Publisher's Synopsis
This handbook describes several recent immigrant groups in western Canada, among them Vietnamese, South and Southeast Asians, Chinese, Japanese, Central Americans, West Indians, and Iranians. It is unique in its approach, as it provides information not only about the health beliefs and practices of these communities but also about the social context of each group. Each chapter describes one particular ethnic group and discusses its attitudes towards such issues as childbirth, mental illness, dental care, hospitalization, and death. Information is also given on the level of health care, the religion, education, and political system in the home country, as well as on the reasons for emigrating and problems of adjusting to life in Canada. The authors, who are themselves members of the communities they describe, work in a variety of health-related fields. The information they provide reflects the kinds of questions professionals ask about these immigrant groups.
