Research Summary: Integrating Tobacco Cessation Interventions into Mental Health, Substance Use and Anti-violence Services

Between April 2010 and March 2011, researchers at the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, in collaboration with community partners, conducted 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.

Physical Activity for Marginalized Women in British Columbia: A Discussion Paper

Pamela Ponic, Rehana Nanjijuma, Ann Pederson, Nancy Poole, and Jenny Scott

BC Centre of Excellence in Women’s Health and ProMOTION Plus have conducted an environmental scan on Physical Activity for Marginalized Women in BC. Our aim in 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.

Se montrer à la hauteur du défi: l'analyse des influences du genre et du sexe en planification, en élaboration de politiques et en recherche dans le domaine de la santé au Canada.

Barbara Clow, Ann Pederson, Margaret Haworth-Brockman, et Jennifer Bernier

Ce livre présente dans un premier temps de l'information générale sur l'analyse des influences du genre et du sexe (AIGS), y compris une analyse de ses concepts clés, et dans un deuxième temps présente une série d'études de cas et de commentaires illustrant l'application de l'AIGS.

The last discussion guide in Gendering the National Framework series has just been released.

In 2009 a national virtual Community of Practice (vCoP) provided the opportunity for a “virtual discussion” of issues, research, and programming related to girls’ and women’s substance use in Canada. The goal of the vCoP was to serve as a mechanism for “gendering” the National Framework for Action to Reduce the Harms Associated with Alcohol and other Drugs and Substances in Canada. Participants included planners, decision-makers, direct service providers, educators, NGO leaders, policy analysts, researchers, and interested women. The project was sponsored by the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health (BCCEWH) in partnership with the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA) and the Universities of Saskatchewan and South Australia.

Girl-centred Approaches to Prevention, Harm Reduction and Treatment

Trauma-Informed Approaches in Addictions Treatment Women-centred Harm Reduction Mothering and Substance Use   Mothering and Substance Use

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

Rising to the Challenge is a book that describes the process of sex- and gender-based analysis (SGBA) 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.

Do boys and girls have similar experiences of being overweight or obese? Do international tobacco control policies work the same way for men and women? By introducing such questions, sex- and gender-based analysis can help lead to positive changes in how programs are offered or how resources are allocated.

Guides for Women and Organisations that Work with Women

Two new resources are now available to assist women with addictions and community groups that serve them in making decisions about participating in research. Prepared by researchers from the Women's Health Research Institute’s Mental Health and Addictions Unit, the BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health, UBC, and the University of Victoria, these guides summarize findings from a CIHR-funded study lead by Dr. Amy Salmon that examined how to better support the active and meaningful participation of women with substance use problems in health research.

Often seen as a “vulnerable population” in research and clinical settings, substance-using women also have rights to be included in respectful research that reflects their interests and priorities. Your Rights in Research: A Guide for Women  and When Researchers Come Calling: A Guide for Organisations that Work with Women address both concerns, highlighting issues regarding informed consent, participant recruitment and retention strategies, the provision of honoraria or incentives, confidentiality, and reporting of research results. For more information about these guides or this study, please contact: Dr. Amy Salmon at: asalmon@cw.bc.ca or (604)875-2424 ext. 4880.

Aboriginal Adolescent Girls and Smoking

Sandrina de Finney, Pauline Janyst & Lorraine Greaves

A qualitative study on smoking and Aboriginal adolescent girls (ages 13 to 19) was conducted in 2007-08 in partnership with six Aboriginal communities in British Columbia and researchers affiliated with the British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health and the University of British Columbia. The need for the study emerged from our experiences with tobacco prevention and several research projects undertaken since 2002, which identified the need for culturally based and gender-sensitive evidence and frameworks to inform tobacco-control programming among Aboriginal girls. The study’s findings will be presented followed by a discussion on how age, gender, culture, and context intersect to shape Aboriginal girls’ experiences of smoking.

Download the full report or the 8 page summary.

New Releases by the Provincial Health Services Authority and the BC Centre of Excellence for Women's Health

Taking a Second Look: Analyzing Health Inequities in British Columbia with a Sex, Gender, and Diversity Lens examines a number of reported health inequities in British Columbia using sex- and gender-based analysis. It details how understanding the social context behind health inequities, which is strongly affected by issues of sex, gender, and diversity, can have powerful implications for how different populations experience and are marginalized by health inequities.

Worth a Second Look: Considerations for Action on Health Inequities in British Columbia with a Sex, Gender, and Diversity Lens approaches health inequities from the standpoint of potential policy action. It provides examples of how applying a sex- and gender-based analysis can help refine policy options to be more effective, equitable, and cost-efficient.

View all our publications.