Public health policy and social support for immigrant mothers raising disabled children in Canada

Abstract

A literature review regarding the social support of immigrant mothers of disabled children in Canada was undertaken with a focus on settings where supports need to be shored up. An integrative review of published papers and policy reports concerning key aspects of social supports for immigrant mothers and disabled children was undertaken. Immigrant mothers experience numerous barriers to social supports for themselves and their disabled children. Maternal immigrant populations experience unique challenges in the setting of childhood disability as well as the challenges of mothers in the dominant culture. There are negative impacts on maternal health as a result of inadequate policy offerings. Public health policy needs to be refashioned in light of weak systems and supports for both immigrant mothers and disabled children and to acknowledge that the current system poses concerning implications for the long-term health of both groups.

Keywords:

• social support
• mothers
• disabled children
• immigrant
• Canada
• public health policy

Additional information

Funding

Funding. The literature review for this manuscript was supported by Nazilla Khanlou’s (second author) start-up funding at York University in the form of RA funding for Sheila Jennings (first author).