Browsing by Subject "Mexican-American women"
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Item Exploring the lived experience of intimate partner violence and salutogenesis in aging Mexican-American women(2015-12) Divin, Christine Ann; Volker, Deborah L.; Champion, Jane; Acton, Gayle; Angel, Jacqueline; Holahan, CaroleIntimate partner violence, a serious preventable public health problem affects one in three women in the US and a billion women worldwide, crossing all boundaries including age, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic. However, little is known about the experience of IPV in aging women, especially in aging ethnic minorities. Furthermore, there are countless hidden victims including the many children who witness repeated IPV, placing them at risk of becoming a victim of IPV or a perpetrator in their own intimate relationships. The purpose of my dissertation was to explore the lived experience of IPV through the lens of aging Mexican-American women with a history of IPV, to increase understanding of how their experience has shaped their lives today, and to identify the salutogenic factors that may have sustained health in the midst of adversity. Denzin's methodology of interpretive interactionism that embraces the interrelationship of private issues that also have societal implications guided this qualitative study. Antonovsky's Salutogenic Theory provided the sensitizing framework. Previous studies have shown the numerous adverse effects of IPV but some have also shown that women garner tremendous strength simply to survive. These studies have identified a need for ongoing research from a resource perspective to further understand this strength. This study not only addresses the IPV experience in Mexican-American women with a past history of abuse, but from a Salutogenic perspective, captures the healing journey of 12 aging women aged 55-85 in two border communities in Texas. The women in this study not only survived IPV but have discovered ways to foster health ease and even thrive in their autumn and winter years. The wisdom revealed has numerous implications for health care professionals as well as for ongoing research including holistic models for healing from IPV, universal screening throughout the life span, and inclusion of survivors in preventive efforts. An upstream approach is indeed called for as all of the women in this study proclaimed a desire to break the cycle of violence for future generations.Item ?It Wouldn?t Change a Thing?: The Role of Identity Politics and Gender Politics in Mexican-American Women?s Decision-Making Experiences about Prenatal Testing(2014-08-10) Hernandez, Leandra HThis dissertation explores Mexican-American women?s experiences with prenatal testing, more specifically the amniocentesis procedure. Utilizing health communication theories and Chicana feminist theories as my theoretical lenses, I explored the social construction of the amniocentesis procedure for Mexican-American women, as well as the role of their family members and healthcare providers in their decision-making processes. An intersectional feminist thematic analysis was conducted of 30 semistructured, in-depth interviews with Mexican-American women between the ages of 30 to 45 in Houston, Texas and San Diego, California. Ten themes emerged from the data and presented a portrait of the information processing and decision-making processes that the participants went through as they deliberated whether to undergo the amniocentesis procedure. Of the 30 participants, only one underwent the amniocentesis procedure; the other 29 participants refused the amniocentesis procedure because it would not change the outcome of their pregnancy, because they did not see a need for the information the amniocentesis could provide, and because their families would support them in their decision to not abort a child with a disability. Moreover, participants noted that their spouses and family members were very encouraging during their decision-making processes, which further solidified their decision to reject the amniocentesis procedure. Lastly, participants spoke of their physicians? role in the amniocentesis, and most noted that their physicians supported their decision. Participants preferred physicians who spoke to them in a caring manner and disliked when their physicians did not explain health-related information with them or take the time to establish a relationship with them. These findings provide a new snapshot of what the amniocentesis experience is like for Mexican-American women. Participants refused the amniocentesis, but not for reasons that have been supported in past academic literature. Moreover, participants provided a new conceptualization of what a ?healthy baby? is and looks like?a fetal anomaly or congenital disorder was not framed as negative, unhealthy, or undesirable. This conceptualization of ?what a healthy baby is? was situated within sociocultural factors such as family support, strong spiritual values, and a maternal/fetal fusion with their children. Lastly, given the delicate nature of this prenatal procedure, physicians should be more empathetic and more caring. This communication style would make patients more comfortable and create a more satisfying healthcare experience.Item Las doñas : health literacy and cervical cancer screening among older Mexican-American women(2012-12) Chapa-Flores, Bertha Eloisa; Acton, Gayle Jane, 1951-; Becker, Heather; Brown, Sharon; Mackert, Michael; Gill, Sara; Arevalo-Flechas, LydaCancer is the leading cause of death for Hispanics, and cervical cancer incidence is higher (64%) for Hispanics than for non-Hispanic whites. In Texas Hispanic women 50 and older are the lowest screened and present with higher incidence of invasive cervical cancer as compared to non-Hispanic white women. They are diagnosed at a peak age of 65-74, which suggests that Hispanic women need to be screened past the recommended screening age. An estimated 90 million people in the U.S. lack basic literacy skills and low literacy may contribute to low screening. Few studies have addressed the relationship between low health literacy and cervical cancer screening among older women of Mexican-American ancestry. This study sought to uncover the cervical cancer screening beliefs, practices, health literacy, knowledge, and experiences of English and/or Spanish-speaking older women of Mexican-American ancestry. Thirty women participated in focus group or individual interviews in English and/or Spanish. Women 50 years of age or older living in the community were recruited from senior centers in South Texas from a purposeful convenience sample. Data collection was conducted through audio-taped semi-structured interviews following a moderator guide developed using Zarcadoolas, Pleasant, and Greer’s (2005) health literacy model. Data were transcribed, analyzed in original language, translated for meaning, aggregated for analysis using qualitative content analysis; matrices were developed and analyzed individually, and then data were aggregated. The Newest Vital Sign, a health literacy tool, was used to partially assess fundamental literacy. Major themes elucidated were (a) Reasons “I don’t go” [fundamental literacy], (b), Prevention of cancer and “everything else” [science literacy], (c) We are different,[cultural literacy], (d) There is always “consejos” (advice, messages) [civic literacy], and media literacy, (e) Telenovelas (soap-operas) teach a lot, and (f) Learning from Internet brochures. The study supports a multidimensional model of health literacy and focus group research, accounting for the group’s cultural norms, language, and educational preferences. It adds information for nurse clinicians about providing holistic care, for nurse educators regarding communication strategies for diverse older populations, and for researchers to continue developing strategies that improve health literacy and health outcomes for minority older women.