Migrant Women Research Articles

Investigating the Connectivity Between Urban Foodscape and Migrant Women’s Household Food Security: A Case of Greenland Slum, Khulna, Bangladesh

Investigating the Connectivity Between Urban Foodscape and Migrant Women’s Household Food Security: A Case of Greenland Slum, Khulna, Bangladesh

A Sisyphean task of qualifying for digital citizenship? The precarious learning processes of disadvantaged migrant women in the context of inordinate expectations

ABSTRACT Contemporary states aiming to increase cost-effectiveness in public services through digitalisation advocate for digital citizenship. All citizens are expected to become fluent users of digital public services despite their varying circumstances. This study explores this issue for migrant women in Finland acquiring essential skills for digital citizenship: digital proficiency, fluency in the Finnish language, and understanding public administration. Using semi-structured interviews with structurally disadvantaged migrant women (N = 22), I analyse each skill acquisition as a complex temporal process. The analysis reveals that acquiring digital citizenship skills can be a prolonged process influenced by multiple temporal orders originating from both individual circumstances and external processes. Despite the investments made in acquiring these skills, citizens may remain unqualified. In conclusion, states that emphasize digital citizenship skills may assign structurally disadvantaged people a Sisyphean task, thereby leading to the narrowing of the realization of their citizen rights and, consequently, their citizenship.

School administrators’ and teachers’ pedagogical responses to demographic change based on their meaning-making of multicultural students in South Korea

ABSTRACT Public schools in South Korea have faced unprecedented changes because of demographic shifts, particularly the influx and growth of three types of ‘multicultural students’: children of married migrant women, foreign workers, and North Korean refugees. In this situation, teachers are challenged to implement educational policies and a standardised national curriculum for those unfamiliar with the Korean language, culture, and education system. This study, conducted between Fall 2022 and Summer 2023, involved interviews with 16 elementary and secondary school administrators and teachers from urban and rural regions. It revealed that teachers’ perceptions and biases about multicultural students significantly influenced their educational practices, resulting from interpretive processes and problematic framing. The data indicate that teachers’ meaning-making and pedagogical responses to multicultural students are insufficient for systematically addressing the structural inequalities and social injustices faced by these students. Ultimately, these teachers’ responses and practices fell short of providing equitable education that South Korea’s multicultural education policies aim for. The study concluded that comprehensive teacher training in cultural competence and bias awareness is essential for bridging the gap between policy and practice. It recommends the development of reflective practices, continuous professional development, and the creation of supportive school environments to enhance multicultural education’s effectiveness.

Health experiences of pregnant and women with chagas disease in the Atacama, Tarapaca, and Metropolitan regions of Chile. Mistreatment as an indicator of healthcare barriers.

Congenital transmission is one of the most significant forms of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission worldwide. Migrant women, in particular, often face barriers to accessing the healthcare system; one such barrier being that their health rights are not recognised. The situation in Chile is a reality that can be extrapolated to historical territories affected by Chagas disease and that is characterized by migrant populations. This article explores the healthcare experiences of pregnant and women living with Chagas disease, both nationals and migrants, and residents of three regions of Chile. The qualitative research study analyzed the experiences and meanings around the problem of Chagas based on 54 in-depth interviews with women in pregnancy and women who were diagnosed with the disease. The information was processed following the Grounded Theory tenets through the constant encoding feedback procedure, which allowed us to describe and comprehensively understand the phenomenon. The findings indicate that managing information is a sensitive aspect in evaluating healthcare experiences, with the potential to either positively or negatively impact the acceptance of diagnosis and treatment planning. The negative impact is determined by the communicative dimension and how healthcare teams deliver information. Poor attention, poor treatment, and lack of empathy lead patients to reject or distance themseves from the healthcare system. The positive aspects are related to a sensitive, personalized, and highly empathetic treatment. In historically endemic areas, these factors are essential for ensuring continuity in healthcare processes. There is an evident need to understand and value the settings, means, and contents within Chagas´s healthcare contexts. Communication is crucial during diagnostic processes as it determines the assessment, credibility, and trust in the health system, thereby influencing the continuity of treatment, especially in highly sensitive moments such as pregnancy. Therefore, it is necessary to articulate strategies considering information magement with greater empathy and emotional support.

