions of education, labor market, fertility and the role of both immigrants’ cultural heritage and specific aspects of destination countries. Previous research, particularly in the USA, has generally focused on some of these features at the expense of a more comprehensive approach. This study builds upon the existing literature and contributes to it by taking a multifaceted approach to female integration in Western Europe, which presents not only an institutional context different from the USA but also some heterogeneity with respect to integration policies and socioeconomic factors.

Crime and Reform: An Underworld of Journalism

ABSTRACT This article reconstructs the shrouded career of undercover reporter Natalie de Bogory (mostly from 1911–1922) to illustrate how reporters collaborated with public-private networks to regulate real or perceived crime and extend the reach of the security state, before the practice later expanded within the FBI. De Bogory was twice a guide. Undercover for newspapers, she escorted readers through an urban working-class underworld of dance, sex, and employed single women. Her journalism, however, obscured her more covert work. For private reformers who partnered with city officials, she investigated social issues, including allegations of “White slavery,” the alleged sex trafficking of immigrant women. That work, during the nativist hysteria of World War I, drew de Bogory into a scheme to promote the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion,” a forged anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that was later dubbed a “Warrant for Genocide.” This history of de Bogory is an argument for studying the careers of relatively unknown journalists who often worked multiple jobs to understand their impact, and expose the interconnectivity of journalism with other professions and institutions. This article reconstructs de Bogory’s career to reclaim the tradition of reporters collaborating with reformist public-private networks. Then, that neglected history is framed as a model for Henry Ford’s newspaper, the Dearborn Independent, which publicized the Protocols.

Navigating Dating Violence: An Intersectional Analysis of Agency Among Young Iranian Immigrant Women

Women's agency in resisting violence and control within intimate relationships manifests in diverse forms, shaped by various social divisions and the socio-cultural contexts in which gender relations evolve. This research explores first-generation young Iranian immigrant women's responses to violence and control within their dating relationships in Canada. Employing an intersectional analysis, it delves into the multifaceted agency demonstrated by these women when confronting dating violence (DV). By contextualizing their agency within Collins's matrix of oppression, the study unveils how systems of oppression interlock to shape their agency. The findings underscored the substantial agency displayed by young women in asserting their self-determination and self-definition. This was evident in their ability to recognize the aggressor's controlling behaviors within their relationships and their outspoken critique of the deeply entrenched patriarchal and gendered norms prevailing in the dominant discourse within the Iranian community. The results underscore the pressing need for culturally sensitive interventions and education programs that move beyond mere DV awareness.

Immigrant Women in IT: Discrimination in Work, and Solutions for their Employment

Immigrant Women in IT: Discrimination in Work, and Solutions for their Employment

Perspectives from the pandemic epicenter: Sexual and reproductive health of immigrant women in New York City.

The United States' response to COVID-19 created a policy, economic, and healthcare provision environment that had implications for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of racialized and minoritized communities. Perspectives from heterogenous immigrant communities in New York City, the pandemic epicenter in the United States (US), provides a glimpse into how restrictive social policy environments shape contraception, abortion, pregnancy preferences, and other aspects of SRH for marginalized immigrant communities. We conducted in-depth interviews in 2020 and 2021 with 44 cisgender immigrant women from different national origins and 19 direct service providers for immigrant communities in New York City to explore how immigrants were forced to adapt their SRH preferences and behaviors to the structural barriers of the COVID-19 pandemic. We coded and analyzed the interviews using a constant comparative approach. Pandemic-related fears and structural barriers to healthcare access shaped shifts in contraceptive use and preferences among our participants. Immigrant women weighed their concerns for health and safety and the potential of facing discrimination as part of their contraceptive preferences. Immigrants also described shifts in their pregnancy preferences as rooted in concerns for their health and safety and economic constraints unique to immigrant communities. Understanding how immigrant women's SRH shifted in response to the structural and policy constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic can reveal how historically marginalized communities will be impacted by an increasingly restrictive reproductive health and immigration policy landscape.

