Reports
 A Coordinated Approach to HIV and Hepatitis C Research in Atlantic Canada: How do we get there?
2003
In August 2003, 36 participants from the 4 Atlantic provinces met at a workshop to investigate the feasibility of an HIV and Hepatitis C Social and Behavioural Studies Unit for the Atlantic Region. The workshop objectives were to provide an opportunity for networking among researchers in the region, to discuss the current gaps in HIV/Hep C research and to promote a coordinated, multidisciplinary and regional response to these research needs.
1999
An annotated bibliography that serves as a reference tool for anyone interested in the gender-based analysis initiatives, and provides those who want to undertake such an analysis with a list of supporting texts.
Aboriginal Women and Obesity in Canada:
A Review of the Literature
Janet Allen
June 2009
Aboriginal Women, Water and Health: Reflections from Eleven First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Grandmothers
2010
Donald Langille
2000
Adolescent Sexual Health Services and Education: Options for Nova Scotia focuses on somatic sexual health issues facing young people, especially avoidance of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. The paper reviews sexual health education, accessibility of sexual health information, and policy options for adolescent sexual health.
Marion MacKinnon and Laura Lee Howard
2000
This qualitative study explored the experiences and perceptions of immigrant women in Prince Edward Island in relation to the factors that influence their health, health maintenance behaviours, and the health services they use.
Lynn McIntyre, Fred Wien, Sharon Rudderham, Loraine Etter, Carla Moore, Nancy MacDonald, Sally Johnson and Ann Gottschall
2001
In conjunction with the Union of Nova Scotia Indians and the Confederacy of Mainland Micmacs this project seeks to deepen understanding of what lies behind the stress experience described by Mi'kmaq female youth with an eye to policy and program intervention.
A Portrait of Unpaid Care in Nova Scotia
Janice Keefe, Glenda Hawkins and Pamela Fancy with contributions from Tasha Ellis
2006
An estimated 36% of Nova Scotians gave care to someone because of a longterm condition, mental illness, or temporary difficult time. The higher prevalence rates of caregiving in Nova Scotia compared to the Canadian rates raise questions about why this occurs and what as a society we are doing to support these caregivers.
Beyond Inclusion: Diversity in Women's Health Research
Wanda Thomas Bernard
Josephine Enang
2001
In partnership with the Black Women's Health Network, this project explored the determinants of health in the context of their impact on the Black Nova Scotian population. It includes a literature review and the proceedings of a two-day workshop to prioritize identified Black health issues.
Karen Messing
1999
This synthesis paper reviews women's occupational health at two levels: recognition of their problems and ability to organize to prevent problems. It also provides an action plan for dealing with these problems.
ACEWH organized this workshop for the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation. Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges for collaborative health research, as well as participating in skill development activities. Collaborative Research Proposals: A Guide provides basic information and resources on collaborative research and research proposal preparation and writing.
Careful Measures: An Exploration of the Sex and Gender Dimensions of a Deprivation Index
M.J. Haworth-Brockman, H. Isfeld, A. Pederson, B. Clow, A. Liwander and B.A. Kinniburgh, Editors
2011
While there is considerable interest in understanding the social determinants of health and in measuring their effects, sex and gender have received little consideration in existing concepts, models and measures of deprivation. This deficit in sex- and gender-based analysis persists, despite the wealth of evidence demonstrating that women are more likely than men to experience multiple forms of disadvantage and greater health inequity. If the goal of population health planning is to reduce health disparities by reducing inequities that create the disparity, then it is essential to understand where and how inequities originate.
The results of our investigation suggest that a deprivation index may not apply to men and women equally. The findings point to the need for thorough exploration of sex and gender differences associated with components of multivariate indices to ensure that they reflect the experience of men and women.
