Video link:
Article:
https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-015-0773-z
Abstract:
For my second research presentation I decided to analyze the article “An ethnographic investigation of the maternity healthcare experience of immigrants in rural and urban Alberta, Canada”. Canada has a large immigrant population who face many structural and individual barriers in the healthcare system. The aim of this study was to (1) generate new understanding of the processes that perpetuate immigrant disadvantages in (specifically) maternity healthcare, and (2) create potential interventions that might improve maternity experiences and outcomes for immigrant women in Canada. This study used a qualitative research approach called ethnographic research design and they analyzed their data and contextualized through the lens of organizational behaviour and critical realism. They used semi structured focus groups and individual interviews with immigrant women, healthcare providers, and social service providers over 2.5 years. The data they collected showed that communication difficulties, lack of information, lack of social support, cultural beliefs, inadequate healthcare services, and cost of medicine/ services, were all potential barriers faced by immigrant women when seeking maternity services. Additional barriers like lack of understanding of the informed consent process, lack of regard by professionals for confidential patient information, short consultation times, short hospital stays, discrimination, stereotyping, and culture shock also impact quality of care.
For my research proposal, I plan on conducting qualitative document analysis of current curricula for cultural competency training in healthcare. I will then conduct ethnographic research to obtain information about the lived experiences of minority communities in our healthcare system. I will cross examine the two in search of any gaps between the lived experiences and the intended benefits of cultural competency courses. When creating my research proposal I could incorporate their snowball sampling method, semi structured individual and focus group interviews to obtain data, as well as their ethical approval model. This research article was really informative about the ethical steps that need to be followed when conducting ethnographic research and interviewer positionality.
Higginbottom, G. M., Safipour, J., Yohani, S., O’Brien, B., Mumtaz, Z., Paton, P., Chiu, Y., & Barolia, R. (2016). An ethnographic investigation of the maternity healthcare experience of immigrants in rural and Urban Alberta, Canada. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-015-0773-z