Vasiliki Douglas - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Vasiliki Douglas

International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2014

Background. Current social and environmental changes in the Arctic challenge the health and well-... more Background. Current social and environmental changes in the Arctic challenge the health and well-being of its residents. Developing evidence-informed adaptive measures in response to these changes is a priority for communities, governments and researchers. Objectives. To develop strategic planning to promote food security and food safety in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. Design. A qualitative study using group discussions during a workshop. Methods. A regional workshop gathered Inuit organizations and community representatives, university-based researchers from the Inuit Health Survey (IHS) and NWT governmental organizations. Discussions were structured around the findings from the IHS. For each key area, programs and activities were identified and prioritized by group discussion and voting. Results. The working group developed a vision for future research and intervention, which is to empower communities to promote health, well-being and environmental sustainability in the ISR. The group elaborated missions for the region that address the following issues: (a) capacity building within communities; (b) promotion of the use of traditional foods to address food security; (c) research to better understand the linkages between diseases and contaminants in traditional foods, market foods and lifestyle choices; (d) and promotion of affordable housing. Five programs to address each key area were developed as follows: harvest support and traditional food sharing; education and promotion; governance and policy; research; and housing. Concrete activities were identified to guide future research and intervention projects. Conclusions. The results of the planning workshop provide a blueprint for future research and intervention projects.

Midwifery, 2013

to review literature on the physical place of childbirth in Greenland between 1953 and 2001, usin... more to review literature on the physical place of childbirth in Greenland between 1953 and 2001, using a narrative review theory and a content analysis framework, the paper seeks to describe and analyse the change in perinatal health care structure in Greenland. findings were discussed within the framework of Daviss' Logics bringing into account scientific, clinical, personal, cultural and intuitive logics as well as economic, legal and political 'logics' concerning perinatal health care policies. the literature study concerns the place of birth in Greenland, a self-governing constituency of 57,000 people, the world's largest island and with a predominately Inuit population with its own language and culture. Inuit population with its own language and culture. the place of birth in Greenland has changed and focus has moved from birth as a personal and community act to birth within the private and political arena. New policies and guidelines for pregnancy and childbearing decisions are seldom negotiated with the women, families and their communities. policy changes have an influence on the social and cultural development of Greenland and it poses a challenge and a counter weight to the political and economic limitations that the government works within. Women and children are vulnerable groups and are directly affected by the changing perinatal health care and policy. It is important that when changing policy, the women and their families are part of the dialogue around change.

Background: Because of a lack of transportation infrastructure, Old Crow has the highest food cos... more Background: Because of a lack of transportation infrastructure,
Old Crow has the highest food costs and greatest
reliance on traditional food species for sustenance of any
community in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Environmental,
cultural, and economic change are driving increased
perception of food insecurity in Old Crow.
Objectives: To address community concerns regarding food
security and supply in Old Crow and develop adaptation
strategies to ameliorate their impact on the community.
Methods: A community adaptation workshop was held on
October 13, 2009, in which representatives of different stakeholders in the community discussed a variety of food security issues facing Old Crow and how they could be dealt with. Workshop data were analyzed using keyword, subject, and
narrative analysis techniques to determine community
priorities in food security and adaptation.
Results: Community concern is high and favored adaptation
options include agriculture, improved food storage, and
conservation through increased traditional education. These
results were presented to the community for review and
revision, after which the Vuntut Gwitchin Government will
integrate them into its ongoing adaptation planning
measures.
Keywords: Arctic, aboriginal, Canada, food security, tradition,
education, adaptation

International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 2014

Background. Current social and environmental changes in the Arctic challenge the health and well-... more Background. Current social and environmental changes in the Arctic challenge the health and well-being of its residents. Developing evidence-informed adaptive measures in response to these changes is a priority for communities, governments and researchers. Objectives. To develop strategic planning to promote food security and food safety in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR), Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada. Design. A qualitative study using group discussions during a workshop. Methods. A regional workshop gathered Inuit organizations and community representatives, university-based researchers from the Inuit Health Survey (IHS) and NWT governmental organizations. Discussions were structured around the findings from the IHS. For each key area, programs and activities were identified and prioritized by group discussion and voting. Results. The working group developed a vision for future research and intervention, which is to empower communities to promote health, well-being and environmental sustainability in the ISR. The group elaborated missions for the region that address the following issues: (a) capacity building within communities; (b) promotion of the use of traditional foods to address food security; (c) research to better understand the linkages between diseases and contaminants in traditional foods, market foods and lifestyle choices; (d) and promotion of affordable housing. Five programs to address each key area were developed as follows: harvest support and traditional food sharing; education and promotion; governance and policy; research; and housing. Concrete activities were identified to guide future research and intervention projects. Conclusions. The results of the planning workshop provide a blueprint for future research and intervention projects.

Midwifery, 2013

to review literature on the physical place of childbirth in Greenland between 1953 and 2001, usin... more to review literature on the physical place of childbirth in Greenland between 1953 and 2001, using a narrative review theory and a content analysis framework, the paper seeks to describe and analyse the change in perinatal health care structure in Greenland. findings were discussed within the framework of Daviss' Logics bringing into account scientific, clinical, personal, cultural and intuitive logics as well as economic, legal and political 'logics' concerning perinatal health care policies. the literature study concerns the place of birth in Greenland, a self-governing constituency of 57,000 people, the world's largest island and with a predominately Inuit population with its own language and culture. Inuit population with its own language and culture. the place of birth in Greenland has changed and focus has moved from birth as a personal and community act to birth within the private and political arena. New policies and guidelines for pregnancy and childbearing decisions are seldom negotiated with the women, families and their communities. policy changes have an influence on the social and cultural development of Greenland and it poses a challenge and a counter weight to the political and economic limitations that the government works within. Women and children are vulnerable groups and are directly affected by the changing perinatal health care and policy. It is important that when changing policy, the women and their families are part of the dialogue around change.

Background: Because of a lack of transportation infrastructure, Old Crow has the highest food cos... more Background: Because of a lack of transportation infrastructure,
Old Crow has the highest food costs and greatest
reliance on traditional food species for sustenance of any
community in Canada’s Yukon Territory. Environmental,
cultural, and economic change are driving increased
perception of food insecurity in Old Crow.
Objectives: To address community concerns regarding food
security and supply in Old Crow and develop adaptation
strategies to ameliorate their impact on the community.
Methods: A community adaptation workshop was held on
October 13, 2009, in which representatives of different stakeholders in the community discussed a variety of food security issues facing Old Crow and how they could be dealt with. Workshop data were analyzed using keyword, subject, and
narrative analysis techniques to determine community
priorities in food security and adaptation.
Results: Community concern is high and favored adaptation
options include agriculture, improved food storage, and
conservation through increased traditional education. These
results were presented to the community for review and
revision, after which the Vuntut Gwitchin Government will
integrate them into its ongoing adaptation planning
measures.
Keywords: Arctic, aboriginal, Canada, food security, tradition,
education, adaptation