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Bridging the Gap between Health Communication and Interculturality: A Case Study of Maternal Healthcare for Indigenous Canadian Women in Ottawa
No full textIndigenous women in Canada face a severe lack of access to health care. These women often experience anti-Indigenous racism in healthcare facilities, a lack of cultural safety, and the non-recognition of Indigenous healing and health methods. Language hurdles, gender differences, and privacy concerns over medical records all contribute to intercultural communication problems between Indigenous women and health professionals. Intercultural Communication refers to the study and practice of communication across different cultural contexts. It involves understanding how people from different countries and cultures act, communicate and perceive the world around them. It also requires awareness of one's own cultural background, values and beliefs and how they may affect the communication process.
This study explores how intercultural communication could be used as a tool to improve information on access to healthcare to Indigenous women in Canada within Ottawa. This research investigated the challenges in health communication and in maternal healthcare access among Native Canadian mothers and mothers-to-be when seeking medical attention.
Various previous studies have demonstrated that there are intercultural obstacles to Indigenous Maternal healthcare in Canada, which makes treating different disorders and disseminating health information difficult.
The present research uses a mixed method, which combines quantitative (survey questionnaires) and qualitative methods (systematic literature review) to collect data. The final part of the thesis will provide in-depth findings and analysis to the research
Writing about health inequality: recommendations for accurate and impactful presentation of evidence
No full textAbstract Health and development agendas and programmes often prioritize the reduction of unfair and remediable health inequalities. There is a growing amount of data pertaining to health inequalities. Written outputs, including academic research papers, are key tools for describing health inequalities. Epidemiologists, data analysts, policy advisors and health equity scholars can have greater impact through accurate, concise and compelling presentation of this evidence and so assist those advocating for action to close health gaps. We make recommendations to improve the accuracy and impact of written evidence on health inequality. Focusing on the micro, macro and meta aspects of developing written reports, we drew from our varied experiences promoting health inequality monitoring to identify key strategies specific to this field, which were further expanded and explored through literature searches and consultation with experts. We recommend four general strategies: (i) using terminology deliberately and consistently; (ii) presenting statistical content accurately and with sufficient detail; (iii) adhering to guidelines and best practices for reporting; and (iv) respecting and upholding the interests of affected communities. Specifically, we address the use of terminology related to health inequality and health inequity, dimensions of inequality and determinants of health, economic inequality and economic-related inequality, sex and gender, and race and ethnicity. We present common pitfalls related to reporting statistical content, underscoring the importance of clarity when reporting association and causation. We advocate for engaged and inclusive writing processes that use affirming language and adopt strength-based messaging. This guidance is intended to increase the impact of written evidence on efforts to tackle avoidable health inequalities
Radical Mundanity: Practicing Politics Through Craft on Instagram
No full textRecent research has examined the use of radical crafting in feminist activism and advocacy, extending the role of craft beyond the domestic sphere. This thesis conducts a case study of public Instagram accounts to understand how craft-based activism is practiced online. Using a semiotic analysis applied to Instagram images, Reels, Lives, captions, and comments, this thesis explores how politics are practiced through community and identity building, and positions future research to continue exploring the opportunities and limitations faced by those participating in digital activism
Bogotá, a Megacity in the Making: An Institutional and Contextual Assessment of Decentralization in Developing Countries
