In this article we discuss the findings from a grounded theory study in which we explored how women residing in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) minimized some of the physical, psychological, and interpersonal harms associated with crack cocaine use, and identify the social, economic, and political factors that influence safer use. Data were collected over a 3-month period and involved group interviews with 27 women at an agency run by drug users in the DTES. A preliminary theory of safer crack use is discussed, consisting of the central phenomenon of caring for self and others. In addition, four thematic processes are described: (a) establishing a safe physical space, (b) building trusting relationships, (c) learning about safer crack use, and (d) accessing safer equipment. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to supporting women's efforts and improving health outcomes. ; Applied Science, Faculty of ; Nursing, School of ; Reviewed ; Faculty ; Graduate
Despite increased access to and improvements in contraceptives, unintended pregnancy continues to be a problem globally and is associated with adverse outcomes for mothers and infants. This paper seeks to unravel the mediators of intended versus unintended pregnancies among Black women living with HIV. The paper draws on survey data from a broader multi-country mixed methods study that used a community-based participatory research approach to investigate the psychosocial experiences of Black mothers living with HIV. The study participants were Black mothers living with HIV drawn through venue-based sampling from Ottawa, Canada (n = 89), Port Harcourt, Nigeria (n = 400), and Miami, Florida, United States (n = 201). We used Hierarchical Binary Logistic Regression Modelling (HBLM) to estimate the independent associations of pregnancy intention (intended versus unintended) with blocks of predictor variables (sociodemographic, sociocultural, and psychosocial predictors) at alpha level of 0.5. Specifically, 44.2%, 67.3%, and 17.7% of the women had unintended pregnancies in Ottawa, Miami, and Port Harcourt, respectively. There were important results from the HBLM. The odds of intended relative to unintended pregnancies were (i) reduced in larger households (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.36/0.87), but increased with employment (OR = 7.84, 95% CI = 1.52/40.54) and HIV knowledge (OR = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.42/6.90) in Ottawa; (ii) reduced with age (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88/0.98), but increased with marriage (OR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.43/5.88) and social support (pregnancy (OR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.98/7.19) in Port Harcourt; (iii) reduced with social support (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91/1.00) but increased with HIV status disclosure (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.01/2.97) and the influence of specific referent (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.13/2.52) in Miami-FL. The incidence of unintended pregnancy is more prevalent among Black women living with HIV in the North American cities relative to the African city. Also, unique combinations of sociodemographic, sociocultural, and psychosocial factors influence pregnancy intention in each city. This implies that policy and practices to address reproductive health needs of WLHIV must consider these contextual issues.
Objective: Worldwide, 160,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2018; half of these were infected through breastfeeding. Infant feeding guidelines are distinct depending on each country's resources and national or sub-national guidelines. Because of divergent guidelines, the best infant feeding approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission can become unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociocultural and psychosocial factors related to adherence to infant feeding guidelines through a city-level, North-South comparison of Black mothers living with HIV in Nigeria, Canada, and the United States.Design: Using a cross-sectional multi-country survey, a convenience sample of 690 mothers were recruited from June 2016 - December 2019. Socio-cultural and psychosocial factors influencing infant feeding practices were measured.Results: Using binary logistic regression, infant feeding attitudes (OR = 1.10), motherhood experiences (OR = 1.08), low hyper-vigilance score (OR = .935), paternal support (OR = 1.10) and perception that the health care provider supported adherence to infant feeding guidelines (OR = 2.43) were associated with guideline adherence. Mothers who had cultural beliefs that were inconsistent with infant feeding guidelines and mothers with low incomes (OR = 2.62) were less likely adherent with their country's guidelines.Conclusion: City-level factors were not found to influence adherence to infant feeding guidelines; however, socio-cultural and psychosocial factors at community, family and individual levels were significant. Policy formulation and targeted interventions must be cognizant of cultural expectations of motherhood and mindful of psychosocial determinants of adherence to infant feeding guidelines.Ethn Dis. 2021;31(1):31- 40; doi:10.18865/ed.31.1.31
The purpose of this consensus paper was to convene leaders and scholars from eight Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing and provide recommendations to advance nursing's roles and responsibility to ensure universal access to palliative care. On behalf of the Academy, these evidence-based recommendations will guide nurses, policy makers, government representatives, professional associations, and interdisciplinary and community partners to integrate palliative nursing services across health and social care settings. Through improved palliative nursing education, nurse-led research, nurse engagement in policy making, enhanced intersectoral partnerships with nursing, and an increased profile and visibility of palliative care nurses worldwide, nurses can assume leading roles in delivering high-quality palliative care globally, particularly for minoritized, marginalized, and other at-risk populations. Part II herein provides a summary of international responses and policy options that have sought to enhance universal palliative care and palliative nursing access to date. Additionally, we provide ten policy, education, research, and clinical practice recommendations based on the rationale and background information found in Part I. The consensus paper's 43 authors represent eight countries (Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, South Africa, United States of America) and extensive international health experience, thus providing a global context for the subject matter.
The purpose of this consensus paper was to convene leaders and scholars from eight Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing and provide recommendations to advance nursing's roles and responsibility to ensure universal access to palliative care. Part I of this consensus paper herein provides the rationale and background to support the policy, education, research, and clinical practice recommendations put forward in Part II. On behalf of the Academy, the evidence-based recommendations will guide nurses, policy makers, government representatives, professional associations, and interdisciplinary and community partners to integrate palliative nursing services across health and social care settings. The consensus paper's 43 authors represent eight countries (Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, South Africa, United States of America) and extensive international health experience, thus providing a global context for the subject matter. The authors recommend greater investments in palliative nursing education and nurse-led research, nurse engagement in policy making, enhanced intersectoral partnerships with nursing, and an increased profile and visibility of palliative nurses worldwide. By enacting these recommendations, nurses working in all settings can assume leading roles in delivering high-quality palliative care globally, particularly for minoritized, marginalized, and other at-risk populations.