34 Use of health services and cancer screening among immigrant cancer survivors with second primary cancer

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Due to clinical advances, cancer survivors are living longer but have an increased risk of a second primary cancer (SPC). This cross-sectional study aims to examine SPC prevalence in immigrant women and compare healthcare use (HCU) and cancer screening in immigrants with SPC versus (1) immigrants with a single cancer and (2) US-born women with SPC. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: The study population will include adult women with breast/gynecologic primary cancer (PC) from the 2005, 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2015 National Health Interview Survey. First-generation immigrant or US-born status will be defined by region of birth. SPC includes diagnosis with a second cancer type ≥1 year after the initial PC diagnosis. We will compare the prevalence of ≥1 SPC in immigrant and US-born women. To evaluate HCU and cancer screening differences, we will assess sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors, risk behaviors, length of US residence, and citizenship status with descriptive statistics. In regression analyses, we will compare number of provider visits and cancer screening rates in immigrant women with SPC versus immigrants with PC alone and US-born women with SPC after matching by age and PC type. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Disparities in cancer diagnosis, quality of care, receipt of recommended treatment, and screening rates among immigrants in the US are well documented. Therefore, we hypothesize that immigrant cancer survivors will have similar or higher rates of SPC compared to women born in the US with variations based on health status. We further hypothesize that immigrants with SPC will report lower rates of HCU after diagnosis of their first cancer and cancer screening compared to US-born women. However, we expect that immigrants with SPC will report similar or higher rates of HCU and cancer screening compared to immigrant women with PC alone. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: To our knowledge, this study will be the first to describe SPC among immigrant cancer survivors in the US. This research will inform interventions to improve cancer care delivery and ultimately reduce SPC in immigrants with cancer.

Empowerment Moderates the Relationship Between Partner Abuse and Suicidal Ideation for Immigrant Women.

Research shows strong associations between intimate partner violence (IPV) among women and suicidal ideation but this topic is understudied among immigrant women in abusive relationships in the United States. Empowerment may play a significant role in protecting abused immigrant women from suicidal ideation but has not been studied with quantitative data. The current study used convenience sampling. Immigrant women who experienced IPV were asked about IPV severity, empowerment, and where they were born. Bivariate associations among variables were assessed; empowerment was tested as a moderator of the relationship between IPV and suicidal ideation. The sample comprised 293 immigrant women, with 62.8% reporting suicidal ideation with a significantly greater proportion of women from South America than elsewhere reporting suicidal ideation. Empowerment buffered the effect of IPV on suicidal ideation. Prevalence of suicidal ideation among immigrant women experiencing IPV is concerning. Severity of IPV, region of the world where women were born, and empowerment were all related to suicidal ideation, showing directions for future research. Empowerment nursing interventions are needed to address IPV and resulting mental health problems among immigrant women. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(x), xx-xx.].

Refusing Death: Immigrant Women and the Fight for Environmental Justice in LA

Refusing Death: Immigrant Women and the Fight for Environmental Justice in LA

Expanding comprehensive pregnancy care for Emergency Medicaid recipients: a cost-effectiveness analysis

BackgroundEmergency Medicaid is a restricted benefits program for individuals who are low-income and immigrants ObjectiveWe compared the cost-effectiveness of two strategies of pregnancy coverage for Emergency Medicaid recipients: the federal minimum of covering the delivery only vs extended coverage to 60 days postpartum. Study DesignsWe built a decision-analytic Markov model to evaluate the outcomes and costs of these policies, and applied results to a theoretical cohort of 100,000 postpartum Emergency Medicaid recipients. We adopted the payor perspective. We examined health outcomes and cost-effectiveness over a one- and three-year time horizon. All probabilities, utilities and costs were obtained from the literature. Our primary outcome was the incremental cost effectiveness ratio of the competing strategies. ResultsExtending Emergency Medicaid to 60 days postpartum is a cost-effective strategy. Providing postpartum and contraceptive care resulted in 33,900 additional people receiving effective contraception in the first year and prevented 7,290 additional unintended pregnancies. Over 1 year; it resulted in a gain of 1,566 quality adjusted life year at a cost of $10,903 per quality adjusted life year. By 3 years of policy change, greater improvements were observed in all outcomes and expansion of Emergency Medicaid became cost-saving and the dominant strategy. ConclusionInclusion of postpartum care and contraception for immigrant women who are low-income results in lower costs and improved health outcomes.

