Grant: Operating Grant

Immigration numbers in recent years have increased dramatically in Manitoba. Not only has the number of migrants from African source countries increased, but an increasing proportion of them are refugees. This is a concern considering the health of refugees is generally poorer in comparison to those who voluntarily chose to migrate to Canada. However, African immigrants can also experience health inequities due to a number of factors (e.g., socioeconomic status, poverty). Ensuring timely and appropriate access to community-based primary health care (CBPHC) for immigrant and refugee families and their children is critical to improving their health. The primary purpose of this 3-year qualitative study is understand recent African immigrant and refugee families' experiences of accessing CBPHC in Winnipeg and to engage them in identifying ways to improve access and quality of care. Recognizing that immigrant and refugee families with children experience increased needs, childrearing families from African source countries will be recruited. Health and social service providers and administrators will also be recruited to help ensure a more detailed understanding of families' experiences in accessing CBPHC. Multiple data collection methods will be used including an environmental scan of existing CBPHC services and programs and open-ended interviews. Analysis will shed light on immigrants' and refugees' experiences of accessing CBPHC with attention to how various factors shape their experiences. Recommendations for improving access and quality of CBPHC will be identified. Findings from this study will help to inform how best to reduce health inequities and improve access to CBPHC for African immigrant and refugee families. African immigrant and refugee families will have meaningful involvement and play an active role in defining issues, considering solutions, and identifying priorities specific to their access of CBPHC which supports CIHR's model of citizen engagement.