This thesis explores the health-related decisions Latin American immigrant women make in MetroWest Massachusetts. Within public health and biomedical literature, women from Spanish-speaking communities are often measured by their adherence to biomedical guidelines. Several programs have been designed to increase compliance with recommended cancer screenings like Pap smears and mammograms in an effort to reduce health inequities between Latina populations and their white counterparts in the United States (Peek and Han 2009). Community Health Organizations often prioritize biomedical models of care, as Community Health Workers are typically trained in public health and biomedicine. Yet little research has been done on women’s conception of their own health. Using the theoretical concept of patterns of resort, this research examines what women prioritize for their own health needs, why, and what local resources women use to meet these needs. Women have a broad understanding of their own health, and use varying resources to meet the needs of physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual health needs. By understanding these specific health needs, researchers and those invested in immigrant communities may create more effective programs with women’s health in mind.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bu.edu/oai:open.bu.edu:2144/41766 |
| Date | 04 December 2020 |
| Creators | Ward, Audrey Elizabeth |
| Contributors | Barnes, Linda |
| Source Sets | Boston University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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