A Study on the Types of Social Networks and Influential Factors of Women in Shanghai's Migrant Population--Social Network Theory Perspective

Abstract: Female migrants face a double vulnerability due to their urban/rural status and gender, making it challenging for them to integrate into their new communities. Women in the migrant population are doubly disadvantaged in terms of both urban-rural and gender-based social categorization. This group faces difficulties integrating into the community, including limited social resources, cultural activities, and social support. This paper examines the social networks of female migrants in Shanghai, using social network theory as the framework and data collected from semi-structured interviews. The study explores the types and characteristics of their social networks and how strong and weak ties affect their community integration. The findings indicate that strong ties dominate the social networks of migrant women in Shanghai. However, the absence of weak ties, which are crucial for accessing new information, resources, and opportunities, hinders their integration into the community.

Incorporating Evidence of Migrant Women with Schizophrenia into a Women’s Clinic

Many gender differences in mental and physical health, along with accompanying social needs have been reported by those suffering with schizophrenia. The goal of this review is to explore the literature on migrant and culturally diverse women suffering with schizophrenia to develop and implement effective strategies in specialized clinics. In general, we found higher rates of mental health symptoms among migrant and refugee women when compared to men. Several factors contribute to this vulnerability, suggesting that women may experience more pre- and post-migration-related trauma. In clinical populations, migrant status, region of origin, age at the time of migration, migration with family or alone, and migration to join family determine the risk of schizophrenia and the clinical course of the illness. Refugee migrant women have a higher risk of schizophrenia than non-refugee migrants and native-born populations. Migration is associated with poor access to mental health services; low social support, lack of awareness of services, and language barriers may mediate this association. These findings call for specific assessments on migrant women, interventions (e.g., focus groups), and improvement in current programs. In our clinics, we have recently incorporated assessment and intervention strategies that may be effective in our programming.

Community mental health for migrant women in Barcelona (“Self-Care Among Women”): Protocol for a mixed-methods process evaluation of a pilot psychological intervention

IntroductionMigrant populations, especially women, are often more susceptible to poor mental health and they face healthcare access barriers. This study aims to develop and evaluate a community-based mental health intervention through a participative research process to promote mental health and prevent psychiatric disorders among migrant women in Barcelona city. The intervention is built upon two evidence-based guidelines: Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+) and Self-Help Plus (SH+). Methods“Self-Care Among Women” is a mixed-methods process evaluation study for the development of a community-based psychological pilot intervention. A participatory approach will be employed to adapt the content agenda of the community mental health intervention. Process indicators on context, implementation and mechanisms of change will be assessed through an intersectionality lens to explore the way in which the intervention is developed and implemented. The contextual fit, acceptability and feasibility of the proposed psychological intervention will be examined through participants' and facilitators' perceptions of the intervention. Further, women's clinical mental health condition and wellbeing will be assessed before and after the intervention, through standardized and culturally-validated instruments. Ethics and disseminationEthical approval of the research protocol has been obtained by the Research Ethics Committees of Hospital Clínic, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol) and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu. Written informed consent will be requested from all research participants for inclusion in the study. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and communicated to congresses.

Breaking the silence: exploring the sociocultural context of domestic violence for Chinese migrant women in Australia

Research examining the specificity of domestic violence (DV) for culturally and linguistically diverse women has grown considerably in Australia over the past several years, however, few studies have focused on the experiences of East Asian migrant victim-survivors of DV. This article reports on findings from an in-depth qualitative study and explores the perceptions of and responses to DV for Chinese migrant women from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The article shows that sociocultural and patriarchal values had an enduring impact on women’s experiences of and decision-making for DV. It also shows how cultural norms and practices connected to face (面子), family harmony (家庭和睦), family hierarchy (等級家庭制) and filial piety (孝) can be exploited by perpetrators and used against victim-survivors in the enactment of DV and coercive control. Findings highlight the importance of attending to the cultural specificity of DV for migrant women with a shared ethnicity with policy and practice implications for the provision of support from both mainstream and multicultural services.

