Research Spotlight
Winter 2024/2025
Immigrant Women and Quality of Life: The Contribution of Life-Map Memoir from a Mixed Methods Study
We are delighted to shine a spotlight on the exceptional research undertaken by Dr. Juliana Faquim (pictured above, left, and with research team, right), our recent distinguished visiting professor from the Technical School of Health at the Federal University of Uberlândia, Brazil. Dr. Faquim, who holds a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of São Paulo, has made significant contributions to our academic community since she began her position as visiting professor at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in August 2023, hosted by former faculty member Dr. Liliani Vieira during her time at Schulich Dentistry.
During her time at Schulich, Dr. Faquim conducted a research project and also actively contributed to our academic environment by teaching courses in Oral Radiology and engaging in various academic activities.
The project "Immigrant Women and Quality of Life: The Contribution of Life-Map Memoir from a Mixed Methods Study" delves into the quality of life of immigrant women, a topic of increasing relevance given the global nature of human migration and mobility. According to the 2021 Census of Population, London, Ontario, is home to 103,300 immigrants, with 53,625 being women. These immigrants frequently face a variety of problems in their daily lives that can interfere with their quality of life.
The research utilized the Life-Map Memoir, an innovative methodology created by Dr. Faquim to explore perceptions about an important experience through reports and the drawing of life-map records based on the theoretical conceptions of social and environmental psychology in the field of Public Health. It enables an in-depth exploration of complex phenomena to comprehend the human experience.
This methodology was presented at the X Iberoamerican Congress of Qualitative Research in Health held in Valladolid, Spain, and at the Public Health 2024 Conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
The study provided relevant insights into the challenges and resilience of immigrant women, highlighting the critical factors influencing their quality of life. The findings underscore the importance of supportive policies and community initiatives to enhance the well-being of immigrant populations.
“Our research demonstrated the significant influence of interdisciplinary research and international collaboration. I am proud to have been a part of such a passionate and innovative research community, and I look forward to the continued influence of our work on public health practices and policies,” commented Dr. Faquim. “I am also deeply grateful to Western University for hosting me as a visiting professor during this time.”
The project established partnerships among researchers from different programs and research centers, including the Centre for Critical Qualitative Health Research (CQ/UofT) and the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion (CRHESI/UWO).
Research Team
- Juliana Faquim, Schulich Dentistry, Western University and UFU (Brazil)
- Liliani Vieira, Schulich Dentistry, Western University
- Natália Madureira, Schulich Medicine, PhD candidate in Family Medicine
- Karla Tonelli Bicalho Crosara, Schulich Dentistry, Western University
- Debbie Laliberte Rudman, School of Occupational Therapy, Western University
- Ana Paula S. Malfitano, School of Occupational Therapy, Western Universityand UFSCAR (Brazil)
- Fiona Webster, Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing, Western University
- Vitor Las Casas Celere, Psychology Candidate, Western University
- Julia Vaz Ferri Da Silva, Health Science and Social Science, Undergraduate student, Western University
- Hetal Shah, Schulich Dentistry, DDS Candidate, Western University
- Razan Alhujairi, Schulich Dentistry, DDS Candidate, Western University
