RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Immigrant women face greater barriers to health care, especially mental health care, than non-immigrant women. However, immigrants are a heterogeneous group and bring with them a range of different personal, social, cultural and economic factors, which impact both mental health and access to care. In this study, we explored factors that influence Filipina immigrants' perceptions of help seeking from a general practitioner for mental health problems in Norway. METHOD: Using data from semi-structured interviews, we applied a post-colonial feminist perspective to identify factors that affect perceptions of help seeking. RESULTS: Findings indicated that a combination of the women's beliefs and values, stigma, experiences with healthcare services in Norway and familiarity with mental health services influence perceptions of help seeking. Some factors represented structural barriers to healthcare seeking in general, while others related to mental healthcare seeking in particular. The significance of each factor varied depending on the women's backgrounds. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status, educational background, familiarity with health services and experience of mental health can influence immigrant women's perceptions of, and barriers for, help seeking for mental health problems. There are a number of barriers to address at a structural level to improve both the propensity to seek healthcare in general, as well as mental healthcare in particular. Efforts to increase awareness of primary mental healthcare services may also help change the perception that professional help is only appropriate for serious mental health disorders.
Asunto(s)
Actitud Frente a la Salud/etnología , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/psicología , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/estadística & datos numéricos , Trastornos Mentales/etnología , Trastornos Mentales/psicología , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/psicología , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Noruega/etnología , Aceptación de la Atención de Salud/etnología , Filipinas , Investigación Cualitativa , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Migration is associated with a number of stress factors which can affect mental health. Ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status can intertwine with and influence the process of migration and mental health. Philippine migration to Europe has increased in recent years and has become more feminised. Knowing more about the factors that influence immigrants' mental health and coping can help aid health care delivery and policy planning. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the contextual factors that influence the mental health of Filipinas living in Norway and their coping strategies. METHOD: Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with fourteen Filipinas 24-49 years, living in Norway. The analysis was informed by the post-colonial feminist perspective in order to examine the process by which gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status interact with contextual factors in these women's lives and influence their wellbeing. RESULTS: Data analysis revealed that all informants experienced some level of stress or distress. Two main factors: Sense of belonging and Securing a future contributed to the women's level of distress associated with living abroad as an immigrant woman. Distress was heighted by the women's multiple, transnational roles they occupied; roles as workers, breadwinners, daughters, wives and mothers. None of the women had sought professional help for their distress. Religion and informal support from friends and family appear to help these women cope with many of the challenges they face as immigrant women living and working abroad. CONCLUSIONS: Filipinas face a number of challenges related to their status as immigrant women and the juggling of their transnational lives. Understanding the context of these women's lives may aid the identification of mental health problems. Although the women show resilience and appear to cope successfully, some may benefit from professional help.
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Psicológica , Emigrantes e Inmigrantes/psicología , Estrés Psicológico , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Noruega , Filipinas , Investigación Cualitativa , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Breast cancer, the most common cancer among Arab women in Qatar, significantly affects the morbidity and mortality of Arab women largely because of low participation rates in breast cancer screening. We used a critical ethnographic approach to uncover and describe factors that influence Arab women's breast cancer screening practices. We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 health care practitioners in Qatar. Through thematic analysis of the data, we found three major factors influencing breast cancer screening practices: (a) beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding women's bodies, health, and illness; (b) religious beliefs and a culturally sensitive health care structure; and (c) culturally specific gender relations and roles. Arab women's health practices cannot be understood in isolation from the sociocultural environment. The problem of low rates of breast cancer screening practices and supportive interventions must be addressed within the context and not be limited to the individual.
Asunto(s)
Árabes/psicología , Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de la Mama/psicología , Detección Precoz del Cáncer/psicología , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Tamizaje Masivo/psicología , Religión , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Actitud Frente a la Salud , Femenino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , QatarRESUMEN
Popular psychosocial theories of stress and coping are based on an empiricist paradigm and a Western biomedical framework that reflect Western ideologies and values about health and illness. Problems associated with this discourse lie mainly in the ideologies that emphasize naturalism, individualism, rationalism, and objectivity. We suggest that stress and coping theory should be concerned with the ways in which power relations and social institutions produce the meaning of stress. The inclusion of alternative discourses that attend to the micro and macro social and historical factors is necessary for the further development of stress and coping theory and practice.