Revisiting Transnational Activities: Korean Immigrant Mothers’ Home Visit for Families

Immigrant mothers engage in numerous transnational activities. In this qualitative study, we explored one distinct type of transnational activity, a return trip to the home country for visit, as experienced by Korean immigrant mothers. Through purposeful sampling, 11 married middle-class Korean immigrant women with children were recruited to be interviewed during their visit to South Korea. By exploring the transcripts through the thematic analysis, we paid attention to how these women negotiated and constructed the meaning of their return trip. These mothers carefully planned and coordinated these return trips so that their children could find their Korean roots by being immersed in the culture and build close intergenerational relationships. The mothers also perceived the trip as an opportunity to see their relatives face-to-face and spend quality time with their aging parents. Similar to other transnational activities, the meanings of return trip to home country might reflect social and cultural climates of Korea and the United States.

A Korean Picture Bride as an Immigrant Woman Entrepreneur: Gender, Mobility, and Hawaii's Lodging Businesses

This article aims to analyze the autobiographical records left by Chun Yun‐hee, who came to Hawaii in 1915 as a Korean picture bride, through the lenses of gender, family, labor, and entrepreneurship. First, this article examines the motivations and causes for her transcountry mobility during Korea's Japanese colonial era and subsequent local‐level relocations within the Hawaiian Islands. Second, it sheds light on her labor and economic activities in the period after her migration to the United States, particularly focusing on her involvement in Hawaii's lodging business. It examines why and how she entered and operated lodging businesses, specifically in terms of capital, labor, and customers; how gender and geographical conditions affected her entrepreneurial activities; and how she interpreted the meaning of her work. It is expected that this study will contribute to an improved understanding of not only immigrant women entrepreneurs in general but also the economic adaptation processes and the role of social networks among Korean picture brides in particular.

Depression in pregnant Hispanic women: Risk factors, pregnancy outcomes and plasma cytokines

BackgroundMaternal depression is considered a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in pregnancy. A population at risk are U.S. born or immigrant Hispanic women, and few prenatal depression or immune studies have focused on this population. ObjectiveThe research questions for the study were 1) What are the occurrences, risk factors and outcomes associated with depression in Hispanic pregnant women in the United States and 2) What are the associations of plasma immune cytokines and prenatal depression in this population. Study designWomen of self-reported Hispanic ethnicity were born in the continental United States or foreign-born. Screening of potential participants (n = 690) at a first prenatal clinic visit consisted of antibody testing for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in a larger grant, and only the women with antibody levels below the cutoff for T. gondii positivity (N = 536) were included in the present study. All participants completed a health and demographic questionnaire, the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression (EPDS) scale, the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support (MOS) scale. We surveyed electronic health records (EHR) for risk factors and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the sample. We further measured physical and mental health and seven plasma immune cytokines at four study visits during pregnancy in a longitudinal subsample (N = 128). ResultsThe frequency of EPDS scores of 10 (depression risk) or above was 18.6 % at the time of enrollment. Socioeconomic factors such as less education, greater unemployment, and U.S. born nativity were associated with greater depression risk, but these relationships became insignificant when we corrected for false discovery rate. Depression scores were not associated with adverse birth and pregnancy outcomes. The inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was significantly higher across pregnancy in women with depression risk (p < 0.03). Other inflammatory cytokines were higher in depressed women, but only at one time point in mid-pregnancy. ConclusionsPrenatal depression occurs in early pregnancy and then declines in Hispanic women. The frequency of depression and stress were higher in U.S. born compared to immigrant Hispanic women. There was an elevation in plasma levels of TNF-α through the pregnancy in depressed women, and elevations in other cytokines, at midpregnancy. The adverse pregnancy outcomes, including preterm delivery, known to be associated with prenatal depression were not present in this cohort.