Social Determinants

479 articles:
Inequity
Indigenous
LGBTQ
Gender
Disability
Racism
by Mary Sco.

Should pregnant women take omega-3 supplements? The truth is, it depends

A simple question – should pregnant women take an omega-3 supplement – provokes a very complex answer.
by Eberechukwu Peace Akadinma Breanna Barker

‘Your body, my choice’: American politics and the looming threat to reproductive freedoms in Canada

It is incumbent on us to engage with and defend reproductive rights, because of and despite what is happening in the United States.
by Ferrukh Faruqui

‘When you have severe disabilities, life isn’t over’: Expansion of MAiD raises concerns

As Bill C-7 expands MAiD's eligibility criteria, advocates for those with severe disabilities continue to fight against the pressures to accept an early death.

by The Disabled Ginger

A plea to maskless health-care workers from vulnerable patients

Health-care workers have a responsibility to protect their vulnerable patients. Our lives are in your hands.

by Dilshad Kassam-Lallani Rano Matta

Turning 18 is not so sweet for young adults with disabilities

Reaching adulthood should be a celebratory milestone, filled with greater independence and possibilities for the future. But for the estimated 200,000 young Canadians with disabilities, turning 18 often feels like falling off a cliff.
by Maddi Dellplain

Are Canada’s clinical trials in need of reform? Experts weigh in.

Private companies in Canada are recruiting thousands of often financially desperate test subjects each year to participate in clinical trials. If we want to ensure safer studies for participants and improve critical research, what is the best way forward?
by Maddi Dellplain

‘I would still receive another rather than no vaccine at all’: Chronically ill people left with little choice

Canada will not be procuring the Novavax vaccine for the 2024/25 season, leaving those who would have preferred an alternative to the mRNA vaccine without another option.

by Marvin Ross

From hospitals to encampments – the devolution of mental illness care in Canada

Solutions to the mental health and homelessness crises are not easy. It will take years to improve it. But if we want to call ourselves a civilized compassionate country, we have to do it.
by Suzanne Shoush

CMA’s apology to Indigenous Peoples rings hollow

Sept. 30 marks our National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The CMA can only play a role in healing wounds if it openly reflects on what continuously harms Indigenous people so specifically and systemically in this country.
by Kimberly Williams

Body autonomy: Our right to health

"We, like men, want to have control over our bodies and our own health. I want that for myself, for my daughters and for the female and female-identifying patients I work with.​​"
by Maddi Dellplain

Drug decriminalization did not increase overdose deaths, analysis shows

As policymakers in Canada backtrack on decriminalization measures, a news study finds that drug decriminalization in Oregon did not cause an increase in overdose mortality.
by George Magafas

Prescribing evidence: Combatting anti-scientific policies on puberty blockers

None of the policies preventing puberty blockers can be justified, as they are entirely discriminatory. If cisgender-affirming care is on the table, then transgender-affirming care must join it.
by Nikhila (Nikki) Butani Stuart McKinlay Megan Werger Vishva Shah

The urgent need for reception centres for refugees in Ontario

Delays in the opening of reception centres for refugees are significantly impacting the health of refugees and wellbeing of local communities.
by Alykhan Abdulla

We have lost our way in Ontario

Ontario's government has pursued a "populist" agenda, focusing on privatization, deregulation and profit-driven models. These have had devastating effects on health care and public safety.

by Nichole Sanchez Diaz Sanja Kostov Erin Bearss Milena Forte

Bridging generational divides in medical education: Gen Z med students’ POV

Adapting medical education for Gen Z learners isn’t about coddling – it's about evolution.
by Leisha Toory

‘Menstrual hygiene products are a basic necessity’: Addressing accessibility gaps for people with disabilities

Public awareness campaigns must be tailored to address the unique menstrual health needs of individuals with disabilities, including the financial burden of menstrual products.

by Alexandra Campbell

Excuse me for living: MAiD, autonomy and feeling like a burden

With the option of MAiD squarely on the table for so many, is staying alive becoming a path that requires justification?
by Karla Machlab

What is ‘normal’? Lab-based inequity in hematology

Inappropriate reference ranges are a significant issue in various areas of medicine and perpetuate systemic racism.
by Maddi Dellplain

Telegraph hit job a prime example of how not to report on drug policy

The Telegraph story depicts Vancouver's Downtown Eastside in a way that maximizes the harm done to their most vulnerable sources. But as journalists, we don't need to punch down to do our jobs.
by Zier Zhou

Team Canada’s Alicia Souveny: Car crash survivor and blood donation advocate

Alicia Souveny lost her left leg in a car accident in 2019 and would have lost her life, too, had she not received enough blood in time from donors. She's now an ambassador for the Canadian Blood Services and a member of the national women's para-hockey team.

1 of 24