Women's Health and the Practice of Public Health Nurses in Northern British Columbia

Abstract

This study explored women's health and the practice of public health nurses in northern British Columbia using a phenomenological methodology. Ten public health nurses in northern British Columbia were interviewed to determine their perspectives on their practice in the area of women's health. Findings reveal three central themes: women's health, public health nursing practice, and rural context. Several subthemes elaborate on the central themes. Women's health is described in terms of women's health needs, how women stay healthy in northern communities, and conditions that affect women's health. Public health nursing practice is described in terms of activities, strengths, conditions, and ways to strengthen practice. Definitions of rural context are provided and some of the benefits and challenges of living and working in northern communities are presented. Health promotion and illness and injury prevention needs of women are clearly evident in the findings. Public health nurses are well placed in the North to help women meet their health care needs. However, further attention to women's health needs and the expansion of public health nursing services would facilitate improved health for women who live in isolated northern settings. In addition, further research is needed to explicate women's health and public health nursing practice in isolated northern settings in Canada.

Strategies Used by Rural Women to Stop, Avoid, or Escape From Intimate Partner Violence

“…Most importantly, as severity of violence increased, perceived helpfulness of all strategies decreased, reflecting the fact that the abuser's actions are outside of a woman's control. It may be that rural women are less able to access sources of outside help, or that they are prevented from accessing help because of their physical and social isolation, as was described by the women in Phase II and in previous studies (Fishwick, 1993;Jiwani, Moore, & Kachuk, 1998;Leipert, 1999;Websdale, 1998). Alternatively, as Gondolf and Fisher (1988) suggested, previous abuse and neglect by help sources may lead women to try other strategies.…”

“…A community health assessment approach would help rural public health nurses work with their community to raise awareness of and develop strategies for addressing health-related concerns such as IPV (Bushy, 2000). Nurses who live and work in rural communities, and who have the trust of community members, are well positioned to facilitate the social networking necessary for community development initiatives (Bushy;Leipert, 1999).…”

Spinning a northern web: Women using information and communication technology to network for health and wellness.

“…The process o f finding and building from networks o f supportive, quality relationships has a positive influence on women's health (Leipert, 1999) and engages them in being a part o f utilizing and developing ICT to their benefit (Balka, 1997;Light, 1995).…”

Multiple perspectives: Health effects of a mindfulness-based stress reduction intervention in the Yukon.

“…Lack of health promotion programs has been identified as one deficiency in rural health care services (Madrid, 2003;Ministerial Advisory Council on Rural Health, 2002;UNBC, no date, Watanabe & Casebeer, 2000). Leipert (1999) suggests that ways to assist northern women include supporting their efforts to increase personal responsibility for their health and improving their ability to access both preventive and treatment services.…”