A qualitative study of immigrant women on long-term sick leave and their experience of dignity

Abstract

The immigrant women maintained and protected their dignity by finding strength, pride, and self-worth in their religion and through their family-members' affection. Taking responsibility for themselves and others and experiencing fellowship and equality with other women, they enhanced their dignity during their rehabilitation process. The caring attitudes and behavior of some healthcare personnel promoted patient dignity. They also gained hope and dignity by experiencing goodness, cultural competence, and sensitivity from healthcare personnel. Implications for rehabilitation This study shows that the family role is more important for the immigrant women than the role as an employee, although financial independence and being able to help relatives financially also were central. Fellowship and equality with other patients, together with a rehabilitation program, which is facilitated for different language levels, were understood as important factors for an effective recovery. Enough time to get to know the patients and cultural competence seems to be central components for the health care personnel to give efficient help to immigrants in rehabilitation. Immigrants from low/middle-income countries appear to apply their religiousness as a resource in their lives to a greater extent than native Norwegians do, and should be taken into consideration when planning and implementing rehabilitation programs for immigrants.

Submission to the will of God: Religion/Spirituality as a Cultural Resource of Indonesian Women Living with Cardiovascular Disease

“…It echoed previous research, which suggested that religious beliefs helped individuals cope with their disease, find a sense of wellbeing, and help in the decision-making for their care and treatment [29]. It is also possible their belief would increase their emotional resilience [30], [31], [32]. Numerous studies reported the importance of religion and spirituality as patients' primary sources of the strength needed to cope with chronic and life-threatening diseases [33], [34], [35], [36].…”

Exploring the burden, prevalence and associated factors of chronic musculoskeletal pain in migrants from North Africa and Middle East living in Europe: a scoping review

“…Nevertheless, immigrant women in pain find themselves in the intersecting structure of ethnicity, class and gender that leads to multiple forms of isolation: at home, at work, socially and in clinical settings [ 26 , 43 ]. This may explain why immigrant women with chronic pain are more likely to be on longer sick leave than women without a migration background, to have depression, to use more painkillers, to experience more severe pain, and to have more pain sites than immigrant men [ 44 ].…”

Exploring the Burden of Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Immigrant Populations: A Scoping Review

“…Nevertheless, immigrant women in pain nd themselves in the intersecting structure of ethnicity, class and gender that leads to multiple forms of isolation: at home, at work, socially and in clinical settings (32,51). This may explain why immigrant women with chronic pain are more likely to be on longer sick leave than native women, to have depression, to use more painkillers, to experience more severe pain, and to have more pain sites than immigrant men (52).…”