Make up or break up? Charting the well-being of low-income help-seeking couples through the breakup process.

Menstruation, an essential and healthy biological function, is cloaked in a culture of silence. Sociocultural norms at the family and community level play a pivotal role in shaping how young unmarried women understand and manage their monthly period. Less is known about how unmarried young women living in low-income urban areas in India seek help for their menstrual needs. This qualitative study seeks to understand how young unmarried women (aged 15–24) living in a slum settlement understand menstruation and perceive menstrual problems, and identifies factors that influence their help-seeking behaviour for menstrual needs and problems. It also proposes recommendations for national health programmes addressing menstrual health and hygiene. The findings echo previous research findings emphasising young unmarried women’s low levels of awareness and misconceptions about menstruation. These girls perceived menstrual problems as a key concern, as it significantly interfered with their daily routine and caused emotional distress. Young women’s ability and willingness to seek help to address menstrual needs is influenced by a culture of silence that surrounds menstruation, excessive scrutiny and blaming by the community, and restrictions on their mobility and interactions with peers. The findings underscore the role of mothers as gatekeepers who greatly influence young women’s perceptions of menstruation and menstrual problems and their ability to seek help. Existing interventions need to be expanded to address young women’s need for emotional and social support, and to involve significant gatekeepers such as mothers in promoting the health and well-being of young unmarried women in slum communities. Intervention strategies should be expanded to enhance the capacity of mothers to recognise, understand and address their teenage daughters’ needs for information, emotional support and access to essential clinical and social services.

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Supporting the mental health needs of underserved communities: A qualitative study of barriers to accessing community resources

10.31234/osf.io/rhk2q ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alejandra Torres Sanchez ◽

Alayna Park ◽

Wendy Chu ◽

Andrea Letamendi ◽

Cameo Stanick ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Low Income ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Well Being ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Health Needs ◽

Community Resources ◽

Mental Health Needs ◽

Welfare Programs

This study examined the accessibility of community resources (e.g., welfare programs, afterschool programs) for underserved youth and families with mental health needs. Mental health professionals (n = 52) from a large community mental health and welfare agency serving predominantly low-income, Latinx families completed a semi-structured interview that asked about the accessibility of community resources. Participant responses were coded using an iterative thematic analysis based on grounded theory methods. Results showed that 71% of participants endorsed availability barriers (e.g., limited local programs), 37% endorsed logistical barriers (e.g., waitlists), 27% endorsed attitudinal barriers (e.g., stigmatized beliefs about help-seeking), and 23% endorsed knowledge barriers (e.g., lacking awareness about local programs). Professionals’ perceived availability barriers were mostly consistent with the actual availability of community resources. Findings highlight the compounding challenges that disadvantaged communities face and point to opportunities for promoting enhanced well-being and functioning for youth and families with mental health needs.

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National Survey of Family Well-Being Exposes Vulnerability and Reveals Strengths of Low-Income Families

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e725172011-001 ◽

1999 ◽

Keyword(s):

National Survey ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Low Income Families

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Problems Facing the Arab Pharmaceutical Industry: A Case Study from Yemen

Research in Pharmacy and Health Sciences ◽

10.32463/rphs.2016.v02i04.45 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 234-241

Author(s):

Mohammed Al-Shakka ◽

Ebtesam Abood ◽

Adel Al-Dhubhany ◽

Sami Abdo Radman Aldubai ◽

Khaled Said ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pharmaceutical Industry ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Pharmaceutical Products ◽

Domestic Market ◽

Raw Material ◽

Political Crisis ◽

Pharmaceutical Manufacturer ◽

University Graduates ◽

Pharmaceutical Drugs

Because of the almost-instant connection with the welfare and well-being of individuals, pharmaceutical industry stands prominently as a very important factor for the improvement and progress of a healthy productive nation. These days, pharmaceutical industry thrives as one of the largest and exponentially expanding global industries. Nonetheless, millions of people in low income developing countries, have to suffer from the fatal consequences of the inaccessibility and non-availability of essential drugs. This is also happening in Yemen, where the pharmaceutical manufacturers sector have to face up to many challenges. The Yemen Drug Company (YEDCO) was founded in 1964 by the Yemeni government as it collaborated with private investors. It was endorsed as a company with the expertise in the medicinal drug marketing. YEDCO started its work by taking in drugs from foreign companies and then locally marketing and distributing them. In 1982, YEDCO built the first medicinal factory for drugs in Sana’a. Since then, seven companies were set up to manufacture medicines in Yemen. The expanding population has led to the need to have more pharmaceutical products. It may be understandable that pharmaceutical manufacturer companies are also hit by the political crisis in the country. Inadequate amount of fuel and raw material as well as low security status were some of the underlying factors behind these ill-effects in Yemen. Imported drugs make up about nearly 90% % of the pharmaceutical market compared to 10% drugs from the domestic market. This situation has led to an additional burden being shouldered by the national economy, where Yemen spends about US$263 million annually on pharmaceutical drugs, in reference to the national Supreme Drugs Authority. Although there is a very quick growth in the population and drugs consumption, the pharmaceutical industry has not been very active, where global pharmaceutical products play their role dominantly on the domestic market. The pharmaceutical production necessitates skilled human resources like university graduates. By contrast, the government and the private sector should also motivate the pharmaceutical industry and make use of the local employment

