The Impact of Immigration on the Health and Wellbeing of Iranian Immigrant Women: Voices from Ottawa/Gatineau

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the experiences of twelve migrant women from Iran residing in the Ottawa/Gatineau area to examine the impact of immigration on their health and wellbeing. The study also aims to explore an understanding of health/wellbeing as situated in, and contextualized by, women’s lived experiences, as well as to investigate the determinants that impact on participants’ wellbeing. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews were conducted and an intersectional approach with an anti-oppression lens was employed. The results reveal that the majority of women were in good health before migration, which supports the healthy immigrant effect. One significant finding was that eight women reported that their health/wellbeing had remained stable or even improved after immigration. However, four participants experienced health deterioration that resulted in permanent disability for one of them. The results illustrate that the health/wellbeing of respondents was shaped by a complex web of intertwined determinants beyond individual health behaviours.