Disability-Related Risks Among Women and Girls Who Are Forcibly Displaced from Venezuela

Our study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Venezuelan refugee/migrant women and girls with disabilities to guide humanitarian assistance. The data analysed was part of a larger cross-sectional study whereby refugees and migrants in Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil were asked to share the migration experiences of a Venezuelan woman or girl. The sample for this analysis was drawn from one of the survey questions that asked participants whether the woman/girl in the narrative identified as a person with a disability. Thematic analysis using inductive coding was performed. A total of 126 narratives were included in the final analysis, of which four major themes were identified. Venezuelan refugees and migrants with disabilities described experiences of discrimination, violence, and physical challenges, such as exacerbation of symptoms while in transit. In host countries, refugees and migrants experienced a lack of disability-related accommodations in the workplace and long wait times when trying to obtain healthcare. Since discrimination is a cross-cutting issue, human rights awareness highlighting the dignity of persons with disabilities is imperative. Resources and support for Venezuelan refugee and migrant women and girls with disabilities should aim to create accessible employment opportunities, safe and timely access to medical care, and prioritise violence prevention.

Household resilience of women migrant worker sellers of Jamu Gendong

Background The selling of Jamu Gendong (an Indonesian traditional herbal medicine), is closely associated with the informal work of women who migrate to different regions. In Sukoharjo Regency and Wonogiri Regency, Central Java Province, the pressing need to meet household necessities in their places of origin compels women to assume the role of breadwinners. Therefore, this research aimed to identify the livelihood capital and resilience of migrant women selling jamu gendong. Methods The study was conducted in Ciamis Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia, in November 2022, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The sample comprised 51 women selected through snowball sampling and actively involved in selling Jamu Gendong, along with six key individuals from relevant agencies. Results The research findings indicate that the households of migrant women who sell jamu gendong can survive and adapt during their migration to prevent poverty by implementing diverse livelihood strategies. They are the only ones who move without their family members renting a place to live with them. This research has identified various capital sources, including productive age and skills in preparing jamu gendong; physical capital, including road infrastructure, markets, and access to health and education facilities; and natural, social, and financial capital. This research provides an in-depth understanding of women’s roles in family economic resilience, diversification of life strategies, the importance of social capital in migrant networks, economic empowerment through migration, and the influence of cultural values on livelihood strategies. Conclusions The findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the resilience demonstrated by migrant women selling jamu gendong. However, further research should be conducted in areas beyond the city center to obtain a holistic view of their resilience.

Stakeholders’ perspectives on informed decision-making for migrant women in CC prevention programs

Abstract Background This study gathered the perspectives of stakeholders regarding participation in cervical cancer (CC) screening and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination among migrant women in the Netherlands. Considering their perspectives by developing interventions that are tailored to migrant women’s information needs regarding CC screening and HPV vaccination will support informed decision-making. Methods In total five focus group discussions were held with community leaders, healthcare professionals and communication experts separately. The focus group discussions were transcribed verbatim in Dutch, and analyzed thematically according to the Grounded Theory. Results The analysis resulted in six themes. The first theme describes the existing views and misconceptions regarding CC (screening) and HPV vaccination in the target population according to the stakeholders. The second theme is about the current approach of informing about these health programs, and its belonging barriers. Theme three dives into the differences within the target population, such as generations and level of language. Theme four describes the conditions to which interventions should adhere. In theme five and six suggestions for interventions were introduced, focused on the target population and their (social) network respectively. Conclusions The results of this study showed that stakeholders are willing to play a role to support informed decision-making regarding CC (screening) and HPV vaccination among migrant women, but they need more training to support. Community leaders express a need for training to gather more medical knowledge of CC and its prevention programs. Healthcare professionals expressed a need for more insight into the practical, cultural, religious and emotional aspects that play a role within this target population. Communication experts emphasize the need for customized information materials and a more district-oriented approach. Key messages • Stakeholders operating at different levels are willing to play a role in increasing informed decision-making regarding CC screening and HPV vaccination. • Migrant women’s (social) network need more training and support to be able to provide tailored information regarding CC screening and HPV vaccination.

