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Using a qualitative methodology, 14 women experiencing food insecurity were interviewed to explore their experiences with engaging in healthy eating to manage their weight. Data was collected using semi-structured interviews and evaluated using content analysis methods. Resilience factors situated throughout the social environment altered the path from exposure to risk (food insecurity) to poor outcomes (unhealthy eating behaviors/obesity). Resilience factors included social safety net programs, transportation, stretching the food budget, nutritional knowledge, and motivation. Study results can be used to develop strength-based policies and interventions to address obesity among women with low incomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Economic violence prevails to be one of the unexplored domains of intimate partner violence. Objective: To explore the perceived forms of economic violence and its health impacts among married women in Puducherry. Methodology: A community-based exploratory study was conducted in urban slums in Puducherry. All married women aged 18 to 65 years belonging to low socio-economic status residing in two selected slums were included by purposive sampling. A total of seven focus group discussions were conducted till the point of saturation and manual content analysis done. Results: Four major themes emerged, namely: experiences of economic abuse, health impacts of economic abuse, perceived factors influencing economic abuse, and suggested preventive measures for economic abuse. Conclusion: Economic abuse against women in India exists in multiple dimensions. It has profound consequences on the physical and psychological health of women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To get a rich description of the barriers to using assistive technology (AT) among men and women ≥65 years living in poor and disadvantaged communities in Puerto Rico, an issue not well described among older people. We conducted qualitative interviews assisted by videos of AT and guided by the Matching Person and Technology Model and the Gender Analysis Framework with a purposive sample of 23 men and women. Participants were asked questions regarding reasons for not using AT, willingness for using AT, their identified gender roles and gender-related activities, and bargaining positions. They were also asked about their access to resources to acquire AT, bargaining positions, the stigma associated with AT use, and the characteristics of AT. Directed content analysis with input from a Community Advisory Board was used for the interpretation of the results. The predominant barrier (for both men and women) to using AT devices were: lack of information about AT s and access to money for their purchase, lack of availability and cost of such devices, and (self)-stigma. More women than men experienced limited access to AT services, limited access to and control of money, limited skills for using AT, and less bargaining power for making independent decisions. More men than women expressed a lack of functional need and personal preferences other than using AT devices for managing difficulties in activities. There are gender differences concerning the multilevel barriers to using AT devices among older Hispanics residing in low-income communities. Older Hispanic men and women in this study experienced different obstacles to using assistive technology (AT) they need for compensating their functional disabilities in daily living activities. Women in this study reported having less access to money and AT services, diminished skills for using AT devices, and less power to make independent decisions to access AT devices compared to men. To ensure the equitable provision of AT, cultural as well as gender-related factors concerning AT use need to be considered. Future research should focus on women's functional health, also should focus on the development of gender-sensitive and culturally competent AT interventions to improve older Hispanics from poor communities function and opportunities for ageing at their homes and in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness has been shown to increase parental well-being in multi-faceted ways, yet we do not invest in broad applications of mindfulness training for those most in need. The overall aim of this qualitative study is to better understand whether and how mindful self-care instruction helps Black, low-income women assimilate the experience of birth and the transition into motherhood. Conclusions indicate that the mindfulness program impacts these women by helping them feel more connected to themselves, increasing their awareness and practice of self-care, and improving their mental health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pregnant British Pakistani women have disproportionately poorer health than the wider population. Bradford has a strong Pakistani presence and a wide range of public health problems including high levels of gestational diabetes, high obesity rates and a high infant mortality rate, which is highest for babies of Pakistani origin. For women to be healthy, we need to know what concerns they have about their health so they can be addressed appropriately. The aim of this study, therefore, was to explore the health concerns of pregnant British Pakistani women living in deprived areas. Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 pregnant Pakistani women in a hospital setting. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Pakistani women identified safety issues, barriers to undertaking physical activity in the areas where they live, concerns surrounding exercising during pregnancy and cultural and religious constraints that prevented them from engaging in physical activity. They reported issues around food, concerns around a lack of culturally appropriate diet information, the cost of unhealthy food locally, and the lack of healthy food options in their residences. Women were unsure on where to obtain health promotion information and reported a lack of access in obtaining that information. Language barriers in accessing health promotion information were further reported as a concern. Discussion: Researchers, midwives, health providers, local authority and policy makers interested in improving the health of pregnant Pakistani women may use these findings to develop further research and interventions to improve the poor health of this population. Significance: What is already known on this subject? South Asian women have previously identified issues relating to safety in physical activity and cultural barriers to engaging in physical activity but there has been little investigation into the health concern of pregnant Pakistani women. What this study adds? We now have a clearer understanding of the barriers faced by pregnant Pakistani women living in deprived areas when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. This understanding will contribute to the development of strategies for promoting health and improving the outcomes for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to stressors because of the rapid physical and mental changes that they go through during this life period. Young people residing in slum communities experience additional stressors due to living conditions, financial stress, and limited access to healthcare and social support services. The Adolescents' Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums (ARTEMIS) study, is testing an intervention intended to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents living in urban slums in India combining