Caregiver Resilience and the Quest for Balance: A Report on Findings from Focus Groups
Jacqueline Gahagan, Charlotte Loppie, Marlene MacLellan, Laurene Rehman and Katherine Side
2004
Joan Campbell, Gail Bruhm and Susan Lilley
1998
This project obtained practical knowledge about formal and informal services, programs and supports for caregivers in small communities and rural areas of Nova Scotia using a qualitative and participatory research methodology.
Katherine Teghtsoonian
1999
This synthesis paper reviews approaches to mainstreaming gender analysis in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Western Europe in order to assess their contribution to development of policy, services and research that are responsive to women's health needs.
Challenging Discourse in Health Policy Research: The case of "lone mothers"
Karen Bridget Murray
2008
Using discourses on "lone mothers" as a case study, this research paper explores some of the dilemmas of conducting health policy research focused on particular social groups. The paper highlights the importance of health research that takes a reflexive stance towards the role of researchers in creating and augmenting negative and stigmatizing social classifications.
Leslie Bella and Lori Yetman
2000
This action research project used electronic communication technologies to develop tools through which health and social security agencies and practitioners can assess and correct the heterosexist bias in their programs and activities, addressing the issue in the context of being lesbian in rural Newfoundland.
Jocelyn Downie and Barbara Cottrell
2000
Working with the Dalhousie Health Law Institute and the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, this project developed a mechanism for ethics review of community-based research where existing ethics reviews processes are either not available or are in appropriate.
Swarna Weerasinghe, Terry Mitchell, Linda Hamilton and Mireille Ragheb
2000
This exploratory research project focuses on recent immigrant women in Nova Scotia and their experience with, and access to, healthcare. Findings reveal health care provider and consumer communication problems, clashes between ethnocultural beliefs and the Western health care system, and a link between employment status and physical and emotional health.
1999
This synthesis paper analyzes the policies of the Quebec Department of Health and Social Services and other regulatory health units to provide support or back-up for family members and appropriate community resources in the assessment of needs and allocation of home care services.
2000
Najma Sharif, Atul Dar and Carol Amaratunga
Ethnicity, Income and Access to Health Care in the Atlantic Region: A Synthesis of the Literature scans the relevant academic and popular literature on the accessibility to health care of different income and/or ethnic groups in the Atlantic region, highlights gaps in knowledge that impede the development of well-informed health policies, and identifies critical areas that warrant ongoing and future investigation.
Evaluation Made Very Easy, Accessible, and Logical (EVAL)
K. Farrell, M. Kratzmann, S. McWilliam, N. Robinson, S. Saunders, J. Ticknor and K. White
2002
This document includes a brief outline of how to do a needs assessment, four evaluation frameworks, and guidance for disseminating your findings.
Elevator Activity
Evaluation Climate Discussion Notes
Evaluation Climate
Evaluation Needs Assess
Need Tree Discussion Notes
Need Tree Poster
Program Logic Model
Stages of Growth Discussion Notes
Stages of Growth
Ronald Colman
1999
This synthesis paper explores the policy implications for gender equality of valuing unpaid work using the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index [which explicitly values unpaid work and considers it to be an essential component of the quality of life and a core measure of well being and progress].
Alison Mathie
1999
This overview of gender equity illustrates that the gender equity agenda has gone beyond the concern for women's equal access to the opportunities that men have enjoyed and highlights the need to assign value to the caring economy to encourage participation of both men and women.
Christine Saulnier
1999
Gender Mainstreaming: Developing a Conceptual Framework for En-Gendering Healthy Public Policy develops a conceptual framework for mainstreaming gender issues and perspectives in health related polices. Its companion paper, Gender Planning: Developing an operational framework for En-Gendering Healthy Public Policy develops an operational framework. The project also produced four fact sheets: mainstreaming gender analysis, learning from health impact assessment, developing economic gender equality indicators, and mainstreaming gender analysis and public consultation and participation.
ACEWH publication:
Susan Kirkland
2000
One of the first activities of ACEWH, this project established a set of meaningful, practical principles for the conduct of a program of research in women's health through consultations with community-based organizations from the four Atlantic provinces.