Co-creating the intervention ‘MAMAACT’ for improved care for pregnant migrant women in Denmark

Abstract Background The MAMAACT intervention was developed as a response to documentation of ethnic and social inequities in stillbirth in Denmark, despite free and universal access to antenatal care. The MAMAACT intervention aimed to reduce stillbirth in migrant families by improving communication about pregnancy complication during antenatal care. Methods The intervention consisted of a training program for midwives and health education materials. It was implemented at a structural level (training of midwives) and, through strengthened needs-based communication during antenatal care, the aim was to improve the health literacy of the women. 19 of the 20 Danish maternity wards participated in the study in 2018-19 and a comprehensive evaluation was conducted. The intervention was co-created with midwifery managers, midwives, and migrant women. Results The management and selected clinical midwives participated in the design of the midwifery training and the health education material as well as the intervention’s implementation and recruitment strategies for the evaluation. As representatives of the target group, a partnership with the non-profit organization Bydelsmødre was initiated. Bydelsmødre trains migrant mothers living in socially deprived areas to help vulnerable migrant women. Evening sessions were conducted with a specific group of women in their community, where the intervention components, the recruitment to the evaluation, and the interpretation of evaluation findings were discussed. A significant contribution was a video explaining the migrant experiences of becoming a mother in Denmark used in the midwifery training. MAMAACT researchers were invited to present the evaluation at the annual assembly for Bydelsmødre organization in 2019. Conclusions The partnership with Bydelsmødre provided a strong voice for migrant women, enhancing engagement with the intervention, recruitment for the trial, and its real-world relevance.

Civic participation and self-reported health: An intersectional comparative study in Europe

Abstract Background Civic participation has been associated with better self-reported health (SRH). However, how does the association between civic participation and SRH vary by sex and migration status? This study aims to examine the association between social and political determinants of health and SRH in an intersectional perspective. Methods We use data from 26 countries in the 2022 EU Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) (n = 425,178, 18-80 y.o.), following an intercategorical approach. Eight intersectional groups are created based on sex, migration status and being socially/politically active (participation in activities related to active citizenship or in formal/informal voluntary activities). Multilevel (ML) logistic regression models are employed to assess the association between these groups and SRH, controlling for age and educational level. Results 24.6% of the sample indicate to be socially or politically active, with significant differences between sexes and migration status. A higher proportion of non-migrant active men report good SRH compared to the other intersectional groups (95.2%). Preliminary results from the ML logistic models show that being active increases the likelihood of good SRH (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.72-1.83). Migrant active women report better SRH than their non-active counterparts (OR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.12-1.44). Conclusions Findings suggest that being socially/politically active has a positive impact on SRH, especially among foreign women living in European countries. The study highlights the importance of considering civic (both political and social) participation as health determinant and the need of investing in social capital as a way of health promotion, tackling health inequalities and the marginalisation of at-risk groups. Key messages • Civic participation might strengthen individuals’ health, including among migrant women. • Public health policies should consider civic participation as significant determinant of individuals’ health, as well as a way of tackling health inequalities.

Health information seeking and health literacy in midwife-led care and the modern information environment

Abstract Background This review reports on how midwives are affected by the modern digital information environment, including health misinformation, and how their knowledge or competencies assist them in navigating this for themselves and their clients, especially those who are more vulnerable and experience inequities in healthcare. Methods Leveraging a PRISMA-based systematic review, the project identifies the facilitators and barriers that the modern digital information environment poses to midwives and the care they provide to their clients. The search strategy of the peer-reviewed literature examines articles related to midwives and misinformation, social media, information environment, digital health, health information, migrant women and other related keywords that surface in searches. The timeframe from which published articles will be identified for possible inclusion are from Jan 1, 2020 to March 31, 2024. Results Both midwives and the clients they care for experience challenges in navigating the digital information environment and addressing health-related misinformation on reproductive health and pregnancy-related topics. Conclusions Midwives should receive strengthened training on digital literacy to improve the care they provide to clients and help their clients navigate a confusing and rapidly evolving information environment. Through digital and in-person interactions with their clients, midwives can improve their clients’ digital information, and health literacies.