No full textThis thesis investigates whether megacities are ideal urban phenomena for developing countries, using Bogotá, Colombia as a case study. The research highlights the contextual and institutional governance challenges that hinder megacities from adequately meeting the needs of its inhabitants. A mix-method approach was used to gather and analyse the data. Key findings indicate that residents of Bogotá are drawn to megacities for perceived employment opportunities, yet they have a strong preference for living in smaller cities; that Bogotá is a city of contrasts and impacted by its context; that governance is more complex in megacities; and that megacities necessitate two layers of decentralization. This research invites policymakers and academics to re-evaluate megacities while increasing efforts for small city development and to re-think how we understand democracy, to radically improve citizen's experience of the urban governance process
Aux marges du champ : divergences et recomposition des mouvements d'extrême droite et d'extrême gauche en Ukraine
No full textCette thèse se propose de revenir sur la place des mouvements d’extrême droite et d’extrême gauche en Ukraine contemporaine. Plus précisément, l’objectif est de comprendre pourquoi l’extrême droite ukrainienne bénéficie d’une forte visibilité mais connaît un succès politique et électoral limité tandis que l’extrême gauche est quasi invisible mais parvient à subsister. Nous analysons ainsi leur évolution et leurs jeux de distinctions à travers le temps. En proposant une étude multi-niveaux (macro, méso et micro) nous retraçons comment les forces tant structurelles qu’individuelles participent au façonnement de ces mouvements et leur place dans le champ politique ukrainien. À ce titre, nous remarquons que ces deux extrêmes font l’objet de stigmates durables, renforcés sous la période soviétique, qui participent à la construction d’une dépendance au sentier dans la manière dont ces bords se structurent dans le champ politique postindépendance. Ils tentent alors de se sortir de ces contraintes structurelles pour affirmer pleinement leur place. Des années 1990 à 2000, la force de l’extrême gauche diminue drastiquement quand celle de l’extrême droite connait une ascension non négligeable. Mais c’est surtout la guerre qui devient un moteur de visibilité, conférant une large opportunité pour l’extrême droite dès 2014. De son côté, l’extrême gauche, affaiblie, se restructure progressivement et opère cet engagement plus important dans la guerre 8 ans plus tard. Pour autant, visibilité dans la guerre ne signifie pas nécessairement visibilité politique, ce que nous proposons de comprendre à partir d’une enquête de terrain ayant permis de récolter un ensemble de données qualitatives auprès des activistes
Bridging Education and Career: Post-Secondary Music Performance Curriculum and the Portfolio Practices of Classical Musicians
No full textThis dissertation, Bridging Education and Career: Post-Secondary Music Performance Curriculum and the Portfolio Practices of Classical Musicians, explores the intersections of music curriculum, identity, and career components to provide a deeper understanding of musicians’ livelihoods in Canada. To assess the alignment of post-secondary training with the practices of professional musicians today, the author studies undergraduate music performance curricula and nontraditional performance work, examines rhetoric surrounding musicians’ identities, and delineates portfolio careers.
Drawing on first-hand Canadian data through a national survey and interviews with graduates of post-secondary music performance programs, a survey of adaptive concert performers, and a curriculum analysis based on web-scraped data from five prominent institutions, the dissertation applies social constructionist theory and the transformative lens to emphasize musicians’ perspectives in a practical dissemination of findings. Three core articles address three critical aspects of musicians’ careers: (1) Canadian undergraduate music performance curricula, focusing on coursework beyond core musicianship; (2) the portfolio careers of Canadian-trained classical musicians, assessing employment patterns, career sustainability, training relevancy, and identity formation; and (3) nontraditional performance work, with specific focus on adaptive concerts as an emerging performance avenue. The synthesis and conclusion distill key takeaways and present actionable recommendations for curriculum reform, identity affirmation, and professional preparation.
