Submission ID 118238
| Issue/Objective | Ontario, the most populous province in Canada, has seen a significant influx of migrants from SSA in the past several years, with Nigeria and South Africa as the top countries of origin for Black African newcomers. Conditions resulting from overcrowding and provincial attempts to accommodate this influx have led to medium-sized cities, like Hamilton and Ottawa, and small communities becoming increasingly popular destinations for immigrants. |
|---|---|
| Methodology/Approach | The objective of this scoping review was to evaluate the breadth of existing literature on the psychosocial well-being of Black African migrant parents living in Ontario. This review was conducted according to the JBI guide on evidence synthesis. The results were reported in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR). An extensive search strategy was developed for application across six databases: PubMed, Scopus, ProQuest, Web of Science, OVID, and CINAHL. The findings demonstrate a high level of heterogeneity between studies that were appraised independently by two researchers using the QuADS tool. |
| Results | Fifteen articles were included in the scoping review. The review revealed five major themes: 1) psychosocial well-being or 'health' as a culturally embedded concept, 2) the politicization of health and its impact on psychosocial well-being, 3) generational dynamics and parenting challenges, 4) the interplay of trauma and resilience in the resettlement journey, and 5) agency and resourcefulness. Stressors related to adapting to life in Ontario and managing parenting responsibilities simultaneously are addressed mainly through communal coping strategies that emphasize mutual responsibility among African newcomers. Studies were concentrated in major urban centers like Toronto and smaller communities were overlooked. This gap is significant with the recent implementation of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, which encourages migrants to resettle in smaller communities in Ontario. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | Black African migrant parents maintain transnational connections through parenting and communication with relatives back home, making them vulnerable to the psychosocial effects of conditions in their home countries. Their psychosocial well-being can be enhanced by incorporating their cultural perspectives into senior care, maternal health, HIV care, and mental health services. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Tsinat Semagn McMaster University Ingrid Waldron McMaster University Allison Williams McMaster University Sarah Qureshi McMaster University Olive Wahoush McMaster University |
