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To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01540.x Byline: Paula C. Barata (1), Donna E. Stewart (2) Abstract: Individual battered women have reported experiencing housing discrimination, but the extent of this problem has not been examined. This research used two experiments and a survey to determine if landlord discrimination could keep women from accessing rental units. In Study 1, a confederate asked 181 landlords about the availability of a rental unit in one of three living conditions (shelter, friends, no mention of current living conditions) and across two scenarios (does or does not have a child). Rental units were almost 10 times more likely to be available in the control condition compared to the shelter condition, [chi].sup.2(1, N = 181) = 8.624, p = .003, and these results were not affected by whether or not the caller had a child, [chi].sup.2(1, N = 181) = 0.214, p = .644. In Study 2, the confederate was employed and left a message on 92 landlords' answering machines in the same three living conditions. The hypothesized comparison between the shelter and the other two conditions combined was significant, [chi].sup.2(1, N = 92) = 4.602, p = .032. Finally, in a telephone survey of 31 landlords, a substantial minority (23%) said they would not rent to a hypothetical battered woman. The results of our studies suggest that discrimination against battered women by landlords is a real problem that is likely contributing to the difficulties that women experience in finding safe and affordable long-term housing. Author Affiliation: (1)University of Guelph University Health Network (2)University of Toronto University Health Network Article History: Initial submission: November 17, 2008Initial acceptance: October 6, 2009Final acceptance: October 14, 2009 Article note: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Paula Barata, Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada. E-mail: pbarata@uoguelph.ca

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.06.011 Byline: Farah Ahmad (a), Natasha Driver (b), Mary Jane McNally (c), Donna E. Stewart (d) Abstract: This study explores why South Asian immigrant women with experiences of partner abuse delay seeking help from professionals. Three focus groups were conducted in Hindi language with South Asian immigrant women in Toronto. Twenty-two women participated with a mean age of 46 years (range 29-68 years). Thematic analysis was conducted on the transcribed data using constant comparison techniques within and across the groups. We found that three major themes emerged from the discussions: reasons for delayed help-seeking, turning points and talking to professionals. Women expressed delaying help-seeking to the point when 'Pani sar se guzar jata he' (water crosses over your head). Their dominant reasons for delayed help-seeking were social stigma, rigid gender roles, marriage obligations, expected silence, loss of social support after migration and limited knowledge about available resources and myths about partner abuse. Women usually turned for help only after experiencing pronounced mental and physical health problems. The findings are interpreted in light of participants' immigration context and the socio-cultural norms of patriarchy, collectivism and familism. Prevention approaches to address partner abuse and delayed help-seeking among South Asian immigrant women should include tailored community education, social services to reduce vulnerability, and cultural competency of professionals. Further research and program evaluation is needed to advance the field. Author Affiliation: (a) Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto M5T 3M7, Canada (b) St. Michael's Hospital, 30 Bond St., Toronto, M5B 1W8, Canada (c) Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, 399 Bathurst St., Toronto M5T 2S8, Canada (d) Women's Health Program, University Health Network, 190 Elizabeth St., Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2008.04.009 Byline: Yvonne W. Leung (a), Keerat Grewal (a), Donna E. Stewart (b)(c), Sherry L. Grace (a)(b)(c) Keywords: Cardiac rehabilitation; Gender; Female; Acute coronary syndrome; Mind-Body Therapy; Interpretive-descriptive Abstract: Over one-third of cardiac patients practice Mind-Body Therapy (MBT), particularly women. Considering women are less likely to engage in conventional physical activity, few studies have examined why MBT is well-accepted by women. Author Affiliation: (a) Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, 222B Bethune College, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J1P3, Canada (b) University of Health Network, Canada (c) University of Toronto, Canada

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2007.05.003 Byline: Yvonne W. Leung (a), Hala Tamim (a), Donna E. Stewart (b)(c), Heather M. Arthur (d), Sherry L. Grace (a)(b)(c) Keywords: Mind-body therapies; Women; Relaxation techniques; Cardiovascular disease; Acute coronary syndrome Abstract: While the benefits of mind-body therapy (MBT) for cardiac secondary prevention continues to be investigated, the prevalence of such practices by cardiac patients is not well known. The aim of this study was to quantitatively examine the prevalence of MBT practice and its sociodemographic, clinical, psychosocial and behavioral correlates among patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Author Affiliation: (a) York University, Canada (b) University Health Network, Canada (c) University of Toronto, Canada (d) McMaster University, Canada

