Conducting Binational Research: A Tale of Two Countries

Overview: Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in the United States. Historically, Latino immigrants have been negatively impacted by social determinants of health. Binational research can better equip social workers in understanding the complex needs of this population. This presentation will discuss considerations and recommendations for conducting binational research.Proposal text: Immigrants from Latin America are one of the fastest-growing groups in the U.S. Mexicans and Mexican Americans are the largest subgroup of Latinos in the U.S., accounting for almost two-thirds of the population. Latino immigrants, especially those that are undocumented, have historically been affected negatively by social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status, inadequate healthcare access, food insecurity, housing instability, low educational attainment, legal status, and others. For women, these disparities are exacerbated. Experiences of IPV can magnify the impact of these disparities. Understanding IPV using a transnational lens is important to prevention efforts on both sides of the border. Binational research is critical to better understanding the influence of migration on IPV and the social determinants of health among Mexican migrant women.

This presentation is informed by a binational research project, funded by the Research Program on Migration and Health (PIMSA), that explored the relationship between IPV and health among Mexican internal migrant women in Mexico and Latina women (U.S. born & foreign-born) in Southeast Texas. Results from this study are under review in various publications.

Social work educators play a critical role in equipping students with evidence-based knowledge about the intersectional challenges faced by Latino immigrants. Our CSWE presentation will be focused on the challenges, successes, and strategies for launching successful binational research collaborations. These include cultural differences in research in two countries (U.S. & Mexico), institutional requirements and expectations, navigating ethical considerations and human subjects protections across both countries, differences in trainings and disciplinary lenses, and problem solving when conflicts arise.

Understanding the dynamics, challenges, and health implications of immigration, from a binational context, can help us better understand the needs of Latino immigrants. Moreover, understanding immigrant health provides social workers with critical insights into factors affecting their health outcomes in the US and Mexico (Handley & Sudhinaraset, 2017). However, successful binational research collaborations cannot happen without paying attention to the cultures and contexts of both countries. The presenters will discuss considerations and recommendations for conducting binational research in the U.S. and Mexico. Implications for social work education and research will be highlighted.