Thesis
Beyond the 'sanctuary': unveiling cardiovascular disease risk factors and the struggle for health equity among undocumented Mexican women in Philadelphia
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Drexel University
22 Feb 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010424
Abstract
Within the self-acclaimed orbit of a sanctuary city, there are still so many immigrants left unprotected. The seemingly inclusive regulations within Philadelphia are not reflected in the City's system of health administration. Undocumented immigrants feel the brunt of what it means to live without insurance and the proper health resources to cope with sickness and disease as they naturally arise. Unfortunately, women are disproportionately affected by the immigration health crisis, and their journey to access care within the clinical landscape highlights significant linguistic, legal, and cultural barriers that shape long-term health management. The positionality of immigrant women places them in a unique state of vulnerability that can produce unfavorable health outcomes. My research -- written and presented as my senior thesis -- delves into the intricacies surrounding the healthcare crisis within the demographic of Mexican immigrant women who have traveled Northbound, shedding light on the barriers that impede accessibility and equitable health outcomes and highlighting their impact on cardiovascular disease (CVD). The complex landscape surrounding the status of immigrant women creates distinct struggles that are not merely a matter of policy, but engender a necessary examination of health disparities, cultural competence, patient-provider interactions, and the authentic voices of immigrant women. My work seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the nuanced interplay between the immigrant experience, womanhood, vulnerability, healthcare management, and CVD risk factors. In this way, I posit that the immigrant experience, coupled with structural health inequality, deeply shapes individualized healthcare encounters for immigrant patients at every stage of the medical process. The presented research embarks on a critical exploration of what formulates cardiovascular health for Mexican immigrant women, while challenging the efficacy of the sanctuary city policy concentrated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Details
- Title
- Beyond the 'sanctuary'
- Creators
- Nalo C. Russell
- Contributors
- Alberto E. Morales (Advisor) - Drexel University, Global Studies and Modern LanguagesMonserrat Bores Martinez (Advisor) - Drexel University, Global Studies and Modern Languages
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 37 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Global Studies and Modern Languages; College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021892615704721