They didn't break me, because I’m going to keep going: A participatory study exploring access to health and social services for women living on a low income in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Equitable access to health and social services is recognized as a fundamental right in Canada. Women living on a low income experience the harmful effects of structural inequalities when accessing health and social services. Some of those women belong to minority groups such as Indigenous, immigrants and refugees, LGTBQ2S, single mothers, older adults, and those living with chronic illnesses and disabilities. However, little we know about how gender and income as social determinants of health affect access to health and social services for women on a low income. Goals: Our purpose in this qualitative study was to explore how the SDH affect the experiences of Canadian women who live on a low income, with accessing health and social services. Methods: In keeping with a participatory research approach, we are partnering with a not-for-profit organization, and are using an art-based approach (photovoice), hermeneutic phenomenology, as well as one-to-one interviews to illuminate the experiences of women living on a low income. Results: Five women are participating. In our analysis to date we have found three themes: 1) I know what I'm feeling, I know what my body feels; 2) There’s a lack of empathy, lack of compassion; and 3) They didn't break me because I'm going to keep going. Conclusions: Although access to health and social services is considered a fundamental right for all Canadians; it is unfair and unjust how women in this study do not experience that right. This work aims to bring access issues to light and elevate the voices of women living on a low income to create sustainable solutions with them and other community members, including a more compassionate health system and inclusive society in Ontario, Canada.

Pursuit of Equity: Women on a Low Income Navigating Access to Health and Social Services in Canada

“…We followed the ethical principles of conducting research with human beings as outlined by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (2018). A more detailed account of the characteristics of participants, data collection, and trustworthiness of the study, with a detailed account of our data analysis process, has been documented in our earlier publications (Camargo-Plazas et al, 2022b;Waite et al, 2022).…”

“…In two previous publications, we presented components of this work (Camargo-Plazas et al, 2022b;Waite et al, 2022). In the first publication, we completed an in-depth exploration of the initial one-to-one interviews to present the burdens of economic hardships, lack of understanding from health and social service providers, and the need for-and right todignity (Camargo-Plazas et al, 2022b).…”

“…In the first publication, we completed an in-depth exploration of the initial one-to-one interviews to present the burdens of economic hardships, lack of understanding from health and social service providers, and the need for-and right todignity (Camargo-Plazas et al, 2022b). In the second publication, we articulated our participants' views on their understanding of systemic barriers in accessing health and social services, as well as described their unwavering resilience and determination in overcoming adversity (Waite et al, 2022). Informed by these foundational, complementary findings, in this current paper we aim to further the discourse.…”