Centres of Excellence for Womens Health (CEWH)

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.

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Explores how food insecurity, policies and programs affect women's health and well-being. Finds that low income is the most significant risk factor for food insecurity for women and Aboriginal off reserve households are most likely to experience food insecurity.

The webinar included presentations on: Tobacco reduction for pregnant and postpartum women and their partners:  Evidence from the FACET (Families Controlling and Eliminating Tobacco) studies.

Three presentations on the IGH's peer-reviewed casebook that presents a range of research-based accounts that illustrate how attending to gender and sex in health research contributes to advancing knowledge, strengthening science and improving knowledge translation. Written from a critically reflective vantage point, chapters share health researchers' experiences in how they came to understand and engage gender and sex in their work. This collection demonstrates that there is much to be gained from the routine integration of gender and sex across the health research spectrum.
Presenting authors:
Adrianna Mendrek (presentation in English): Sex and gender differences in mental health research
Karen Messing (presentation in French): Work exposures and musculoskeletal disorders: how the treatment of gender and sex in population-based surveys can affect detection of exposure-effect relationships
John Oliffe (presentation in English): Mobilizing masculinity to support fathers who want to be smoke free

An introduction to trauma-informed and trauma-specific practice, with examples of how people are embedding trauma informed and trauma specific care in various settings in Canada, discussion of why there is a need to focus on trauma informed care in systems development work, and summary of key issues, themes and resources, highlighting promising practices and tensions. Presenter Nancy Poole is the Director of Research and Knowledge Translation at the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health. She is well known for her work on research, training and policy initiatives related to women’s substance use, mental health, and experience of violence with governments and organizations on local, provincial and national levels. She is the co-editor of a book on trauma-informed care to be published by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

Presents the results of research examining drinking water data in five case studies spanning communities across the country. The data was examined in the context of emerging epidemiological evidence on low-dose exposures and their potential health effects during key developmental and reproductive life stages that can create “windows of vulnerability” with a distinctly gendered character. Confirms that for Canadians, the quality of your drinking water, from a long-term health perspective, depends on where you live.

An environmental scan on physical activity for marginalized women in BC. The aim of the scan was to learn more about the current context for and activities being facilitated to promote physical activity for marginalized women at provincial and local levels in BC.

Summarizes the results of a study on the feasibility of integrating tobacco treatment and support within mental health, addictions and sexual violence services, in a gender informed way. The study included focus groups with service providers and with smokers, and a review of the literature on tobacco cessation in the mental health, substance use, and trauma treatment fields. Found that smokers who use mental health, substance use, and sexual violence services are generally knowledgeable about the harms of smoking, and the majority are interested in quitting.

This issue of Network focuses on why and how gender matters in mental health in Canada—a high priority for the Canadian Women’s Health Network and the Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health.