I conducted seven on-site interviews of seven women within the population of Mexican farmworkers in rural communities in Northern California, completed a literature review, and formed my paper. The steps I took were:
Completed an approved IRB proposal
Recruited participants
Created and followed a questionnaire script during the Interview
Audio-recorded Spanish conversations
Compensated my participants through approved KLOHC funds
Transcribed and analyzed the information shared
Facilitated a testimonio focus group to confirm that data was consensual and accurate
Conducted a preliminary literature review
During the in-person interviews conducted in a private room, participants were audio recorded and asked the same questions as outlined in the questionnaire script. The participants were informed that the interviews would range from 30 to 60 minutes, with the majority of the interviews being around 50 minutes in length. The questions asked range from inquiring about their personal experiences navigating reproductive health and sharing the story of their first menstrual period, first pap smear, their delivery experiences, and even the first romantic night with their partners. The participants were also asked about who, if anyone, had talked to them about sex and how, if done at all, they communicated the talk of sex to their children. The participants were asked to share what resources,if any, were available in terms of safe sexual practices, and if they were aware of terms such as consent. They were also asked to share about their environment, being rural with many of them engaging in daily farm work, and how it affects their health and that of their families. Additionally, the participants were asked about their relationships with physicians and if they or their friends or children had experienced any form of discriminatory behavior. Following the interviews, participants were compensated using funds approved by the KLOHC student-run clinic. Subsequently, I transcribed and analyzed the information gathered.
The information shared during the testimonios were noted and analyzed for patterns and key themes in their responses to the standardized questions. 6 key talking points were identified: (1) Knowledge of consent; (2) sexual agency; (3) breaking generational gaps; (4) how they were taught and talked about sex; (5) culture and cultural stigmas and (6) US healthcare and medicine.
I had the privledge of presenting at the 35th annual University esearch Conference at the University of california, Davis on April 26, 2024. Here, I showcased my poster and had the opportunity to explain my research.
Despite each testimony lasting just under sixty minutes, the discussions about life, marriage, children, work, family history, or any other topic chosen by the participants held significant meaning. Beyond the research component, these conversations, conducted in Spanish and sometimes including profanity, aimed for an asset-based approach. Rather than eliciting pity for the women due to life's challenges, the goal was to admire their resilience across various aspects of their journeys. It's essential to recognize and appreciate the lived experiences of Latina women and their perseverance. However, this appreciation should be met with proactive intervention to ensure culturally humble and appropriate care, particularly concerning their sexual and reproductive health and that of their children.
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