Undocumentedness and liminality as health variables

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Sociology
• Migration Studies

Background:

• Transnational migration is a global phenomenon, with increasing numbers of indigenous people from Mexico, particularly Oaxaca, migrating to the United States.
• Indigenous Oaxacan women now form a significant portion of this diaspora, often arriving as undocumented immigrants.
• These individuals face numerous liminal spaces that negatively impact their health and well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a platform for the voices and concerns of indigenous Oaxacan women migrants.
• To explore the links between postcolonial Mexico, neoliberal globalization, immigration policies, and the health conditions of migrants.
• To propose an emancipatory nursing praxis for promoting health and reducing suffering among transnational migrants.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative exploration of the experiences and concerns of indigenous Oaxacan women migrants.
• Analysis of socio-political and economic factors contributing to migration and health disparities.
• Development of a theoretical framework for nursing scholarship in transnational migration.

Main Results:

• Undocumented status and precarious living conditions create significant health risks for indigenous Oaxacan women.
• Postcolonial legacies, global economic policies, and restrictive border policies are identified as key drivers of migrant vulnerability.
• The study underscores the urgent need for culturally sensitive and emancipatory healthcare interventions.

Conclusions:

• Nursing scholarship must address the complex interplay of global forces and individual experiences shaping migrant health.
• An emancipatory praxis is essential for empowering transnational migrants and advocating for their health rights.
• Future research should focus on developing and implementing such praxis within diverse healthcare settings.