Despite attention paid to substance use during pregnancy, understandings of young Aboriginal wome... more Despite attention paid to substance use during pregnancy, understandings of young Aboriginal women’s experiences based on their perspectives have been virtually absent in the published literature. This study’s objective was to understand the life experiences of pregnant-involved young Aboriginal women with alcohol and drugs. Semi-structured interviews to gather life histories were conducted with 23 young Aboriginal women who had experiences with pregnancy, and alcohol and drug use. Transcribed interviews were analyzed for themes to describe the social and historical contexts of women’s experiences and their self-representations. The findings detail women’s strategies for survival, inner strength, and capacities for love, healing, and resilience. Themes included the following: intersectional identities, life histories of trauma (abuse, violence, and neglect; intergenerational trauma; separations and connections), the ever-presence of alcohol and drugs, and the highs and lows of pregnancy and mothering. The findings have implications for guiding policy and interventions for supporting women and their families.
Although women who use substances are often also facing
severe economic and social problems, litt... more Although women who use substances are often also facing severe economic and social problems, little is known about the relationship between social determinants of health and substance use among women. Furthermore, despite their increased visibility in substance use programs and policies in Canada, little is known about the social contexts of substance use among Aboriginal women. I systematically reviewed empirical research published from 1997 through March 2013 that examined the relationship between social determinants of health and substance use among Aboriginal women. Studies that were peerreviewed, published in English, and had an abstract were included. Of an initial 261 studies, only sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria (fourteen quantitative, one qualitative, one mixed methods). The social determinants of health that were explored in these studies were socio-demographics factors, trauma, gender, social environments, colonialism, culture, and employment. The studies identified significant relationships between the social determinants of health and substance use among Aboriginal women. The almost exclusive use of quantitative methods and the prioritization of certain social determinants of health over others prevented a comprehensive and contextual understanding of substance use among Aboriginal women. Further research is needed to understand these significant relationships, particularly in relation to Aboriginal-specific determinants of health.
Objective To survey general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) in British Columbia (BC) to identify... more Objective To survey general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) in British Columbia (BC) to identify opportunities for them to serve as public supporters of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Design A mailed or online survey. Setting British Columbia. Participants Forty-two GPOs who worked in the community in BC. Main outcome measures Current practices, knowledge, and resource needs concerning HPV, the vaccine, and the HPV immunization program, and the willingness of respondents to be contacted to participate in stated public HPV vaccine supporter activities. Results The survey found that 42% of surveyed GPOs were willing to act as public supporters of the HPV vaccine. The survey also identified education needs among GPOs concerning HPV, the vaccine, and the HPV immunization program in BC. Conclusion This study found that GPOs in BC are willing to publicly support the HPV immunization program. This study shows that involving physicians in the promotion of public health programs is a viable option that should be further explored and evaluated.
Despite attention paid to substance use during pregnancy, understandings of young Aboriginal wome... more Despite attention paid to substance use during pregnancy, understandings of young Aboriginal women’s experiences based on their perspectives have been virtually absent in the published literature. This study’s objective was to understand the life experiences of pregnant-involved young Aboriginal women with alcohol and drugs. Semi-structured interviews to gather life histories were conducted with 23 young Aboriginal women who had experiences with pregnancy, and alcohol and drug use. Transcribed interviews were analyzed for themes to describe the social and historical contexts of women’s experiences and their self-representations. The findings detail women’s strategies for survival, inner strength, and capacities for love, healing, and resilience. Themes included the following: intersectional identities, life histories of trauma (abuse, violence, and neglect; intergenerational trauma; separations and connections), the ever-presence of alcohol and drugs, and the highs and lows of pregnancy and mothering. The findings have implications for guiding policy and interventions for supporting women and their families.
Although women who use substances are often also facing
severe economic and social problems, litt... more Although women who use substances are often also facing severe economic and social problems, little is known about the relationship between social determinants of health and substance use among women. Furthermore, despite their increased visibility in substance use programs and policies in Canada, little is known about the social contexts of substance use among Aboriginal women. I systematically reviewed empirical research published from 1997 through March 2013 that examined the relationship between social determinants of health and substance use among Aboriginal women. Studies that were peerreviewed, published in English, and had an abstract were included. Of an initial 261 studies, only sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria (fourteen quantitative, one qualitative, one mixed methods). The social determinants of health that were explored in these studies were socio-demographics factors, trauma, gender, social environments, colonialism, culture, and employment. The studies identified significant relationships between the social determinants of health and substance use among Aboriginal women. The almost exclusive use of quantitative methods and the prioritization of certain social determinants of health over others prevented a comprehensive and contextual understanding of substance use among Aboriginal women. Further research is needed to understand these significant relationships, particularly in relation to Aboriginal-specific determinants of health.
Objective To survey general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) in British Columbia (BC) to identify... more Objective To survey general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) in British Columbia (BC) to identify opportunities for them to serve as public supporters of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Design A mailed or online survey. Setting British Columbia. Participants Forty-two GPOs who worked in the community in BC. Main outcome measures Current practices, knowledge, and resource needs concerning HPV, the vaccine, and the HPV immunization program, and the willingness of respondents to be contacted to participate in stated public HPV vaccine supporter activities. Results The survey found that 42% of surveyed GPOs were willing to act as public supporters of the HPV vaccine. The survey also identified education needs among GPOs concerning HPV, the vaccine, and the HPV immunization program in BC. Conclusion This study found that GPOs in BC are willing to publicly support the HPV immunization program. This study shows that involving physicians in the promotion of public health programs is a viable option that should be further explored and evaluated.
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Papers by Sana Shahram
severe economic and social problems, little is known about the
relationship between social determinants of health and substance
use among women. Furthermore, despite their increased
visibility in substance use programs and policies in Canada, little
is known about the social contexts of substance use among
Aboriginal women. I systematically reviewed empirical research
published from 1997 through March 2013 that examined the
relationship between social determinants of health and substance
use among Aboriginal women. Studies that were peerreviewed,
published in English, and had an abstract were
included. Of an initial 261 studies, only sixteen studies met the
inclusion criteria (fourteen quantitative, one qualitative, one
mixed methods). The social determinants of health that were
explored in these studies were socio-demographics factors,
trauma, gender, social environments, colonialism, culture, and
employment. The studies identified significant relationships
between the social determinants of health and substance use
among Aboriginal women. The almost exclusive use of quantitative
methods and the prioritization of certain social determinants
of health over others prevented a comprehensive and contextual
understanding of substance use among Aboriginal women.
Further research is needed to understand these significant relationships,
particularly in relation to Aboriginal-specific determinants
of health.
severe economic and social problems, little is known about the
relationship between social determinants of health and substance
use among women. Furthermore, despite their increased
visibility in substance use programs and policies in Canada, little
is known about the social contexts of substance use among
Aboriginal women. I systematically reviewed empirical research
published from 1997 through March 2013 that examined the
relationship between social determinants of health and substance
use among Aboriginal women. Studies that were peerreviewed,
published in English, and had an abstract were
included. Of an initial 261 studies, only sixteen studies met the
inclusion criteria (fourteen quantitative, one qualitative, one
mixed methods). The social determinants of health that were
explored in these studies were socio-demographics factors,
trauma, gender, social environments, colonialism, culture, and
employment. The studies identified significant relationships
between the social determinants of health and substance use
among Aboriginal women. The almost exclusive use of quantitative
methods and the prioritization of certain social determinants
of health over others prevented a comprehensive and contextual
understanding of substance use among Aboriginal women.
Further research is needed to understand these significant relationships,
particularly in relation to Aboriginal-specific determinants
of health.