Health Perceptions and Practices of Burmese Refugee Families: A Participatory Mixed Method Study

Healthcare providers in the United States often view the lifestyle choices made by refugees from Burma through the lenses of America’s norms for healthy living. Although healthcare providers often recognize the role that language plays in the refugees’ ability to communicate their healthcare needs, they often ignore the role of culture. This lack of understanding of cultural difference contributes to the marginalization of refugees in the healthcare system. Using a transformative mixed method methodology, this study employed the East Asian Acculturation Scale (EAAM) to identify participants’ perceived level of acculturation within health care contexts. The researchers then engaged participants in a qualitative exploration of their lifestyle choices using a Photovoice protocol. These two methods, girded by critical and ecological theories, elucidate the participants’ counter-stories that provide insight into how the refugees are negotiating culturally relevant lifestyle choices in their new American contexts.