Shifting focus - the need to prioritise an inclusive public health approach to trauma

Abstract Since 2017, the Welsh government has prioritised the development of a Public Health Approach to understanding the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Taking the work of Bellis et al, and the population level research to understand the prevalence of ACEs, and associated risks (Bellis etc al, 2015), the ACE Hub Wales was established to coordinate a multi-agency, cross sector approach to preventing, tackling and mitigating the impact of adversity in childhood. The Hub developed its approach to advocate for more public awareness of the life course risks to health if the right support was not accessed or available to children, such as poor mental health and chronic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. From 2021 there has been a dramatic shift to attempting to understand the experiences, and unmet needs, of children and people who have come to Wales to seek sanctuary, migrant women who have no recourse to public funds, and people experiencing racism and discrimination. In 2021, the ACE Hub Wales co-produced a Wales national trauma-informed practice framework including a set of principles placing inclusion at the heart of the approach in Wales; shining a light on the need to have a cultural, intergenerational and gender-based understanding of adversity and trauma which links directly to, informs and supports the government’s ambitions to be a nation of sanctuary and to be anti racist by 2030. To continue to ignore the experiences of adversity and trauma by people of colour, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people; is to perpetuate the health inequity experienced in healthcare, and justice systems. Wales has committed to developing wisdom, not just knowledge, that means that a public health approach is inclusive of all of our communities in Wales. Key messages • The experiences of racialised ad minoritised communities from population studies of adversity and trauma is traumatizing. • Understanding the life course impact of adversity and trauma must include the experiences of racism and discrimination to be inclusive and trauma-informed.

Polish midwives’ experiences of providing maternity care to Ukrainian women in Poland

Abstract Background Migrants’ health has attracted the attention of researchers for many years, particularly from the perspective of barriers in access to healthcare systems. Providing high quality care to migrants and refugees, especially in contexts of significant and sudden arrivals, may be particularly challenging. Aim The aim of our research was to learn about the experiences and strategies of midwives providing maternity care for Ukrainian migrant women in Poland after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Methods Five focus group interviews with 32 midwives providing maternity care in Poland were conducted. The interviews were thematically analysed. Results Healthcare personnel experiences a number of barriers to the provision of high-quality care to the migrant population. Polish midwives expressed mainly experience of two groups of barriers on: (1) individual and interpersonal, (2) management and organization levels. Firstly, at the individual and interpersonal level midwives experienced: fear for life and well-being related to the threat of war in a neighbouring country, depleting resources and post-pandemic fatigue, language barriers, lack of knowledge on caring for woman fleeing the war. Secondly, at the management and organizational level midwives experienced: lack of organizational support, interpreting services and documentation in any other language than Polish. In the first months after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, most strategies to improve the provision of maternity care for women fleeing the war took the form of grassroots initiatives by the staff of individual care units. Conclusions The Polish health care services need systemic solutions prepared jointly by state and local authorities and considering the voices of midwives to support the provision of high-quality care to migrant population. Key messages • Midwives were left to their own devices. • Midwives need better preparation for providing high-quality care to migrant population.

