Health Practices of Immigrant Women: Indigenous Knowledge in an Urban Environment

摘要

This qualitative study of folk health practices of anrnindigenous Mexican immigrant community in NewrnBrunswick, New Jersey investigates the barriers thisrncommunity faces, and their effects on its members’rneveryday practice of health in a new urban environment.rnFacilitated by local community organizations, two focusrngroup interviews were conducted with women from thisrncommunity, along with a questionnaire and multiple fieldrnvisits. Analysis revealed several themes related to healthrnpractices, including the role of food, and how indigenousrnknowledge influences the community’s beliefs about, andrnpractices of, health. Additionally, several environmental,rncommunication, and systemic barriers also appeared tornaffect the community’s health practices. This researchrnindicates that providing healthcare access to immigrantrncommunities is a complex issue extending beyond thernavailability of services and resources. A betterrnunderstanding of immigrant communities’ socio-culturalrnhealth practices may be a key to improving therncommunity’s healthy living and overall quality of life.