Objectives. We determined the proportion of workers meeting criteria for major depressive episodes in the past year and examined the association between psychosocial work-stress variables and these episodes. Methods. Data were derived from the Canadian Community Health Survey 1.2, a population-based survey of 24324 employed, community-dwelling individuals conducted in 2002. We assessed depressive episodes using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Results. Of the original sample, 4.6% (weighted n=745948) met criteria for major depressive episodes. High job strain was significantly associated with depression among men (odds ratio [OR]=2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.29, 4.37), and lack of social support at work was significantly associated with depression in both genders (men, OR=2.70; 95% CI=1.55, 4.71; women, OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.71, 3.29). Women with low levels of decision authority were more Likely to have depression (OR=1.59; 95% CI=1.06, 2.39) than were women with high levels of authority. Conclusions. A significant proportion of the workforce experienced major depressive episodes in the year preceding our study. Gender differences appear to affect work-stress factors that increase risk for depression. Prevention strategies need to be developed with employers and employee organizations to address work organization and to increase social support. (doi:10.2105/AJPH.2006.104406)

The authors' objectives of this research were: (1) to assess levels of self-reported antidepressant adherence and reasons for nonadherence and (2) to investigate determinants of nonadherence. A group of general hospital and community psychiatry practice mood disorder outpatients (n = 80) took a self-report questionnaire that assessed beliefs about antidepressants', self-efficacy, and reasons for nonadherence. High levels of adherence were reported: 58 patients (73%) indicated they took their medication as directed more than 80% of the time. Practical issues (e.g., simply forgetting or a change in routine) were the most frequently identified reasons for nonadherence. Patients were more likely to report nonadherence if they experienced a sexual side effect, had lower self-efficacy, were female, and had not completed post-secondary education. Clinicians should be cognizant of this complexity and address not only issues related to medication efficacy and tolerability, but also social mediators and health beliefs when prescribing antidepressants. Index terms: antidepressant, compliance, medication adherence, Controlled clinical trials provide evidence that antidepressant medications are effective in treating acute depression and preventing relapses. (1,2) In spite of the evidence of efficacy in clinical trials, patients' nonadherence [...]

Women's health-promoting behavior changes and their correlates across the transition to motherhood and return to work are insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study was to describe and compare women's health-promoting behaviors, particularly physical activity (PA), across these transitions. A prospective, observational design was employed to assess 243 female healthcare workers from 3 sites with regard to health-promoting behaviors, and their demographic (e.g., age, parity) and psychosocial (i.e., work-family role spillover) correlates. Forty-two participants were recruited while pregnant and re-assessed during maternity leave and upon return to work, and compared to 201 non-pregnant participants. No significant changes in health-promoting behaviors were observed from pregnancy through the postpartum. Pregnant participants reported better nutrition than comparison participants (p = .001), and were more likely to check their pulse when exercising (p = .004). During pregnancy, health-promoting behaviors were related to parental status, with first-time mothers engaging in more positive behaviors. Correlates of PA during maternity leave and return to work included family income and exercise history. Positive family-to-work spillover was significantly greater among pregnant women than among comparison participants (p < .001), and positive work-to-family spillover was related to greater PA upon return to work (p < .01). This study reveals little variability in health-promoting behaviors from the prenatal to the postpartum period. Both demographic and psychosocial factors have effects on health-promoting behaviors, and we must look to these correlates to promote increased PA. doi: 10.1300/ J013v43n02_04 [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Sen,ice: 1-800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: Website: KEYWORDS. Exercise, pregnancy, women's health, health-promoting behaviors