2000
Susan Sherwin
1998
Health Protection for the 21st Century? identifies eight inter-related areas of concern regarding the Health Protection Branch Transition: gender equity analysis, setting the agenda, process, conception of health, risk, autonomy, preserving the social fabric, and addressing ethical questions.
Health Status and Health Services Use of Female and Male Prisoners in Provincial Jail
Jennifer R. Bernier and Kristin MacLellan
2011
Sandy Bentley, Lesley Poirier, Carol Amaratunga, Janice Keefe, Gail Bruhm, Joan Campbell, Jocelyn Downie and Colleen Flood
1998
This paper was prepared in anticipation of the National Conference on Home Care. It discusses several home care issues and argues that demographic, social and economic differences between women and men must be taken into consideration when developing home care policy. The paper concerns itself with users of home care as well as with providers, both paid and unpaid.
The Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Maternal and Newborn Health: A Critical Review of the Literature
Kathy Petite and Barbara Clow
2010
A literature review that examines the health implications of obesity and overweight in pregnancy, starting with the physical health of women and children and moving on to a consideration of some of the social determinants of health. The review closes with a synthesis of findings and recommendations for further research.
Wanda Thomas Bernard
2001
This project engaged Black mothers who have addictions and are or have been involved with a child welfare agency in an exploration of the issues that impact on them and the barriers to successful intervention, including the role of family and community and availability of gender and culturally appropriate services.
Nova Scotia Council on Multicultural Health
1999
Organized by the Nova Scotia Council on Multicultural Health, this symposium brought together participants of a relief project to bring Kosovar refugees to Nova Scotia. This synthesis report identifies barriers to health service provision for newcomers and lists recommendations for removing those barriers.
Erin Skinner
1998
Lessons from the Field: Policy Makers on Gender-based Analysis Tools in Canada examines the use of gender based analysis [GBA] tools in the policy making process. The paper reviews the development of GBA tools, lists questions that address gender-related considerations in developing and analyzing policy, and provides an overview of provincial and federal government GBA-related activities.
Ronald Colman
1999
This synthesis paper uses the Nova Scotia Genuine Progress Index, currently under construction, to integrate 20 social, economic and environmental variables into a comprehensive and policy-relevant measure of sustainable development.
Mind the Sex Gap: Bridging Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention for Young Heterosexual Males
Jacqueline Gahagan and Laurene Rehman
2004
The Buddy Study was designed with a view to exploring and contextualizing young heterosexual males' perceptions of their sexual behaviours, roles, and responsibilities, and to pinpoint specific barriers and gaps in sexual health decision-making amongst youth. This report presents a synthesis of the research process, along with key findings and a series of sector-specific recommendations for enhancing best practices for healthy sexuality resources. In carrying out thematic analysis of the focus group and interview transcripts from both years of the study, the relationship between gender and sexual health became strikingly clear.
Gaila Friars
2000
This research project consulted women living in communities of the Region 3 Hospital Corporation [New Brunswick] on how health care providers and services could better contribute to enhancing the health of a largely rural women's health constituency.
Rieky Stuart
1999
This synthesis paper presents new concepts and strategies currently being applied by women and men in several organizations to build gender equity by combining insights from feminist theory and organizational change theory and practice.
Overweight and Obesity in Pregnancy: A Review of Evidence
2012
Jennifer R. Bernier and Yvonne Hanson
Glenda Vardy Dell
1999
This project reviews the use of Well Women's Clinics to increase screening rates of hard-to-reach women. This model can support new health intervention policies to increase health screening methods for gender specific conditions that respond well to early detection, e.g., cervical or prostate cancer.
Policy Options to Support Dependent Care: The Tax/Transfer System
Richard Shillington
2004
Prepared by Carolyn Schellenberg on behalf of the National Coordinating Group on Health Care Reform and Women
2001
This bibliography's purpose is to address the following question: Do policy and research related to primary [health] care consider gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other differences, and in what ways are these differences considered?
