Is resistance to Covid-19 vaccination a "problem"? A critical policy inquiry of vaccine mandates for healthcare workers.

As the COVID-19 global vaccination campaign was launched in December of 2020, vaccination became mandatory for many healthcare workers (HCWs) worldwide. Large minorities resisted the policy, and the responses of authorities to this resistance led to damaged professional reputations, job losses, and suspension or termination of practice licenses. The joint effect of dismissals, early retirements, career changes, and vaccine injuries disabling some compliant HCWs from adequate performance has exacerbated existing crises within health systems.

Gender Norms, Roles and Relations and Cannabis-Use Patterns: A Scoping Review.

Currently, boys and men use cannabis at higher rates than girls and women, but the gender gap is narrowing. With the legalization of recreational cannabis use in Canada and in multiple US states, these trends call for urgent attention to the need to consider how gender norms, roles and relations influence patterns of cannabis use to inform health promotion and prevention responses. Based on a scoping review on sex, gender and cannabis use, this article consolidates existing evidence from the academic literature on how gender norms, roles and relations impact cannabis-use patterns.

Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis in Cannabis Treatment Outcomes: A Systematic Review.

There is evidence that sex- and gender-related factors are involved in cannabis patterns of use, health effects and biological mechanisms. Women and men report different cannabis use disorder (CUD) symptoms, with women reporting worse withdrawal symptoms than men. The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of cannabis pharmacological interventions for women and men and the uptake of sex- and gender-based analysis in the included studies.

Sex and Gender Interactions on the Use and Impact of Recreational Cannabis.

Cannabis is the second most frequently used substance in the world and regulated or legalized for recreational use in Canada and fourteen US states and territories. As with all substances, a wide range of sex and gender related factors have an influence on how substances are consumed, their physical, mental and social impacts, and how men and women respond to treatment, health promotion, and policies. Given the widespread use of cannabis, and in the context of its increasing regulation, it is important to better understand the sex and gender related factors associated with recreational cannabis use in order to make more precise clinical, programming, and policy decisions.

Tailored Intervention for Smoking Reduction and Cessation for Young and Socially Disadvantaged Women During Pregnancy.

Rates of smoking during pregnancy remain high in Canada, and cessation rates are low among women who are younger than 24 years and who are socially disadvantaged, that is, have few social and economic resources because of poverty, violence, or mental health issues. On the basis of findings from literature reviews and consultation with policy makers, we developed and operationalized four approaches that can be used by health care providers to tailor interventions for tobacco use in pregnancy. These four approaches are woman centered, trauma informed, harm reducing, and equitable.

New Challenges: Developing Gendered and Equitable Responses to Involuntary Exposures to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and Cannabis Vaping.

Recreational cannabis use is in the process of being legalized in Canada, and new products and devices for both nicotine and cannabis vaping are being introduced. Yet, research on the harms of involuntary exposure to electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDSs) and cannabis vaping is in its infancy, and there is a lack of investigation on sex-specific health effects and gendered patterns of exposure and use. We argue that responses to ENDS and cannabis vaping exposures should align with policy and progress on restricting exposure to tobacco secondhand smoke (SHS).

Preconception health care interventions: A scoping review.

Pregnancy is often framed as a "window of opportunity" for intervening on a variety of health practices such as alcohol and tobacco use. However, there is evidence that interventions focusing solely on the time of pregnancy can be too narrow and potentially stigmatizing. Indeed, health risks observed in the preconception period often continue during pregnancy.

Smoking on the margins: a comprehensive analysis of a municipal outdoor smoke-free policy.

Background: This study examined the formulation, adoption, and implementation of a ban on smoking in the parks and beaches in Vancouver, Canada.

Methods: Informed by Critical Multiplism, we explored the policy adoption process, support for and compliance with a local bylaw prohibiting smoking in parks and on beaches, experiences with enforcement, and potential health equity issues through a series of qualitative and quantitative studies.

Results: Findings suggest that there was unanimous support for the introduction of the bylaw among policy makers, as well as a high degree of positive public support.

Misuse of Prescription Opioid Medication among Women: A Scoping Review.

Background. National data from Canada and the United States identify women to be at greater risk than men for the misuse of prescription opioid medications. Various sex- and gender-based factors and patient and physician practices may affect women's use and misuse of prescription opioid drugs.