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Eating NAFTA

10.1525/california/9780520291805.001.0001 ◽

2018 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Alyshia Gálvez

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Low Income ◽

Food System ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Trade Agreement ◽

Well Being ◽

Health Crisis ◽

The North ◽

The World

In the two decades since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) went into effect, Mexico has seen an epidemic of diet-related illness. While globalization has been associated with an increase in chronic disease around the world, in Mexico, the speed and scope of the rise has been called a public health emergency. The shift in Mexican foodways is happening at a moment when the country’s ancestral cuisine is now more popular and appreciated around the world than ever. What does it mean for their health and well-being when many Mexicans eat fewer tortillas and more instant noodles, while global elites demand tacos made with handmade corn tortillas? This book examines the transformation of the Mexican food system since NAFTA and how it has made it harder for people to eat as they once did. The book contextualizes NAFTA within Mexico’s approach to economic development since the Revolution, noticing the role envisioned for rural and low-income people in the path to modernization. Examination of anti-poverty and public health policies in Mexico reveal how it has become easier for people to consume processed foods and beverages, even when to do so can be harmful to health. The book critiques Mexico’s strategy for addressing the public health crisis generated by rising rates of chronic disease for blaming the dietary habits of those whose lives have been upended by the economic and political shifts of NAFTA.

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Living on a low income as a systemic impediment to socio-economic development of Ukraine

Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing ◽

10.15407/sociology2020.03.099 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 99-109

Author(s):

NATALIIA TOLSTYKH

Keyword(s):

Economic Development ◽

Social Welfare ◽

Low Income ◽

Labour Force ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Consequences ◽

Human Potential ◽

Subsistence Level ◽

Socio Economic Development ◽

The Government

The article sheds light on various approaches that seek to determine how widespread poverty and life on a low income are in Ukraine nowadays. As a social phenomenon, poverty has traditionally been associated with destitution and living below the subsistence level set by the government. However, the author holds the view that life on a low income not only means living near or below the poverty line. There is another part of Ukraine’s population that should also be considered needy — those whose income is less than twice as the subsistence level, and most of them are also subject to socio-economic deprivation. Drawing upon the findings of a social survey conducted by the Institute of Sociology of the NAS of Ukraine in 2019, the paper analyses the standard of living among different income groups. Particular attention is given to consumption patterns and social well-being of respondents in the lower income brackets. From the data, it can be inferred that living conditions of many Ukrainians are inadequate to sustain and develop human potential; furthermore, the low-income households have literally to struggle every day to make ends meet. The author brings into focus the main macroeconomic factors contributing to this situation and its adverse effect on the nation’s social potential. Some of the most common social consequences of living on a low income have been identified, such as limited consumption, a person’s dissatisfaction with life and his/her position in society. The above-mentioned survey also provides the estimates of how much the current subsistence level (with regard to Ukraine) should be. Having been made by different socio-demographic and occupational groups of Ukraine’s population, these estimates are a useful source of information — given that subsistence level is considered the basic social standard. According to the survey, all these figures are at variance with the official subsistence level, which is noticeably lower, and this indicates that the current subsistence level needs an upward revision. Today, the overall socio-economic situation in Ukraine is unfavourable for neoliberal economic reforms initiated by the government. Since these policies are primarily designed to reduce the role of state in managing the economy and implementing social welfare programmes, following this path will inevitably result in the entrenchment of mass poverty and in a major loss of Ukraine’s human potential, as well as labour force. The author argues that tackling the country’s chronic low income problem is only possible if a new strategy for socio-economic development is adopted, where social welfare is prioritised.

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A descriptive study of the prevalence of psychological distress and mental disorders in the Canadian population: comparison between low-income and non-low-income populations

Chronic Diseases and Injuries in Canada ◽

10.24095/hpcdp.30.3.03 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 148-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Caron ◽

A. Liu

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Mental Disorders ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Descriptive Study ◽

Canadian Community Health Survey ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

High Psychological Distress

Objective This descriptive study compares rates of high psychological distress and mental disorders between low-income and non-low-income populations in Canada. Methods Data were collected through the Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health and Well-being (CCHS 1.2), which surveyed 36 984 Canadians aged 15 or over; 17.9% (n = 6620) was classified within the low-income population using the Low Income Measure. The K-10 was used to measure psychological distress and the CIDI for assessing mental disorders. Results One out of 5 Canadians reported high psychological distress, and 1 out of 10 reported at least one of the five mental disorders surveyed or substance abuse. Women, single, separated or divorced respondents, non-immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians were more likely to report suffering from psychological distress or from mental disorders and substance abuse. Rates of reported psychological distress and of mental disorders and substance abuse were much higher in low-income populations, and these differences were statistically consistent in most of the sociodemographic strata. Conclusion This study helps determine the vulnerable groups in mental health for which prevention and promotion programs could be designed.