Migration and mental health: the case of postpartum depressive symptoms in Portugal

Abstract Background Postpartum depression (PPD) affects about 17% of healthy mothers within one year of childbirth. The etiology remains unknown, but PPD is influenced by a combination of genetic, physical, psychosocial, and obstetric factors, migration could influence the risk. Methods We analyzed data collected within the scope of baMBINO (Perinatal Health in Migrants: Barriers, Incentives, and Outcomes), a Portuguese prospective cohort study, aimed to investigate the maternity experiences and outcomes of migrant women, defined as foreign-born women, and compared to native women. Among the 5431 women enrolled at delivery, 3006 (55%) were considered eligible for this study and interviewed in their preferred language, within six months of recruitment. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was administered during this interview, along with the Migrant-Friendly Maternity Care Questionnaire (MFMCQ). Results 2890 (96%) women were included in the analytical sample for this study. Among women included, 1475 (51%) were migrants or refugees. The proportions of women having EPDS scores ≥ 10 were overall greater among migrants than among native women (7.2% vs. 12.4%, p < 0.001) and the risk remained higher after multiple adjustment models. Conclusions Migration status, poor experience with maternal care and language proficiency increased the risk of PPDS and should be carefully addressed as part of perinatal care.

Navigating the COVID-19 crisis: exploring care arrangements and gendered inequalities for migrant women in transnational families in Berlin

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a notable shift in care responsibilities, transferring them from institutions to families, with a pronounced impact on migrant women in transnational families who navigate both local and transnational care arrangements. This study explored how the pandemic affected women's care arrangements and exacerbated existing inequalities at the intersection of labour, migration, and welfare regimes. Following a qualitative methodology based on grounded theory and ethnography, this study analysed interviews with migrant women, their family members, and experts to understand their experiences with caregiving and transnational family dynamics during the pandemic, the costs and coping strategies related to gendered aspects of care, and the changing landscape of migration and care policies during the pandemic. This study scrutinised the intricate web of local and transnational caregiving structures, emphasising women's agency in negotiating care needs amid pandemic restrictions and constraints on access to formal social protection.

Materiality of Memorialisation: Mapping Migrant Women's Landmarks in Europe

This article investigates the memorialization of migrant women across transcultural landscapes, and analyses results from the Register of Migrant Women Landmarks in Europe (hereinafter RMWLE), central to the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) action project “Women on the Move” (CA19112 – WEMov). It serves as reference for subsequent research based on data from this Register, for which data collection is continuing. The RMWLE registers toponyms, such as monuments, plaques, streets and other infrastructures named after women with a significant history of migration. It honours aspects rarely prioritized in memorialisation agendas, which are skewed towards men’s stories, and towards the more linear biographies of sedentary figures whose European, national, and regional memorialisation have remained uncomplicated by migration. This Deep Data study reveals recurring patterns at the level of Europe in the memorialisation of these women migrants. The diversity of stories, the richness and the prominence of landmarks devoted to men compared to women is a subject well-covered in memorialisation studies. This unbalance is compounded by the data from our register which shows landmarks on women migrants that are sometime tokenized, often marginalized, and which reproduce the bias towards nurture and care that have besieged the memorialisation of women in general. It further shows that the memorialisation process and the political and cultural mechanisms of official celebration often work against the recognition of cross-border careers and stories. The intersectionality of the project, highlighting both gender and migration, uncovers a political landscape of toponyms – and we reflect on how this register can help combat cultural prejudice by recovering migration episodes. The RMWLE helps us reflect on the defining impact of migration episodes, a reality rarely underlined in the biographies of famous women. This article favours a storytelling approach, to counter dominant cultural narratives and knowledge practices.

Fortaleza femenina en ruta: explorando los recursos psicológicos y la discriminación percibida, un estudio de caso

The present work is a case study of a migrant woman from Guatemala, which was developed through a mixed method to know what psychological resources she implements in the face of the discrimination she perceives. The Psychological Resources Scale (PRS) was administered to her, as well as an in-depth interview with a phenomenological approach to learn about her life history, in addition a qualitative technique to assess the discrimination she perceives. She has strong religious beliefs and social skills, but experiences self-reproach and difficulties in dealing with sadness. She perceives more discrimination in places such as the street, by the authorities and possesses skills that allow her to overcome rejection and exclusion through optimism and her religious beliefs; she normalizes the occurrence of this phenomenon and finds it difficult to recognize some segregationist actions.