[The qualitative research on social inequalities in health: the life courses].

Objectives: Adopting a lifecourse perspective is more and more frequent in the health inequalities research field. This article describes such an approach, as applied in a study on poverty and social exclusion.

Methods: In this study, life histories were collected through open interviews and focused on the meaning of lived experiences.

Why men experiencing deep poverty in Montréal avoid using health and social services in times of crisis.

This article describes the experiences of men living in deep poverty regarding their decision not to seek out health and social services in moments of crisis, even when they recognized needing help. It presents results from a qualitative research project done in collaboration with a community center in a disadvantaged neighborhood of Montreal, Canada. It was designed to increase understanding of men's experiences of poverty and the role played by health and social services in their lives.

A qualitative study of the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding by health professionals in Niamey, Niger.

Background: The practice of exclusive breastfeeding depends on various factors related to both mothers and their environment, including the services delivered by health professionals. It is known that support and counseling by health professionals can improve rates, early initiation and total duration of breastfeeding, particularly exclusive breastfeeding. Mothers' decisions are influenced by health professionals' advice.

Living environments and health at the local level: the case of three localities in the Québec city region.

Background: To arrive at a better understanding of the combined impact of social health determinants on health inequities a research project was carried out in three localities in the Québec city region. This paper aims to show how residents' health status and health determinants can be explored through various data sources and analytic perspectives, and how these can then be combined to create a more comprehensive picture of health status at the local level.

Methods: A multidisciplinary approach was adopted.

Perception of place and health: differences between neighbourhoods in the Québec City region.

This paper addresses two questions: (1) Can people's perceptions of problems and social cohesion in the neighbourhood be considered as contextual variables; and (2) are these perceptions related to people's health? Data come from a general health survey carried out in 2004 among 1634 individuals living in three localities of the region of Québec City, namely a downtown, a suburban and a rural area, which were further subdivided into 34 smaller spatial units, hereafter called neighbourhoods. The survey included questions on individuals' perception of problems (social and environmental) and social cohesion (attraction to neighbourhood, neighbouring and psychological sense of community) in the neighbourhood, as well as questions on self-rated health, long-term disability and self-mastery. A first set of logistic multilevel models was performed to ascertain the existence of neighbourhood variations in the perception of problems and social cohesion, after accounting for individual attributes.

Production and reproduction: the issues involved in reconciling work and pregnancy.

Quebec legislation in occupational health contains a measure that gives pregnant workers the right to demand healthy and safe work conditions so that they can continue working while they are pregnant. About one-third of pregnant workers exercise this right every year. Nonetheless, even though the legislation's goal is to favor continued employment, more than 75 percent of the female workers who are eligible for protective reassignment are, in fact, not reassigned to other work stations or tasks, and instead must stop working.

Conceptualization and sources of costs from breast cancer: findings from patient and caregiver focus groups.

Assessment of economic burden of breast cancer to patient and family has generally been overlooked in assessing the impact of this disease. We explored economic aspects from the perspective of women and their caregivers. Focus groups were conducted in 3 Quebec cities representing urban and semi-urban settings: 3 with 26 women first treated for non-metastatic breast cancer in the past 18 months, and 3 with 24 primary caregivers.