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Supporting the Mental Health and Well-Being of First Responders from Career to Retirement: A Scoping Review

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x21000431 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Erin Smith ◽

Greg Dean ◽

Lisa Holmes

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Help Seeking ◽

First Responders ◽

Well Being ◽

First Responder ◽

Help Seeking Behaviors ◽

Holistic Approaches ◽

Pubmed Database ◽

Health And Well Being

Abstract Introduction: First responders are at greater risk of mental ill health and compromised well-being compared to the general population. It is important to identify strategies that will be effective in supporting mental health, both during and after the first responder’s career. Methods: A scoping review was conducted using the PubMed database (1966 to October 1, 2020) and the Google Scholar database (October 1, 2020) using relevant search terms, truncation symbols, and Boolean combination functions. The reference lists of all relevant publications were also reviewed to identify further publications. Results: A total of 172 publications were retrieved by the combined search strategies. Of these, 56 met the inclusion criteria and informed the results of this overview paper. These publications identified that strategies supporting first responder mental health and well-being need to break down stigma and build resilience. Normalizing conversations around mental health is integral for increasing help-seeking behaviors, both during a first responder’s career and in retirement. Organizations should consider the implementation of both pre-retirement and post-retirement support strategies to improve mental health and well-being. Conclusion: Strategies for supporting mental health and well-being need to be implemented early in the first responder career and reinforced throughout and into retirement. They should utilize holistic approaches which encourage “reaching in” rather than placing an onus on first responders to “reach out” when they are in crisis.

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“My coupons are like gold”: experiences and perceived outcomes of low-income adults participating in the British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021001567 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-30

Author(s):

Stéphanie Caron-Roy ◽

Sayeeda Amber Sayed ◽

Katrina Milaney ◽

Bonnie Lashewicz ◽

Sharlette Dunn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Rural Communities ◽

Low Income ◽

Well Being ◽

Qualitative Description ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Social Connections ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Program Outcomes ◽

Farmers Market

ABSTRACT Objective: The British Columbia Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program (FMNCP) provides low-income households with coupons valued at $21/week for 16 weeks to purchase healthy foods in farmers’ markets. Our objective was to explore FMNCP participants’ experiences of accessing nutritious foods, and perceived program outcomes. Design: This study used qualitative description methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FMNCP participants during the 2019 farmers’ market season. Directed content analysis was used to analyse the data whereby the five domains of Freedman et al’s framework of nutritious food access provided the basis for an initial coding scheme. Data that did not fit within the framework’s domains were coded inductively. Setting: One urban and two rural communities in British Columbia, Canada. Participants: 28 adults who were participating in the FMNCP. Results: Three themes emerged: Autonomy and Dignity; Social Connections and Community Building; and Environmental and Programmatic Constraints. Firstly, the program promoted a sense of autonomy and dignity through financial support, increased access to high-quality produce, food-related education and skill development, and mitigating stigma and shame. Secondly, shopping in farmers’ markets increased social connections and fostered a sense of community. Finally, participants experienced limited food variety in rural farmers’ markets, lack of transportation, and challenges with redeeming coupons. Conclusions: Participation in the FMNCP facilitated access to nutritious foods and enhanced participants’ diet quality, well-being and health. Strategies such as increasing the amount and duration of subsidies, and expanding programs may help improve participants’ experiences and outcomes of farmers’ market food subsidy programs.

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Shaping Physical, Economic, and Policy Components of the Food Environment to Create Sustainable Healthy Diets

Food and Nutrition Bulletin ◽

10.1177/0379572120945904 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 74S-86S

Author(s):

Adam Drewnowski ◽

Eva C. Monterrosa ◽

Saskia de Pee ◽

Edward A. Frongillo ◽

Stefanie Vandevijvere

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Environment ◽

Food System ◽

Well Being ◽

Food Environments ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Equitable Access ◽

Nutrition Labels ◽

Healthy Diets ◽

Physical Spaces

Background: Sustainable healthy diets are those dietary patterns that promote all dimensions of individuals’ health and well-being; have low environmental pressure and impact; are accessible, affordable, safe, and equitable; and are culturally acceptable. The food environment, defined as the interface between the wider food system and consumer’s food acquisition and consumption, is critical for ensuring equitable access to foods that are healthy, safe, affordable, and appealing. Discussion: Current food environments are creating inequities, and sustainable healthy foods are generally more accessible for those of higher socioeconomic status. The physical, economic, and policy components of the food environment can all be acted on to promote sustainable healthy diets. Physical spaces can be modified to improve relative availability (ie, proximity) of food outlets that carry nutritious foods in low-income communities; to address economic access certain actions may improve affordability, such as fortification, preventing food loss through supply chain improvements; and commodity specific vouchers for fruits, vegetables, and legumes. Other policy actions that address accessibility to sustainable healthy foods are comprehensive marketing restrictions and easy-to-understand front-of-pack nutrition labels. While shaping food environments will require concerted action from all stakeholders, governments and private sector bear significant responsibility for ensuring equitable access to sustainable healthy diets.

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