Tobacco Cessation Interventions for Underserved Women.

Despite high rates of smoking among some subgroups of women, there is a lack of tailored interventions to address smoking cessation among women. We identify components of a women-centered approach to tobacco cessation by analyzing 3 bodies of literature: sex and gender influences in tobacco use and addiction; evidence-based tobacco cessation guidelines; and best practices in delivery of women-centered care. Programming for underserved women should be tailored, build confidence and increase motivation, integrate social justice issues and address inequities, and be holistic and comprehensive.

Prevention of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: Current Canadian Efforts and Analysis of Gaps.

Effective prevention of risky alcohol use in pregnancy involves much more than providing information about the risk of potential birth defects and developmental disabilities in children. To categorize the breadth of possible initiatives, Canadian experts have identified a four-part framework for fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) prevention: Level 1, public awareness and broad health promotion; Level 2, conversations about alcohol with women of childbearing age and their partners; Level 3, specialized support for pregnant women; and Level 4, postpartum support for new mothers. In order to describe the level of services across Canada, 50 Canadian service providers, civil servants, and researchers working in the area of FASD prevention were involved in an online Delphi survey process to create a snapshot of current FASD prevention efforts, identify gaps, and provide ideas on how to close these gaps to improve FASD prevention.

Reshuffling and relocating: the gendered and income-related differential effects of restricting smoking locations.

This study investigates secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and management in the context of smoking location restrictions, for nonsmokers, former, and current smokers. A purposive sample of 47 low income and non-low-income men and women of varied smoking statuses was recruited to participate in a telephone interview or a focus group. Amidst general approval of increased restrictions there were gendered patterns of SHS exposure and management, and effects of SHS policies that reflect power, control, and social roles that need to be considered as policies are developed, implemented and monitored.

Partner support for smoking cessation during pregnancy: a systematic review.

Introduction: Pregnancy is a key time to leverage receptivity to smoking reduction or cessation in both pregnant women and their partners. A partner's smoking status and support for the pregnant/postpartum woman's efforts to reduce or quit smoking may impact her smoking behavior.

Methods: A systematic literature review of interventions to enhance partner support for pregnant/postpartum women's smoking reduction or cessation and cessation treatments for the partners themselves identified 855 unique references, which were examined for relevance, yielding 9 intervention studies.

Sex, gender, and secondhand smoke policies: implications for disadvantaged women.

Context: Although implementation of secondhand smoke policies is increasing, little research has examined the unintended consequences of these policies for disadvantaged women.

Evidence Acquisition: Macro-, meso-, and micro-level issues connected to secondhand smoke and women are considered to illustrate the range of ways in which sex, gender, and disadvantage affect women's exposure to secondhand smoke. A review of current literature, primarily published between 2000 and 2008, on sex- and gender-based issues related to secondhand smoke exposure and the effects of secondhand smoke policies for various subpopulations of women, including low-income girls and women, nonwhite minority women, and pregnant women, was conducted in 2008.

Women and tobacco control policies: social-structural and psychosocial contributions to vulnerability to tobacco use and exposure.

This article explores the psychosocial and social-structural vulnerability in relation to women's tobacco use, smoke exposure and responses to policy, and examines these issues in the context of women's lives and roles, describing forward looking strategies that could improve research and equity in outcomes for women. Various literatures on smoking among women and girls, and how women and sub-populations of women respond to tobacco control policies are reviewed. Specific sub-populations exhibiting more tobacco use and exposure are described, such as young pregnant and mothering women and low-income women.

Preventing smoking in young people: a systematic review of the impact of access interventions.

Aims: To examine existing evidence on the effectiveness of interventions that are designed to prevent the illegal sale of tobacco to young people. The review considers specific sub-questions related to the factors that might influence effectiveness, any differential effects for different sub-populations of youth, and barriers and facilitators to implementation.

Methods: A review of studies on the impact of interventions on young people under the age of 18 was conducted.

Women, environments and chronic disease: shifting the gaze from individual level to structural factors.

Introduction: Chronic heart and respiratory diseases are two of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality affecting women. Patterns of and disparities in chronic diseases between sub-populations of women suggest that there are social as well as individual level factors which enhance or impede the prevention or development of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. By examining the sex, gender and diversity based dimensions of women's lung and heart health and how these overlap with environmental factors we extend analysis of preventive health beyond the individual level.