Access and utilization of healthcare services in Massachusetts, United States: a qualitative study of the perspectives and experiences of Brazilian-born immigrant women

Lindsay, Ana Cristina; Oliveira, Mariana Gonçalves de; Wallington, Sherrie Flynt; Greaney, Mary L.; Machado, Márcia Maria Tavares; Pagliuca, Lorita Marlena Freitag; Arruda, Carlos André Moura

doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1723-9

Cited by 32 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Findings of this study revealed that for women who relied on interpreters felt that this reliance was a barrier to their communication with their primary healthcare providers and kept them from engaging in more communication with their providers about their GWG. Similar to our previous research with immigrant women of reproductive age, women in the current study felt that not being unable to communicate directly with healthcare professionals was frustrating and that this contributed to reduced communication and interactions [ 23 ]. Our findings concur with previous research showing that although the use of a professional interpreter for encounters with patients with limited English skills improves clinical care, patients’ satisfaction and outcomes with care received are diminished [ 36 , 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…The present study was part of community-based, mixed-method formative research being conducted (2015–present) with Latino families (multi-ethnic Hispanics and Brazilians) living in Massachusetts (MA) and Rhode Island (RI), designed to identify and explore factors influencing the risk of obesity in the first 1000 days of a child’s life [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prior qualitative research [ 20 , 21 , 22 ] suggests that Latina pregnant women receive minimal to no advice from healthcare providers related to GWG and PA recommendations. Moreover, to our knowledge, available studies have been limited to Spanish-speaking Latinas [ 3 , 7 , 12 , 13 , 20 , 21 , 22 ], and no studies have focused on Portuguese-speaking Latinas (Brazilians), a growing U.S. population group [ 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patient–Provider Communication and Counseling about Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Experiences of Latinas Pregnant with their First Child

Lindsay

Wallington

Greaney

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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Latina women in the United States (U.S.) are disproportionately affected by obesity and are more likely to begin pregnancy overweight and gain excessive weight during pregnancy. The prenatal care period represents a window of opportunity for women to access the healthcare system and receive preventive services, education, nutritional support, and other social services to improve pregnancy outcomes. Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) has numerous negative short- and long-term consequences for both the mother and newborn. We explored nulliparous Latina women’s perceptions about their experiences communicating with their primary healthcare provider about GWG and physical activity (PA) to identify possible intervention targets using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Bilingual, trained research staff conducted 23 interviews with first-time pregnant Latinas between 22 and 36 weeks of gestation. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. Salient text passages were extracted, shortened, coded, and grouped into categories. Women, including those who self-identified as being overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, reported receiving limited or no advice from their healthcare providers about GWG or PA. Additionally, analysis revealed that although participants value information received from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program counselors, they would like to receive more information from their primary healthcare providers about adequate GWG. Furthermore, study findings indicate that some participants received conflicting information regarding PA during pregnancy. Study findings suggest the need for increased integration of communication and counseling about GWG and PA into prenatal care services to promote healthy weight gain and PA among low-income Latina women.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patient–Provider Communication and Counseling about Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Experiences of Latinas Pregnant with their First Child

Lindsay

Wallington

Greaney

et al. 2017

IJERPH

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“…A study from the UK found that non-English-speaking Somali women experienced poorer communication with health professionals when compared to English-speaking Somalis [62]. Immigrant women with low proficiency in the host country's language living in Canada, the USA, England and Portugal also experienced barriers in communication, which limited their access to maternal care services [60,71,[74][75][76][77].…”

Section: Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Those preferences may not be accommodated by local health care systems. A study carried out in the USA found that Brazilian women prefer to have access to labour ward admission and pain management procedures earlier than they are typically offered by local maternity care [77]. Inability to exercise those preferences caused Brazilian immigrants to perceive delayed admission during labour and delayed use of anaesthetics, which impacted negatively on their satisfaction with the care received [77].…”