Richard Shillington
2004
This report examines measures available through Canada's tax and transfer system to support caregiving work. Since the vast majority of caregiving is undertaken by women, a recurring theme is the differential impact of public supports on women and men.
Priorities for Caregivers: Executive Summary
Brigitte Neumann, Carolina Crewe, Barbara Clow and Carol Amaratunga
2007
The Executive Summary outlines the findings and recommendations from the Healthy Balance Research Program that can inform and assist governments, employers, service providers and civil society in supporting caregivers and care recipients throughout the province.
Rising to the Challenge: Sex- and gender-based analysis for health planning, policy and research in Canada
Barbara Clow, Ann Pederson, Margaret Haworth-Brockman and Jennifer Bernier
2009
Rising to the Challenge is a book that describes the process of sex- and gender-based analysis and offers a collection of case studies and commentaries that illustrate SGBA in action. The book is of interest to people working on policy, planning and research and to people at various levels of government. It will help readers understand sex- and gender-based analysis and learn how to apply it in their work for and with women and men, girls and boys.
Roundtable on the State of Maternity and Newborn Care in Prince Edward Island
Co-Hosted by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health, with the Birthing Options Research Network, in partnership with the PEI Women's Network
February 21, 2004
The objectives were to exchange ideas and develop strategies for ensuring that women on PEI receive the most appropriate primary maternity care. Participants were asked to discuss the current maternity and newborn care options available; how these options fit/or don't with the National Guidelines for Family-Centred and Newborn Care; how to improve primary maternity care; and how to ensure that the care is the most appropriate provided by the most appropriate provider thus opening up a discussion of doulas and midwives.
Marika Morris
1999
This synthesis paper reviews important issues pertaining to women's health research including question development, project design, ethical reviews, analysis, and presentation and dissemination of results, as well as the possibilities for resulting action and policy changes from such research.
Sponsored by: Prince Edward Island Advisory Council on the Status of Women, Researched and written by the Cooper Institute
1999
This research project assessed the impact of changes in federal and Prince Edward Island social policy on the health of single mothers and explored the factors that single mothers identified as the main determinants of their health and the relationship of these factors to social policy.
Snapshots of the Lives of Caregivers
Brenda Beagan, Robin Stadnyk, Charlotte Loppie, Nancy MacDonald, Barbara Hamilton-Hinch and Judy MacDonald
2006
Donald Langille, Janice Graham and Emily Gard Marshall
1999
This research project examined the barriers young women in Amherst, Nova Scotia, perceived or experienced related to accessing and using sexual health services and education, including services from physicians and in pharmacies. The project identifies practical measures that educators, education policy makers, medical practitioners and pharmacies can take to reduce these barriers.
2000
1999
Olena Hankivsky
1999
This synthesis paper examines the extent to which the Canadian health care sector protects and promotes social justice, particularly women's right to physical and mental health. The author argues that framing women's health in the discourse of human rights is a prerequisite to social justice.
Women In Public Policy
These Steps are an assessment tool intended to help identify the elements that need to be in place or be recognized for community-based equality seeking groups, researchers and governments to work together on public policy development, implementation and reform.
Striking to the Heart of the Matter: Selected Readings on Gender and HIV
Edited by Carol Amaratunga and Jacequeline Gahagan
2002
Supporting Caregivers of Dependent Adults in the 21st Century
Beth Rajnovich, Janice Keefe and Janet Fast
2005
The Caregiver's Handbook
Edited by
Carol Amaratunga, Barbara Clow and Brigitte Newmann
2007
The Caregiver's Handbook was designed for caregivers in Nova Scotia. It includes information about health, financial and legal issues related to caregiving, and will help connect caregivers with existing sesrvices
1999
This synthesis paper examines a selection of current issues in the legal system [i.e., access, criminal law, civil law, family law] that impact directly and indirectly on women's physical and mental health and evaluates the legal system as a determinant of women's health.
