Hassan Vatanparast, Mustafa Koc, Marwa Farag, Joseph Garcea, Rachel Engler-Stringer, Tamer Qarmout, Carol Henry, Louise Racine, Judy White, Romaina Iqbal, Mahasti Khakpour, Sindhuja Dasarathi and Sonia D'Angelo
This study aims to provide a qualitative in-depth account of the status and experience of food insecurity for Syrian refugee households in Toronto and Saskatoon, Canada. The study…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a qualitative in-depth account of the status and experience of food insecurity for Syrian refugee households in Toronto and Saskatoon, Canada. The study considers the range of geographic, socio-economic, cultural and gendered components shaping and determining the barriers and management of food insecurity.
Design/methodology/approach
The study included 54 semi-structured interviews with refugee families in Toronto and Saskatoon who resettled in Canada after November 2015. In addition, 15 semi-structured in-person or telephone interviews were conducted with settlement and support agencies to measure their capacity to respond to issues of food insecurity for Syrian refugees.
Findings
Syrian refugees reported experiencing food insecurity as part of the broader resettlement journey, including in the transitional phase of refuge and in each settlement context in Canada. Income status in Canada was reported as a key barrier to food security. Low-income barriers to food security were experienced and shaped by factors including food affordability, physical access and availability and the extent of familial or other support networks including sponsorship relationships. Participants also reported how managing food insecurity contributed to the intensification of gender expectations.
Originality/value
The analysis reveals food insecurity as both an income and non-income based concern for refugees during the process of resettlement. The study also highlights the importance of considering variations between primary barriers to food security identified by Syrian families and key informants as critical to the development of strategies designed to mitigate the impacts of resettlement on food security.
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Atsuko Kawakami, Subi Gandhi, Derek Lehman and Jennie Jacobs Kronenfeld
The disparities of COVID-19 vaccination rates between the rural and urban areas have become apparent during this pandemic. There is a need to understand the root causes of vaccine…
Abstract
Purpose
The disparities of COVID-19 vaccination rates between the rural and urban areas have become apparent during this pandemic. There is a need to understand the root causes of vaccine hesitancy demonstrated by the rural population to increase coverage and to contain the disease spread throughout the United States. This study aimed to explore other factors influencing vaccine hesitancy among rural dwellers besides the geography-related barriers such as poor health care access and individuals having no or suboptimal insurance coverage.
Methodology/Approach
By reviewing existing data and literature about vaccination, health literacy, and behaviors, and prevailing ideologies, we discuss the potential causes of vaccine hesitancy in rural areas that could create barriers for successful public health efforts related to vaccine coverage and provide suggestions to ameliorate the situation.
Findings
Geography-related barriers, health literacy, and preconceived notions are key determinants of adopting healthy behaviors and complying with public health authorities' recommendations among rural individuals during a public-health crisis. We argue that ideology, which is much deeper than preconception or misconception on vaccination, should be incorporated as a key factor to redefine the term “vulnerable populations” in public health research.
Research Limitations/Implications
The limitation of our study is that we have not found an effective way to encourage the populations who hold conservative religious and political ideologies to join the efforts for public health. Even though geography-related barriers may strongly impact the rural dwellers in achieving optimal health, the various forms of ideologies they have toward certain health behaviors cannot be discounted to understand and address vaccine-related disparities in rural areas. There is a need to redefine the term “vulnerable population” particularly as it relates to rural areas in the United States. During large-scale public health disasters, scholars and public health authorities should consider the ideologies of individuals, in addition to other factors such as race/ethnicity, area of residence (rural vs. urban), and socioeconomic factors influencing the existing vulnerabilities and health disparities.
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This study aims to understand the potential influence of several factors that may affect females’ intentions to undergo breast cancer screening (BCS) in Jordan.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the potential influence of several factors that may affect females’ intentions to undergo breast cancer screening (BCS) in Jordan.
Design/methodology/approach
A positivistic research methodology was used with the aim of gathering and interpreting the data quantitatively. A questionnaire was created and given to the selected respondents. Females who were at least 18 years old made up the study’s population. In addition, using a sample size of n = 237 was warranted and appropriate. Data were collected from Karak, Tafilah, Aqaba and Ma’an, four cities in southern Jordan. Smart partial least squares version 4.0.9.2 and SPSS version 26 have been used for data analysis.
Findings
The findings showed that attitudes, subjective norms, disease susceptibility and cues-to-action among females have a significant impact on their intention to undergo BCS. Whilst, the benefits of using BCS have not been shown to have a substantial impact on females’ intentions to undergo BCS. Furthermore, this study indicated that there were no significant differences between females’ intention to conduct BCS and the control variables (age and education).
Research limitations/implications
There are specific restrictions in place. First, although the study’s sample size of respondents was adequate, it would be advantageous to have a larger sample size in the future to improve the reliability of the results. Second, the BCS behavior in Jordan’s southern cities was the sole subject of this study. Therefore, it would be beneficial to also explore other areas of Jordan. Third, only female candidates for BCS were examined in this study. It might be necessary to do a more thorough investigation to find the obstacles preventing them from performing the test. Fourth, the current study did not analyze the actual behavior required to perform the BCS test; instead, it sought to understand females’ intentions for undergoing the test. Therefore, it would be beneficial to research actual female behavior toward BCS in the future. The current study also used a quantitative research methodology. Therefore, more study is required using qualitative techniques like focus groups, interviews and brainstorming to better understand females’ intentions toward BCS.
Originality/value
According to the author’s best knowledge, this study marks the first effort to highlight behavioral intentions toward performing BCS in the Jordanian context. In addition, by incorporating extra factors obtained from the health belief model within the context of BCS behavior, the current study broadens the theory of reasoned action. This can be viewed as a significant contribution to the subject’s theoretical foundations. Besides, the current study incorporated demographic characteristics and used them as a control variable. This can be seen as another contribution to the literature on health-care marketing in the case of BCS.