Section: Expression Of Preferencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Involvement in maternal care by migrants and ethnic minorities: a narrative review

et al. 2020

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Background: Guidelines for improving the quality of maternal health services emphasise women's involvement in care. However, evidence about migrant and ethnic minorities' preferences for participation in maternal care remains unsystematised. Understanding these populations' experiences with and preferred forms of involvement in care provision is crucial for imbuing policies and guidelines with sensitivity to diversity and for implementing people-centred care. This paper presents a narrative synthesis of empirical studies of involvement in maternal health care by migrants and ethnic minorities based on four key dimensions: information, communication, expression of preferences and decision-making. Methods: Studies indexed in PubMed and Scopus published until December 2019 were searched. Original quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies written in English and reporting on migrant and ethnic minority involvement in maternal care were included. Backward reference tracking was carried out. Three researchers conducted full-text review of selected publications. Results: In total, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of studies were comparative and addressed only one or two dimensions of involvement, with an emphasis on the information and communication dimensions. Compared to natives, migrants and ethnic minorities were more likely to (1) lack access to adequate information as a result of health care staff's limited time, knowledge and misconceptions about women's needs and preferences; (2) report suboptimal communication with care staff caused by language barriers and inadequate interpreting services; (3) be offered fewer opportunities to express preferences and to have preferences be taken less into account; and (4) be less involved in decisions about their care due to difficulties in understanding information, socio-cultural beliefs and previous experiences with care provision less attuned with playing an active role in decision-making and care staff detracting attitudes.

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The (in)visible Brazilians: A perspective review on the need for brain health and dementia research with Brazilian immigrants in the United States

Simon,

Brucki,

Fonseca

et al. 2023

A&D Transl Res & Clin Interv

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IntroductionThe Brazilian population in the United States (U.S.), a Latinx subgroup, is rapidly growing and aging but remains underrepresented in U.S. health research. In addition to group‐specific genetic and environmental risks, Brazilian immigrants and their offspring in the U.S. likely have cumulative risks for health inequities.It is estimated that 71% of Brazilian immigrants in the U.S. are undocumented, which may limit healthcare access/utilization. Furthermore, mental health is reported as a health priority by Brazilian immigrants in the U.S., and there is a lack of research on Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (AD/ADRD) in this population.MethodsWe reviewed the scientific literature using traditional (e.g., PubMed) sources and databases generated by U.S. and Brazilian governments, as well as international organizations, and press articles.ResultsThis perspective review lists recommendations for researchers, health providers, and policymakers to promote greater inclusion of U.S. Brazilian populations in health research and care. The review identifies research areas in need of attention to address health inequities and promote mental/brain health in Brazilian immigrants and their offspring living in the U.S. These research areas are: 1) epidemiological studies to map the prevalence and incidence of mental/brain health conditions; 2) research on aging and AD/ADRD risk factors among Brazilian populations in the U.S.; and 3) the need for greater representation of U.S‐residing Brazilian population in other relevant research areas involving genetics, neuropathology, and clinical trials.ConclusionsThe recommendation and research efforts proposed should help to pave the way for the development of community‐engagement research and to promote mental/brain health education, improvement of mental/brain health and AD/ADRD services, and the development of culturally‐informed intervention to the U.S.‐residing Brazilian communities.HIGHLIGHTS The Brazilian population in the United States is growing but is underrepresented in U.S. health research. Approximately 71% of Brazilian immigrants in the United States are undocumented, with an increased risk for health inequities. Mental health is reported as a central health priority by Brazilian immigrants in the United States. There is a lack of research on Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (ADRD) in Brazilian immigrants in the United States. Epidemiological research is needed to map the prevalence/incidence of mental health conditions and ADRD risk factors among Brazilian immigrants in the United States.

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Access and utilization of healthcare services in Massachusetts, United States: a qualitative study of the perspectives and experiences of Brazilian-born immigrant women

Cited by 32 publications

References 33 publications

Patient–Provider Communication and Counseling about Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Experiences of Latinas Pregnant with their First Child

Patient–Provider Communication and Counseling about Gestational Weight Gain and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Study of the Perceptions and Experiences of Latinas Pregnant with their First Child

Involvement in maternal care by migrants and ethnic minorities: a narrative review

The (in)visible Brazilians: A perspective review on the need for brain health and dementia research with Brazilian immigrants in the United States

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