The Midwifery Way: A National Forum Reflecting on the State of Midwifery Regulation in Canada
Co-hosted by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health and the Prairie Women's Health Centre of Excellence
July 22-23, 2004
The Newfoundland and Labrador Midwifery Consultation Meeting
September 25, 2003. Twenty-six in-person stakeholders participated in the meeting while an additional 5 participants attended via teleconference. It brought together stakeholders from various professions, as well as consumers, who have an interest in the regulation of midwifery in this province and who are knowledgeable about the status of midwifery in the province and in Canada more generally.
Agnieszka Kosny
1999
Drawing upon interviews with women in St. John's, Newfoundland, this synthesis paper reviews social factors affecting women's health, including multiple roles, work, income distribution, social support, geographic isolation, community health and linkages with other groups, and the implications of these factors in the development and implementation of health care policies and services.
Robin Stadnyk
2002
The paper describes the policy context that supports Canadian beliefs in accessibility, comprehensiveness, and universality of health care, including nursing home care; compares nursing home care policy in the provinces and territories in terms of universality, accessibility, and comprehensiveness; and explores social forces that impact on current
inequities, and possible solutions to current inequities.
Jean Hughes and Cathy McCormack
2000
This exploratory project examined the coping and recovery processes of women of low-income status at-risk for/experiencing depression. Specifically, it explored the personal coping strategies used to assist women in meeting the demands of everyday life in family, social and work settings.
Thinking It Through: Women, Work and Caring in the New Millennium
Pat Armstrong and Hugh Armstrong
2001
Agnieszka Kosny
2000
In this study, women from throughout Newfoundland and Labrador discussed factors related to their work and the workplace that affected their health and well being, including the physical environment, workplace structure and other economic issues. In general, a lack of high quality employment opportunities forced women to work in jobs that were not good for their health and well being.
Colleen Flood
1999
Unpacking the Shift to Home Care focuses on the factors leading to the recent and rapid shift from the provision of care in hospitals and institutions to home care. It analyzes which members of society [particularly women] will bear the costs of this shift and explains why the distribution of these costs has largely been ignored.
Jon Church, Vernon Curran and Shirley Solberg
1999
This research project develops an explanatory model of the use of audio teleconferencing in the provision of social support to survivors of breast cancer among women living in rural Newfoundland.
Want to know more about midwives?
April 2006. Produced by the Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Women's Health. A booklet that describes a midwife is, what they do, why we need midwifery, midwives as primary health care providers, their scope of practice, and the midwifery contribution to primary health care renewal.
Where do we go from here: Support services for women with breast, cervical, ovarian and uterine cancer in Atlantic Canada
Barbara Clow, Erin Hemmens and Stephanie Mason
2008
Carol Putnam, Anne Fenety and Charlotte Loppie
2000
This project explored job stressors and coping strategies by giving female call centre workers an opportunity to share their perceptions and experiences about the ways this type of work might influence their physical, psychological, emotional and social well being.
Wendy Williams
1999
This synthesis paper analyzes the process of gender-based analysis within government bureaucracies in Canada and evaluates the gender based analysis process in terms of improving health care delivery services to women.
Young at Breast!
Poster presentation by Barbara Clow, Kristin MacLellan and Kathy Petite
2010
Young women with breast cancer comprise a diverse population under-represented in research, policy, and programming. Though younger women represent a comparatively small proportion of breast cancer patients, they often face poorer prognoses and personal issues that are specific to their age and stage in life. Although researchers and clinicians are paying attention to the experiences and needs of young women with breast cancer, there is a disturbing lack of consensus about what constitutes a “young” woman in this context. This poster explores the implications of various definitions – and the lack of definitions – of “young” in the context of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, care and support.
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