an anti-stigma campaign with a digital health intervention to identify and manage depression, self-harm/suicide risk or other significant emotional complaints. Methods: In the formative phase, we developed tools and processes for the ARTEMIS intervention. The two intervention components (anti-stigma and digital health) were implemented in purposively selected slums from the two study sites of New Delhi and Vijayawada. A mixed methods formative evaluation was undertaken to improve the understanding of site-specific context, assess feasibility and acceptability of the two components and identify required improvements to be made in the intervention. In-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders (adolescents, parents, community health workers, doctors, and peer leaders), along with quantitative data from the digital health platform, were analysed. Results: The anti-stigma campaign methods and materials were found to be acceptable and received overall positive feedback from adolescents. A total of 2752 adolescents were screened using the PHQ9 embedded into a digital application, 133 (4.8%) of whom were identified as at high-risk of depression and/or suicide. 57% (n = 75) of those at high risk were diagnosed and treated by primary health care (PHC) doctors, who were guided by an electronic decision support tool based on WHO's mhGAP algorithm, built into the digital health application. Conclusion: The formative evaluation of the intervention strategy led to enhanced understanding of the context, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention. Feedback from stakeholders helped to identify key areas for improvement in the intervention; strategies to improve implementation included engaging with parents, organising health camps in the sites and formation of peer groups. Trial Registration: The trial has been registered in the Clinical Trial Registry India, which is included in the WHO list of Registries, Reference number: CTRI/2022/02/040307. Registered 18 February 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine how Danish politicians articulate views on the 'parallel society agreement' (aka, the 'ghetto‐laws'), a controversial legislative intervention aiming to manage urban migration‐related diversity. Through nationwide urban redevelopment aimed at facilitating residential 'mixing', the goal of the legislation is to eliminate so‐called 'parallel societies'—socio‐economically deprived neighbourhoods characterized by high concentrations of ethnic minorities. In‐depth interviews with Danish politicians (n = 11) explored how this proposal was supported, contested or rejected in situated discourse. Following social representations theory, we focus on how 'parallel societies' were constructed in relation to differing ideas about 'mainstream society' and value‐laden oppositional meaning‐categories (i.e. themata). In particular, we highlight processes of socio‐ethical reasoning that occurred through thematization of a shared oppositional meaning‐category: 'freedom‐constraint'. Views on the intervention were articulated around this oppositional meaning‐category. Moreover, a connection was observed between the views articulated by individual politicians and sets of congruent ideas and images mobilized to represent 'parallel societies'. We discuss the theoretical value of taking a social representations approach to urban policy debates, and the practical limitations of dominant representations for successfully promoting intercultural dialogue and engagement—the stated goal of this intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the motivations and supports of stakeholders in the slum communities, Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: Two-stage methodologies were used for data collection. Published Google News articles about the phenomenon as well as exploratory qualitative in-depth interviews with 15 participants. Findings: The evidence shows that structured and unstructured are the two main categories of stakeholders operating in the space of slums in Ghana. It shows that stakeholders are motivated by their objectives and ethical or moral obligations to provide support in the form of consumables, housing and finance to the slums. Research limitations/implications: Because of the data collection regime used in this project, findings are specific to the Ghanaian context and not generalisable. However, the results could be beneficial in other contexts with similar slum phenomena. Practical implications: The conclusions drawn serve as a springboard for urban managers responsible for slum administration and management to develop policy packages to incentivise and enlist more non-slum stakeholders in the existing stakeholders. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is one of the few that expands the frontiers of the stakeholder model within context to discover specific slum stakeholders, their motivations and support for the slums in a consolidated manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hypertension, the "Silent, Invisible killer" - is a modern day's universal epidemic. The adult populations in slum area are more vulnerable for hypertension as they are so busy in the fulfilment of even day to day basic needs and care, family commitments and economic stress. Aim and objectives: To estimate the prevalence of hypertension among the adults (25-44 years) and to study the effect of sleep on blood pressure levels. Methodology: The present cross-sectional study was carried among adults aged between 25 to 44 years residing in the slums of Meerut District. 30 Cluster Sampling technique was used. The slum was selected as a cluster unit. During the visit by house-to-house survey, members of the family were listed and eligible person were interviewed and examined. Data collected on a structured and pretested questionnaire. Results: Prevalence of hypertension among those who had sleep duration of >8 hours per day was 44.8% followed by 20.1% and 17.5% among those who had 7-8 hours and less than 7 hours of sleep time respectively. It was found that 24.2% monophasic sleep pattern follower were hypertensives while the prevalence was 19.4% in biphasic pattern. Conclusion: Majority (55.4%) had a sleep duration between 7-8 hours, followed by 33.9% and 10.7% with <7 hours and >8 hours of sleep time respectively. Majority (61.3%) of the study population were having monophasic sleep pattern, while 36.3% were biphasic and 2.4% were multiphasic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• COVID-19 highlighted historical and ongoing racial inequities experienced by African Americans. • Qualitative findings can inform families' needs in another extreme event. • Findings underscore the need to proactively address sociodemographic risk factors. The current study identified qualitative themes describing the impact of COVID-19 on African American families living in urban, low-income areas. A total of 22 caregivers, 15 adolescents, and 37 community partners, including service providers and organizational leaders participated in qualitative interviews. Study findings identified five qualitative themes that included: (a) the worsening of existing inequities, (b) altering the framework for public education delivery, (c) changes in the dynamics of family relationships, (d) challenges in healthcare, emotional impact, and well-being, and (e) positive changes such as learning and coping. Our findings provided a context-specific examination of COVID-19′s impact, identifying some novel qualitative aspects using multiple perspectives that have implications for policy and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]