The main objectives of the action-research project are:(1) To identify, describe and prioritize the needs of native and immigrant healthcare users with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, comparing and contrasting the perspectives of health professionals and healthcare users in the perception and definition of these needs.(2) To identify, describe and prioritize the needs of healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) when dealing with culturally diverse populations, comparing and contrasting the perspectives of immigrant and native professionals.(3) To examine the interplay between the effects of culture and power asymmetries on the needs of immigrant and native healthcare users, at various social-ecological levels. The following sources of power asymmetries will be examined: (a) origin: native vs. immigrant; (b) socioeconomic inequalities, (c) gender; and (d) role in healthcare interactions: doctor/nurse vs. patient.(4) To analyze good practices in the field of cultural competence in healthcare within the European Union, paying particular attention to the role of power asymmetrical relations between health professionals and healthcare users.(5) To identify the abilities required for the provision of culturally competent healthcare in contexts of cultural and human diversity, considering the role of asymmetrical power in health and healthcare at various social-ecological levels.(6) To make recommendations for interventions aimed at improving the ability of health professionals, both doctors and nurses, to meet the needs of healthcare users with diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, with the final purpose of promoting culturally competent healthcare in Portugal, based on values of social justice and equality.(7) To make recommendations for interventions aimed at promoting the empowerment of culturally diverse healthcare users through the enhancement of health citizenship and health literacy.(8) To elaborate recommendations for developing inte...

Health and citizenship: intercultural disparities and needs in the health attendance of immigrant mothers

This project focuses on health citizenship of migrant pregnant women, as a first step to enact citizenship rights.