Atlantic Centre of Excellence for Womens' Health (ACEWH)

Intended to generate an understanding of women and healthy living and to contribute to the development of evidence-informed responses to addressing challenges related to healthy living for women in Canada. Argues that healthy living needs to be reframed and embrace a broader concept of health and health issues in order to improve women’s healthy living. Includes (1) an overview of the status of women in Canada and the healthy living discourse; (2) a profile of women and healthy living; (3) healthy living strategies and promising gender-sensitive intervention; and (4) conclusions.

Focuses on the implications of maternal overweight and obesity, the experiences of pregnant women who are overweight or obese, and the provision of maternity care for overweight or obese women. Highlights that there are significant gaps in our knowledge of the psychological and emotional implications of overweight and obesity throughout pregnancy.

Executive summary of a qualitative study that examined women’s experiences with maternity care, including the psychological, emotional, and social implications of overweight and obesity in pregnancy. It also sought to gain knowledge about health care providers’ experiences with maternity care for overweight and obese women to better understand what is required for providing the best care to this group of women. 

Relates the stories of women who have experienced weight gain in the context of food insecurity and offers insights into the nuances of the food insecurity-obesity paradox. Looks at how, for these women, this paradox affected their daily lives, what challenges they faced as well as what coping strategies they used.

Explores whether women and men (girls and boys) have the same experiences of material and social deprivation and of health, and how these similarities or differences are accounted for in terms of indicator development and structure. Examines the opportunities for and the limitations of one deprivation index to represent the different experiences of men and of women in Canada by conducting a sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) of the indicators included in the index and calculating the index by sex using Statistics Canada's Census data for Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax. Results suggest that a deprivation index may not apply to men and women equally, and 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.

Examines and compares the health status and health service utilization of women and men in a provincial correctional jail in Atlantic Canada. Finds that prisoners experienced a number of physical and mental health issues and a large proportion used health services during incarceration. The quality and accessibility of health services played a significant role in how participants viewed health care in jail. Sex and gender are shown to influence the health status and use of health services among provincial prisoners. Females report more heath issues and poorer overall health, as well as more difficulties accessing health services during incarceration than male prisoners. Race also plays a role in health status and health service utilization. Aboriginal prisoners rate their overall physical and mental health poorer than non-Aboriginals. They also report a greater need for health services, but use them less than non-Aboriginal prisoners.

Bilingual e-learning website that builds on the Rising to the Challenge SGBA book. Features free tutorials that will allow you to deepen your understanding of SGBA, both the core concepts of sex, gender, diversity and equity and the process.

Presents the reflections of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Grandmothers from different regions of Canada and different Indigenous nations. Explores the diversity as well as the commonalities among Aboriginal women and their relationships with water.

Highlights the key findings and outcomes from the Healthy Balance Forum May 2-3, 2006 in Dartmouth, N.S., and outlines how the forum will impact the future activities of the HBRP. Includes summaries of each presentation along with copies of the presentation slides where available.

Summarizes the findings of The Healthy Balance Research Program that studied caregiving in Nova Scotia, and found that supports and services for caregivers are urgently needed that are accessible, equitable and flexible enough to respond to the wide diversity of needs among caregivers.