TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2021//
TI  - Understanding health priorities, behaviors, and service utilization among Brazilian immigrant women: implications for designing community-based interventions
JO  - Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities
A1  - Allen, Jennifer D.
A1  - Soares, Cristiane
A1  - Priebe Rocha, Leticia
A1  - McGregor, Alecia
A1  - Siqueira, C. Eduardo
A1  - Galvão, Heloisa
A1  - Rose, Rebecca R.
A1  - Kaplan, Amy
A1  - Chen, Stacy
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Brazilians represent a growing proportion of immigrants in the USA. Little is known about their health or healthcare utilization after their arrival. This study aimed  to gather formative data to understand the needs of Brazilian immigrant women to  guide public health interventions. We conducted five focus groups with Brazilian  women born in Brazil (n = 47) and 13 key informant interviews with representatives  from Brazilian-serving organizations. Participants were recruited from churches and  social service organizations in the Greater Boston area. <br><br>FINDINGS revealed that  mental health was the most pressing health priority; many attributed high levels of  anxiety and depression to worries about undocumented status, separation from social  networks, and strenuous work schedules. Occupational health issues were frequently  mentioned, including musculoskeletal complaints, skin rashes, and respiratory  problems. Domestic violence was also a concern, and many women feared reporting to  police due to undocumented status. Most reported good access to medical care and  described the quality of healthcare services as superior to that available in  Brazil. However, many reported challenges with interpersonal communication with  providers, dissatisfaction with a perceived unwillingness from providers to order  medical tests or prescribe treatment, and limited access to mental health services. There was agreement that effective intervention strategies should use social media,  radio, and group education in churches.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2197-3792
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40615-020-00936-y
ID  - ref1
ER  -