Abstract
This qualitative study aimed to characterize the life context and the meanings attributed to the migration process of Haitian families. Seven Haitian mothers who had children in Brazil participated in the research. In data collection, the combination of in-depth interview and Genogram Mecha were used. The organization and analysis of the data were based on the Grounded Theory and the help of the Atlas.ti 22.1.0 software, from which five categories of analysis emerged. The results showed that the living condition in Haiti was configured as a stressor in the family life cycle and drove the migratory process. It was identified that migration meant the possibility of a life with more security, access to health services, quality education, and job opportunities. It was observed that ambivalence of feelings accompanied the whole migratory process, which, added to the language barrier and the grief experienced, strained the decision to migrate and the arrival in Brazil.
Keywords
international migration; immigrant family; Haitians; life context