Bangladeshi immigrants constitute one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the United States. Approximately 54% of this group are classified as having Limited-English Proficiency (LEP), which means they speak English less than 'very well.' Facilitating good communication between this group and healthcare providers is a key feature of healthcare and health equity. Federally funded healthcare facilities are legally mandated to provide interpreters for patients with LEP, yet most do not have adequate services. The experience of Bangladeshi immigrants with medical translation and interpretation services has not been studied, so this project asks: what are Bangladeshi immigrants' experiences navigating the healthcare system in New York City with LEP? To answer this question, I have conducted in-depth interviews and facilitated community conversations that explore Bangladeshi immigrants' experiences in community healthcare settings in New York City. I specifically investigate their relationships to healthcare providers and medical language services. To understand and contextualize these experiences, I analyzed the interviews through the lens of critical race theory and the Bangladeshi diaspora, and the social determinants of health. This research will enhance the understanding of the current experiences of the Bangladeshi community and can hopefully be a resource to improve language services to benefit this group.
"},{"label":"Degree","value":["Bachelor of Arts with Departmental Honors"]},{"label":"Author-supplied Keywords","value":["Immigrant health","Language accessibility","Health equity"]},{"label":"Administrative Note","value":"Drupal Node ID: 23878