This study examined Portuguese Canadian and Caribbean Canadian immigrants' perceptions of health research and informed consent procedures. Six locus groups (three in each cultural group) involving 42 participants and two individual interviews were conducted. The focus groups began with a general question about health research. This was followed by three short role-plays between the moderator and the assistant. The role-plays involved a fictional health research study in which a patient is approached for recruitment, is read a consent form, and is asked to sign. The role-plays stopped at key moments at which time focus group participants were asked questions about their understanding and their perceptions. Focus group transcripts were coded in QSR NUDIST software using open coding and then compared across cultural groups. Six overriding themes emerged: two were common in both the Portuguese and Caribbean transcripts, one emphasized the importance of trust and mistrust, and the other highlighted the need and desire for more information about health research. However, these themes were expressed somewhat differently in the two groups. In addition, there were four overriding themes that were specific to only one cultural group. In the Portuguese groups, there was an overwhelming positive regard for the research process and an emphasis on verbal as opposed to written information. The Caribbean participants qualified their participation in research studies and repeatedly raised images of invasive research. Keywords: Canada; Informed consent; Research participation; Portuguese; Caribbean; Immigrants

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.06.012 Byline: Paula C. Barata (a), Enza Gucciardi (a)(b), Farah Ahmad (c), Donna E. Stewart (a) Keywords: Canada; Informed consent; Research participation; Portuguese; Caribbean; Immigrants Abstract: This study examined Portuguese Canadian and Caribbean Canadian immigrants' perceptions of health research and informed consent procedures. Six focus groups (three in each cultural group) involving 42 participants and two individual interviews were conducted. The focus groups began with a general question about health research. This was followed by three short role-plays between the moderator and the assistant. The role-plays involved a fictional health research study in which a patient is approached for recruitment, is read a consent form, and is asked to sign. The role-plays stopped at key moments at which time focus group participants were asked questions about their understanding and their perceptions. Focus group transcripts were coded in QSR NUDIST software using open coding and then compared across cultural groups. Six overriding themes emerged: two were common in both the Portuguese and Caribbean transcripts, one emphasized the importance of trust and mistrust, and the other highlighted the need and desire for more information about health research. However, these themes were expressed somewhat differently in the two groups. In addition, there were four overriding themes that were specific to only one cultural group. In the Portuguese groups, there was an overwhelming positive regard for the research process and an emphasis on verbal as opposed to written information. The Caribbean participants qualified their participation in research studies and repeatedly raised images of invasive research. Author Affiliation: (a) Women's Health Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ont., Canada M5G 2M9 (b) University of Toronto, Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, Canada (c) University of Toronto and Inner City Health Research Unit, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

This descriptive study seeks to understand what first and second generation Portuguese women believe about wife abuse and what actions they believe are appropriate for an abused wife. Eighty first generation and 54 second generation women participated. The researcher read the questionnaire items aloud in one-on-one meetings. Overall, participants defined wife abuse broadly, did not approve of wife abuse, were most likely to believe that women should seek external help, and did not hold strong patriarchal beliefs. However, a number of generational differences were found. Second generation women were more likely to label an abusive behavior as abuse, and first generation women were more likely to approve of abuse, endorse indirect or traditional options to deal with wife abuse, and hold stronger patriarchal beliefs. The study's implications for research and practice within Portuguese communities are discussed. Keywords: Portuguese; wife abuse; domestic violence; immigrant women

This study developed and evaluated a socioculturally tailored intervention to improve knowledge, beliefs and clinical breast examination (CBE) among South Asian (SA) immigrant women. The intervention comprised a series of socioculturally tailored breast-health articles published in Urdu and Hindi community newspapers. A pre- and postintervention design evaluated the impact of the mailed articles among 74 participants. The mean age of participants was 37 years (SD 9.7) and they had lived 6 years (SD 6.6) in Canada. After the intervention, there was a significant increase in self-reporting 'ever had' routine physical checkup (46.4-70.8%; p Keywords: Breast cancer; Health promotion; Intervention; Health belief model; Stages of change; South Asian immigrants

