Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 16, Issue 3, 2014, Pages 356-364

Cultural perceptions and negotiations surrounding sexual and reproductive health among migrant and non-migrant indigenous Mexican women from Yucatán, Mexico (Article)

Espinoza R. , Martínez I. , Levin M. , Rodriguez A. , Chan T. , Goldenberg S. , Zúñiga M.L.*
  • a Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • b Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • c Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • d Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • e Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • f Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
  • g Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States, Division of Academic General Pediatrics, Child Development and Community Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0927, San Diego, CA 92093-0927, United States

Abstract

Information regarding sexual and reproductive health of indigenous women from Mexican sending and US receiving communities is limited. This research aims to explore the perceptions of indigenous women from US migrant receiving and Mexican migrant sending communities regarding their sexual health experiences and reproductive health practices. From January to March 2012, two key informant interviews and 31 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted among women ages 18-55 in Tunkás, Yucatán and Anaheim and Inglewood, California. Women reported challenges to obtaining routine reproductive clinical care, including access to care barriers and lack of perceived power over their own sexual health. This was further compounded by migration processes and deficiencies in health care delivery systems. Socio-cultural beliefs and gendered power dynamics influence sexual and reproductive health decisions and behaviors of migrant and non-migrant women. Findings underscore existing genderbased reproductive health norms and serve to inform future transnational research and public health education to improve the health of indigenous migrant and non-migrant women in the US and Mexico.

Author Keywords

sexual health Migration Women reproductive health Mexico

Index Keywords

cultural anthropology perception Culture sexual behavior indigenous health care interpersonal communication human Negotiating middle aged population group statistics and numerical data Population Groups Health Services, Indigenous comparative study ethnology Mexico Cross-Sectional Studies interview United States Young Adult cross-sectional study Humans psychology Cross-Cultural Comparison Adolescent California Interviews as Topic female Socioeconomic Factors socioeconomics cultural factor Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Mexican American adult migration utilization Reproductive Health Transients and Migrants attitude to health Reference Values reference value Mexican Americans
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84904765462&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-013-9904-7&partnerID=40&md5=9a4ddc4ccdd9182af6043655771a51f4
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-013-9904-7
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English