BackgroundMigrant women with young children, including asylum seekers and refugees, have multiple vulnerability factors that put them at increased risk of social isolation and loneliness, which are associated with negative health outcomes. This study explored the experiences of social isolation and loneliness among migrant mothers with children aged 0–5 years as well as their perceptions on possible health impacts.MethodsA qualitative descriptive study was conducted at La Maison Bleue, a non-profit organization providing perinatal health and social services to vulnerable women in Montreal, Canada. Recruitment and data collection occurred concurrently during the COVID-19 pandemic, between November and December 2020. Eleven women participated in individual semi-structured interviews and provided socio-demographic information. Interview data were thematically analyzed.ResultsMigrant women in this study described social isolation as the loss of family support and of their familiar social/cultural networks, and loneliness as the feelings of aloneness that stemmed from being a mother in a new country with limited support. Multiple factors contributed to women's and children's social isolation and loneliness, including migration status, socioeconomic circumstances, language barriers, and being a single mother. Women expressed that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated pre-existing experiences of social isolation and loneliness. Mothers' experiences affected their emotional and mental health, while for children, it reduced their social opportunities outside the home, especially if not attending childcare. However, the extent to which mothers' experiences of social isolation and loneliness influenced the health and development of their children, was less clear.ConclusionMigrant mothers' experiences of social isolation and loneliness are intricately linked to their status as migrants and mothers. Going forward, it is critical to better document pandemic and post-pandemic consequences of social isolation and loneliness on young children of migrant families. Supportive interventions for migrant mothers and their young children should not only target social isolation but should also consider mothers' feelings of loneliness and foster social connectedness and belongingness. To address social isolation and loneliness, interventions at the individual, community and policy levels are needed.
Objective: To determine the degree of pain presented by the people selected in the present study and to establish a possible relation between this first variable with other socio-demographic ones (age, gender, civil status and occupation), as well as whether or not they practice physical activity, and if so, what type of activity; To check the relationship between the practice and type of physical activity, with the socio-demographic factors; age, gender, civil status and occupation.Methology: 564 participants, with an average age of 61.05 years and an age range between 40 and 88 years from the Sabah, Malaysia, was made by a sampling technique intended to provide a natural composition with a criterion of inclusion, that is to say, people aged 40 or older. Various measuring instruments were chosen (pain scale and questionnaire) to collect the variables selected.Results: The results indicated that 80.9% of the participants presented with a moderate degree of pain, the cervical area and knees being the structures most affected. On the other hand, 73.2% of the sample population habitually carried out physical and sporting tasks, with no differences according to gender, but showing differences according to age and occupation. The most common activities were walking (88.64%) and keep fit (25.65%). There was no correlation between physical activity and the degree of pain. Conclusion:The main conclusions highlight the need to create exercise and health protocols and programmes with a multidisciplinary approach, adapted to the individual needs of each person and the promotion of the construction of new, modern sporting facilities in rural areas so that people may enjoy better sporting opportunities.
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