"Recognize Our Humanity": Immigrant Youth Voices on Health Care in Arizona's Restrictive Political Environment. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gómez, Sofía; Castañeda, Heide
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 29:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 498
• Page End: 509
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: immigrants -- adolescents -- youth -- young adults -- social participation -- minorities -- policy -- health promotion -- health seeking -- access to health care -- health disparities -- lived experiences -- qualitative -- photovoice -- Arizona; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732318755580
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

The "DACAmented Voices in Healthcare" project examined the intersection of restrictive immigration policies and health care via photovoice, a participatory action research approach, with immigrant youth living in Arizona, who were recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. These "DACAmented" youth took part in nine photovoice sessions exploring their health care experiences and accessibility to care using documentary photography and narratives. They poignantly illustrated their experiences through images identifying their main health concerns and strengths, facilitating the development of health policy recommendations. This article illustrates the thematic findings and discusses policy recommendations and lessons learned from presentations to policy makers and health care providers. Findings suggest that immigrant youth are knowledgeable of their family's health care needs and hold a unique and important position within mixed-status households. Health care providers can benefit from the proposed recommendations by building bridges to care to address health equity in immigrant communities.