There are 25.8 million immigrants-the largest number in more than five decades-living in the United States. These men, women, and children represent nearly 10 percent of this country's population. These immigrants, the majority of whom are women from Asia, Central America, and Eastern Europe, have a vital need for health and mental health services but often encounter cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers in their efforts to access care. Immigrant Women's Health offers doctors, nurses, and administrators the knowledge and tools needed to meet the challenge and provide quality care for one of this nation's most vulnerable patient populations-immigrant women.
This valuable book provides insight into the knowledge, attitudes, health beliefs, health care practices, and health care seeking behaviors of immigrant women and offers a unique perspective on the health and mental health care problems they experience. The contributors include many of the leading clinicians and administrators in the field of immigrant health who offer valuable information and practical strategies for providing culturally-competent, high-quality, cost-effective care to migrant women from diverse cultures. Health care planners, policy makers, and administrators who seek a clear understanding of the issues surrounding health services utilization by immigrants and the devastating effects of recent changes to federal policies will find this book a vital and practical reference.
Immigrant Women's Health summarizes the best practices in program development and addresses a wealth of compelling topics including
- Reproductive health issues unique to foreign-born women
- Chronic diseases and changes in disease patterns by generation of residence in the United States
- Psychological implications of sexual violence, rape, and war
- Effective programs that address linguistic barriers to obtaining optimal health care; treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder; issues related to screening for breast and cervical cancer; and educational needs of health care providers
- A case study of one of the country's most innovative and successful immigrant health clinics
This much-needed resource gives health care professionals the insight and guidance needed to break down cultural barriers and improve quality of care for immigrant women.
Providing Quality Care for Immigrant Women
Immigrant Women's Health is an invaluable resource that offers the information and tools needed to meet the challenge to provide quality care for one of the most vulnerable patient populations in today's health care environment.
"The authors are to be commended for an outstanding review of the health issues of the newest members of our country. Increasingly we are reminded that human rights are women's rights. No country is exempt from this principle; infringement includes the prizes of war, bride burning, unnecessary surgery, sexual assault (domestic violence), and lack of access to health care."--Jean Fourcroy, past president, American Medical Women's Association; adjunct professor, urology, Uniformed Services University of Health Science, Bethesda, MD
"This is a significant and timely book. The chapters are rich in describing clinical considerations for and approaches to the immigrant patient in a broad range of disease areas. I recommend this book to all administrators and clinicians who serve or plan to serve the growing immigrant populations in the United States. Particularly noteworthy is the book's emphasis on women's health issues and the acknowledgment of the key roles women play in accessing health care for their families."--Henry Chung, medical director, Chinatown Health Clinic, New York, New York
"The time has come . . . to address the inequities in the delivery of health care to all who reside in the United States. We must be willing to . . . provide services and information . . .that meet cultural, psychosocial, and educational needs. This book goes a long way toward achieving that goal by providing a solid background on the major clinical, behavioral, and policy issues, problems and prospects as well as potential solutions and examples of exemplary programs which can be replicated. It comes to the marketplace not a moment too soon!"--Lillian Pardo Gonzalez, professor of pediatrics and neurology, University of Kansas School of Medicine
