Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108711

Nalini Visvanathan, PhD, MPH, College of Public and Community Service, University of Massachusetts, Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd, Boston, MA 02125-3393, 617 287-7164, nalini.visvanathan@umb.edu

Abstract: The South Asian Immigrant Women's Health Study explored women's perceptions of their health and the health of women and young girls in their communities. Focus groups, as well as in-depth interviews, were conducted with women from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the metropolitan area of a large city in the Northeast. The process of contacting and bringing women together, in the Pakistani community, uncovered family losses and separations, leading to more extensive interviews with young Muslim women in a university setting, as well as older women. Through analysis of these qualitative interviews, it is possible to chart the deleterious health effects of living in a security regime for the religious and ethnic minority that was targeted. After September 11, 2001, tens of thousands of Pakistanis have been deported or have voluntarily left the country. How did the women deal with the pervasive fears and tensions created within their community? What were the health consequences of these oppressive conditions? The presentation will address these questions, drawing from the accounts of the women and service providers in the community.

Learning Objectives: Objectives

• Describe the impact of the post 9/11 security regime on the health of South Asian Muslim women and their families.
• Identify the ways in which security enactments and enforcements affect the mental, physical and social health of South Asian Muslim women.

Keywords: Immigrant Women,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.