Exploring how migration trajectory conditions intersect to influence the health and well-being of African immigrants with precarious immigration status in southern Alberta

There has been a significant increase in the number of precarious status migrants in Canada, mainly due to inadequate processes for granting citizenship or permanent residency, as well as the constantly changing immigration policies within the shifting political landscape (Gagnon et al., 2022). Although the study aimed to capture a wide range of experiences among the diverse group of African immigrants with precarious status in southern Alberta, there was a greater representation of international students and temporary foreign workers. The study’s findings indicated that participants’ migration trajectory conditions intersected to influence their health and well-being. Precarious migration status played a significant role because it intersected with other social determinants of health, including age, gender, racism and discrimination, health knowledge, employment, income, religious and cultural beliefs, and social support networks to influence the health outcomes and well-being of the participants. In Southern Alberta, African immigrants with precarious migration status experience challenges such as limited access to health and social services, which adversely impact their sense of belonging, security, stability, and mental and physical health. This exploratory descriptive qualitative research was informed by intersectionality theory as a theoretical framework to analyze the data. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews served as the primary data collection method. Braun and Clarke’s (2006, 2019) reflexive thematic analysis was used to examine the data and identify themes. The study's findings enhanced understanding of the challenges experienced by African immigrants with precarious migration status in Southern Alberta, emphasizing the role of precarious migration status as a social determinant of health and its intersection with other social determinants that significantly influence their health and well-being. Additionally, it could help inform the development of comprehensive policies aimed at improving the health and well-being of African immigrants with precarious migration status and supporting their integration into Canadian society.

Authors

• Moses, Ato
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Health Sciences

• Pre-migration
• Migration
• Post-migration
• Precarious status migrants
• Health and well-being
• African immigrants

Identifier

hdl:10133/7286

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/7286