Purpose: This qualitative research aimed to elicit experiences and beliefs of recent South Asian immigrant women about their major health concerns after immigration. Methods: Four focus groups were conducted with 24 Hindi-speaking women who had lived less than five years in Canada. The audiotaped data were transcribed, translated, and analyzed by identification of themes and subcategories. Results: Mental health (MH) emerged as an overarching health concern with three major themes, i.e., appraisal of the mental burden (extent and general susceptibility), stress-inducing factors, and coping strategies. Many participants agreed that MH did not become a concern to them until after immigration. Women discussed their compromised MH using verbal and symptomatic expressions. The stress-inducing factors identified by participants included loss of social support, economic uncertainties, downward social mobility, mechanistic lifestyle, barriers in accessing health services, and climatic and food changes. Women's major coping strategies included increased efforts to socialize, use of preventative health practices and self-awareness. Conclusion: Although participant women discussed a number of Ways to deal with post-immigration stressors, the women's perceived compromised mental health reflects the inadequacy of their coping strategies and the available resources. Despite access to healthcare providers, women failed to identify healthcare encounters as opportunities to seek help and discuss their mental health concerns. Health and social care programs need to actively address the compromised mental health perceived by the studied group. KEYWORDS. Immigration, South Asian, mental health, stress, Canada

Purpose: To advance understanding about the popular health promotion strategies and factors associated with the successful transfer and uptake of health messages among Chinese and Indian immigrant women. Methods: Eight focus groups were conducted with 46 immigrant women, 22 from Mainland China and 24 from India, who had lived less than 5 years in Canada. Audiotaped data were transcribed, translated and analyzed by identification of themes and subcategories within and between groups. Results: In both ethnic groups, discussions on promoting health messages had five major themes, i.e., sources, barriers, facilitators, credibility and ways to improve access along with group specific sub-themes. Despite identification of several diverse sources of health information in the adopted country, Indian and Chinese immigrant women perceived most strategies as not very effective. The reasons of perceived ineffectiveness were barriers to accessing and comprehending the health messages; and limited prior exposure to institution based or formal health promotion initiatives. These women were more familiar with informal means of obtaining health information such as social networks, mass media and written materials in their mother tongue. Conclusion: Existing health communication and health promotion models need to be re-orientated from a one-way information flow to a two-way dialogue model to bridge the gap between program efficacy and effectiveness to reach underserved immigrant women. An 'outside the box' approach of non-institutional informal health promotion strategies needs to be tested for the studied groups. KEYWORDS. Immigrant, women, health promotion, strategies, focus groups

The goal of the study was to examine women's experiences with gynaecologic symptoms and how they decided to undergo hysterectomy. For this purpose, twenty-nine women were interviewed in hospital within three days of undergoing hysterectomy. The interviews elicited information about the nature of the problem that caused the women to seek medical help, actions taken to solve their problem, their relationship with their gynaecologist, information seeking patterns and decision-making about hysterectomy. Although findings revealed that the symptoms women suffered had a negative impact on their lives, most women delayed seeking medical help and attributed their symptoms to factors other than a physical problem in their reproductive system. Most of the participants' information about the symptoms and possible treatments came from their consulting other women with similar problems. The women reported that their gynaecologist did not initiate a comprehensive discussion about other treatments and their advantages and disadvantages. Only women who had informed themselves about other treatments actively discussed alternatives to hysterectomy with their physicians. The women's decision-making process about undergoing hysterectomy was difficult and depended primarily on the women's illness experiences, age, wish for future children, information they gathered from their gynaecologist and from other women. The findings are discussed in relation to the importance of information provision by gynaecologists and its effects on women's decision-making about hysterectomy. KEYWORDS. Hysterectomy, illness experience, decision-making, qualitative study

Children who are exposed to antidepressant drugs while in the womb may not experience neurodevelopmental delays. Researchers studied the language and behavioral development and intelligence of the children of 80 mothers who took tricyclic antidepressants during pregnancy, of 55 children whose mothers took fluoxetine during pregnancy, and of 84 children whose mothers did not take any potentially harmful drugs during pregnancy. Children whose mothers took antidepressants during pregnancy had similar language and behavioral development and IQ to unexposed children. Exposure to the drugs during pregnancy, even during the first trimester, did not affect children.

The uniform distribution of organic anions in three anion-secreting renal epithelia was investigated. This involved the utilization of epifluorescence microscopy and video image analysis to measure monovalent organic anion fluorescein within the cells of crab urinary bladder, cultured opossum kidney cells and intact teleost proximal tubules. The sequestration of organic anions within renal cells during secretion was established.

The relationship between South Asian immigrant women's patriarchal beliefs and their perceptions of spousal abuse is discussed. There is a need for socioculturally sensitive education and awareness programs for the South Asian immigrant community of violence against women and information regarding existing resources.