Contextualizing: One Neighborhood at a Time to Enable Structural Changes Andrea Chircop, RN, MN,...
Transcript of Contextualizing: One Neighborhood at a Time to Enable Structural Changes Andrea Chircop, RN, MN,...
Contextualizing:One Neighborhood at a Time to
Enable Structural Changes
Andrea Chircop, RN, MN, PhD(c)School of Nursing, Dalhousie University
CPHA Conference, Halifax, June 2008
Distribution of Canada’s PopulationSource: Canadian Institute for Health Information (2006). Improving the Health of Canadians: An Introduction to Health in Urban Places. Pp.8.
Pattern of Health Between NeighborhoodsSource: Canadian Institute for Health Information (2006). Improving the Health of Canadians: An Introduction to Health in Urban Places. Pp.49
We know that….Residents of Canada’s cities are not equally healthy
Health outcomes among neighborhoods within the same cities vary
This raises implications for policy makers BUT
The mechanisms are not clear!CIHI
2006
Contextualizing: Magnifying the fine print of neighborhoods
For social policy to be relevant and responsive to the daily challenges of people’s lives, contextualized knowledge is necessary.
Mothers’ Health Decisions in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods
An urban ethnography guided by an ecofeminist framework
Research ObjectivesTo provide a forum for low-income mothers
to articulate how they experience and negotiate their own and their families’ health in an urban environment
To influence public policy relevant to low-income mothers living in urban environments
MethodEthnographic data collection over 12
months time period including:Individual (at time repeated) semi-structured interviews PhotovoiceParticipant ObservationDocument Analysis
Preliminary ThemesNegotiating Urban Infrastructure
Negotiating Childcare
Negotiating Nutrition
Goals and Aspirations
Personal Skills & Resources
Negotiating Urban Infrastructure
Affordable housingPublic TransportationSafety
Playgrounds &ParksServicesGeographic Isolation
Negotiating ChildcareLack of Daycare Centers
Long Waiting Lists
Early Childhood Education
Mothers ability to work outside the home
Negotiating NutritionLooking for Deals
Transportation
Food bank
Borrowing Money
Hunting & Fishing
Goals and AspirationsMotivation for Change
Getting back into routine
Wanting it better for their children
Personal Skills & ResourcesFormal Education
Parenting
Creativity
Problem Solving
What next?Continue the dialogue with policy decision-makers
Responsibility of the researcher
Ongoing productive relationships with a MUTUL goal of reducing health inequities