Crossing Borders, Bridging Care: Examining Reproductive Healthcare Access and Health-seeking Behaviors among Migrant Women in Utica

Abstract

By conducting interviews with providers in Utica, I analyze the social support systems and sociocultural context of reproductive health care. I discussed the impact these factors have made on the reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviors among resettled migrant women in Utica. Hence, my research question remains: How does the sociocultural context of migrant women’s home country affect their reproductive healthcare-seeking behaviors in Utica? This question guides my research and helps me better understand the needs, resources, and infrastructures of the healthcare system in place to facilitate a successful integration in Utica. By interviewing healthcare providers, community educators, doulas, and family planning representatives from the Utica community, I gained valuable insights into the current beliefs, practices, policies, and perceptions on reproductive healthcare among resettled migrant women. Then, I conceptualized the findings through the theoretical frameworks of acculturation processes, intersectionality, and transnational identity. This study advocates for providers to acknowledge the intersecting identities of migrant women by practicing transnational perspectives, community collaboration, culturally competent care, and working with community-based doulas