Exploring barriers and facilitators to digital health literacy among immigrant mothers in Quebec City

The shift to a digitalized health system brings particular challenges for immigrant mothers who experience a triple adaptation: becoming a mother, navigating a new healthcare system and using technology. This study aims to explore digital health literacy barriers perceived by immigrant mothers and facilitators that could sustain their empowerment related to their health and that of their family. An ethnographic study based on the socioecological model was used to analyze data collected from three individual interviews and two focus groups. The results of the interviews and focus groups allowed us to understand the cultural impact of the lack of digital literacy in the context of healthcare for immigrant mothers in their host country, as well as the barriers and facilitators to access and use digital health information. This study identifies individual, organizational and global level barriers to accessing digital health services amongst immigrant mothers. It also highlighted potential strategies that could support their empowerment in accessing and using digital health resources for their health and that of their family. For instance, training and coaching to help immigrant mothers navigate the health care system are needed. It is also important to adapt public policies to better support the integration of immigrant families in their host country.