Health Experiences of Immigrant Visible Minority Women: A Literature Review

Abstract

This literature review on the health experiences of visible minority women is based on a critical review of the international English language peer-reviewed publications from 1980 to 2011. The overall goal was to gather understanding of immigrant women's employment and health experiences. The key findings from the review specific to health are: (a) There is variation in definition and meaning of health across cultures; (b) Immigrant visible minority women experience several barriers to accessing healthcare services including discrimination; (c) There is a paradigm clash between Western bio-medical principles and Eastern holistic approach to health. Social work practice implications are discussed.

Keywords::

• Immigration
• visible minority women
• review
• health
• social work

Notes

The author completed this review as part of her doctoral work (Sethi, 2014).

^1. Very recent immigrants: According to Statistics Canada, this term refers to immigrants to Canada that have been here for 5 years or less (i.e., up to 60 months) prior to being interviewed (Gilmore, 2008).