Social support needs of Sudanese and Zimbabwean refugee new parents in Canada
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine support needs of African refugee new parents in Canada. Separated from their traditional family and cultural supports, refugee new parents reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds. Refugees required support to access services and overcome barriers such as language, complex systems, and limited financial resources. Support preferences included emotional and information support from peers from their cultural community and culturally sensitive service providers.
Notes
Location
NA
Community organizations
Zimbabwe Cultural Society of Alberta
Africa Centre
Catholic Social Services
Key recommendations
Need for expanded integration of language services within health systems to facilitate provision of informational, affirmational, and emotional support to refugee new parents
Future research is needed
Key findings
New parents among refugees reported isolation and loneliness. They lacked support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds.
Main needs of refugee new parents:
Family support
Culturally sensitive support
Emotional support
Instrumental support (support in
child-raising and household management postpartum)
Information support
Affordable child care
Support accessing services – raising awareness about existing programs
Key populations
Zimbabwean and Sudanese refugee new parents; service providers and policy influencers/makers
Gaps identified
Lack of support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and had limited interactions with people from similar cultural backgrounds.
Integration timeline
At what point during the integration process the study was conducted?
arrival in Canada in the last 60 months
Open-access – No