Prevention from a Women's Health Determinants Perspective
The Prevention from a Women’s Health Determinants Perspective team links and catalyzes researchers and collaborators across the four western provinces and three territories to address issues of FASD prevention with women from a social determinants of health perspective. Membership includes researchers, service providers and policy advisors from all seven jurisdictions.
The 30 core Network Action team members are involved in publishing articles, making presentations, undertaking committee work, and identifying funding opportunities in a wide range of forums, on the local, regional, provincial, national and international levels. Collectively they represent over 40 different organizations, foundations and agencies. For more information on the team's work or to become a member, please contact Shannon Pederson, spederson@cw.bc.ca.
Publications
Relational Approach - The Importance of Supportive and Timely Connections. FASD Prevention from a Women's Health Determinants Perspective, 2010. Download
Consensus Statement - 10 Fundamental Components of FASD Prevention from a Women's Health Determinants Perspective, 2010. Download
Barriers to Care - An information sheet describing the issues that pregnant women and mothers with substance use problems face when trying to access supports, 2007. Download
Research Activities
The team has monthly web meetings and works on a regular basis through a virtual workspace.
Key areas of work
- Mapping services across all seven jurisdictions that are in a position to support women at risk of having a child affected by FASD in four key areas, prenatal health and nutrition, housing, violence and addictions
- Prepared a synthesis of research on barriers and supports to women's access to services
- Preparing a presentation for the International Conference on FASD in March 2011
Work in progress
Housing as a Determinant of Health for High Risk Mothers and Their Children - a longitudinal study of the impact of supportive housing for mothers with substance use problems and their children in the perinatal period. This study being done in collaboration with the YWCA of Greater Vancouver and the Sheway Program will help us describe the issues facing mothers with substance use problems, the services they and their children use and how/if supportive housing in the first year postnatally influences their access to services.
Tracking Health, Custody and Related Social Outcomes for Mothers Discharged from the Fir Square Combined Care Unit, BC Women’s Hospital - a study funded by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development and the BC Women’s Hospital Auxiliary to study the three and twelve-month outcomes of mothers discharged from the specialized stabilization and maternity care unit for substance-using women and their infants at BC Women’s Hospital. This study will identify key health, housing, custody and other issues mothers face after they leave the hospital.
Substance Using Women with FASD & FASD Prevention - (details to follow)
Networking Activities
Healthy Choices in Pregnancy - In collaboration with BC Women’s Hospital and the BC Reproductive Care Program, BC Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health researchers and educators have developed and delivered province-wide educational sessions in over 30 communities, with a wide range of professionals, on the topic of discussing alcohol and tobacco use with pregnant women/all women of childbearing years. This work has led to the creation of resource materials for health care service providers and the clients they serve.
Coalescing on Women and Substance Use - is a website designed to share and promote action on promising approaches to responding to substance use by girls and women, on the part of service providers, researchers, health system planners and decision makers.
Exploring the Links Between Woman Abuse, Substance Use and Mental Health - fosters cross-sectoral dialogue within and across the mental health, addictions and anti-violence sectors, and ultimately, to develop a provincial framework to guide the future direction of services, policy and research in BC.
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