(Download) "Refugee Claimant Women and Barriers to Health and Social Services Post-Birth (Qualitative Research) (Report)" by Canadian Journal of Public Health # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Refugee Claimant Women and Barriers to Health and Social Services Post-Birth (Qualitative Research) (Report)
- Author : Canadian Journal of Public Health
- Release Date : January 01, 2011
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 277 KB
Description
Many who flee their country and seek refugee protection in another country, i.e., asylum seekers/refugee claimants, have suffered abuse and other traumatic experiences. Women are particularly vulnerable and may have been victims of sex and gender-based violence. (1) Once in a new country, their precarious status (not knowing if their application to stay in the country will be accepted), limited or no fluency in official language(s), separation from family members, and unfamiliarity with the country's systems and laws add further stress. (2) In Canada, claimants are covered for emergency and essential health care under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). (3) Benefits covered include prenatal, contraception and obstetrical care; essential prescription medications; emergency dental treatments; and treatment and prevention of serious medical conditions. Other services such as counseling or psychotherapy, diagnostic procedures, ambulance services (unless for emergency) and eyewear are also covered but require pre-approval from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). (3) Access to services among vulnerable migrants living in Canada is a major concern. (4) The postpartum period is a time when additional health services and support are needed. Our research to date examining the health and service needs of childbearing migrants has shown that refugee claimant women have a higher number of postpartum health and social concerns not being addressed by the health care system compared to Canadian-born women. (5,6) The current project aimed to gain greater understanding of the barriers refugee claimant women face in accessing health and social services in the post-birth period in Montreal and Toronto, the two Canadian cities that receive the highest number of claimants. (7) Guiding our work is the health capability framework proposed by JP Ruger (8) which suggests it is socially unjust for any individuals to be deprived of capabilities to be healthy as a result of suboptimal health care, inhibited health agency (i.e., ability to engage with and navigate the health care system to prevent mortality and morbidity and to meet health needs) and oppressive social norms.