The careers of classical musicians are increasingly precarious and multifaceted, challenging the legitimacy of traditional conservatory models that frame success primarily in terms of full-time performance careers. This research contributes to discourse on music careers by identifying gaps in institutional training and exposing the realities of professional life for performance graduates. By integrating concepts from the performing arts, curriculum, and entrepreneurship, this dissertation offers interdisciplinary insights into how institutions and society might better support musicians in building sustainable careers
Finite Element Modelling of Residual Limb and Transtibial Prosthesis Socket to Predict Interfacial Pressure Considering Muscle Contraction
No full textA lower-limb prosthesis is a mechanical device that replaces part of a biological limb to restore mobility. Approximately 7,400 lower-limb amputation surgeries are performed in Canada each year. The tissues in the residual limb (the "residuum") experience atypical stresses. Importantly, the distal end of the residuum must bear the load that would typically be borne by the foot. To avoid pain and tissue damage, the part of the prosthesis that interfaces with the residuum (the "socket") must be designed to fit properly not only at rest but also during walking and other daily activities. The shape of the residuum changes during movement as muscles contract, which can affect the fit of the socket. To study the residuum-socket interface, we first developed a muscle material model that is able to contract, demonstrates the "force enhancement" behaviour observed during active stretch experiments, and is more numerically stable than existing muscle material models. We implemented our muscle material model using an approximation of the elasticity tensor, which simplified the implementation without sacrificing numerical accuracy. We then created a finite element model of the residuum-socket interface using our muscle material model to evaluate the effect of muscle contraction on the interfacial pressure. During gait, the interfacial pressure at heel strike and toe off were greater at key regions of the residuum when the gastrocnemius muscle was active rather than passive. This difference in pressure distribution could influence analyses of prosthesis design and fit. This thesis advances muscle constitutive modelling by providing a verified approximation of the elasticity tensor applied to muscle models, and by providing one of the few muscle material models available in the literature that exhibits force enhancement and is suitable for simulating active stretching. Our muscle material model implementation has been made publicly available so that others can reproduce and extend our results. This work also advances the modelling of the residuum-socket interface as it is the first finite element modelling study to consider the effect of muscle contraction on residuum shape and socket fit. Our results provide insight into how muscle contraction affects socket fit throughout the gait cycle, potentially leading to improvements in the design and manufacture of prostheses
Adaptive Algorithms for Goal-Oriented Error Estimation: Comparison of Different Error Representations
No full textThis thesis focuses on approximating a quantity of interest Q(u), where u is the solution to a Partial Differential Equation (PDE). With this goal, it compares various approaches to adaptive algorithms based on the Finite Element (FE) method. Specifically, it examines several globally equivalent error representations used in goal-oriented adaptivity. It borrows previously developed error representations and draws a comparison of their efficiency and accuracy with newly introduced representations. The error representations are first defined in the context of an abstract problem using duality techniques and Galerkin orthogonality properties. They are then explicitly defined in the context of two problems: a general 1D convection-diffusion-reaction problem, and a 2D Poisson problem. These representations are incorporated into h-adaptive algorithms for a 1D boundary-layer problem and a 2D Poisson problem, as well as a p-adaptive algorithm for the 1D Helmholtz problem. The adaptive algorithms are tested with different marking strategies and for different quantities of interest. Numerical results highlight the local variation of the error representations and demonstrate their influence on the performance of the algorithms. Finally, these results are used to classify the error representations according to their efficiency and accuracy
Perceptions about hepatitis C and barriers and enablers to screening and treatment among Egyptian immigrants to Canada: a theory-informed qualitative study
No full textAbstract Background Despite availability of effective screening and treatment for Hepatitis C (HCV), the uptake remains suboptimal. Immigrants from HCV endemic countries comprise 35% of cases in Canada. There is an average 10-year diagnosis delay, causing poor health outcomes and high healthcare system costs. Therefore, we aimed to understand immigrants’ perceptions and beliefs about HCV, as well as the barriers and enablers to HCV care among immigrants, with a focus on individuals from Egypt, given the country’s high endemic rates of HCV infection and the large Egyptian community in Canada. Methods We established a Community Advisory Group to provide advice at all stages. We used a qualitative-descriptive design guided by the Common-Sense Self-Regulation Model and Theoretical Domains Framework to perform semi-structured interviews with adult immigrants from Egypt (with or without HCV) in Ottawa, Canada. Sampling continued until thematic saturation was achieved. The interviews were double-coded and key findings were identified. Results We conducted interviews with 18 individuals (eight females, ten males), including 12 who had undergone HCV screening. Among them, seven had tested positive, and all had received treatment. While all participants were aware of HCV, misconceptions and a lack of knowledge regarding its symptoms, modes of transmission, and treatment options were prevalent. Many stated that they would not seek screening in the absence of significant symptoms. Perceived stigma associated with HCV and experiences of ethnocultural discrimination discouraged some individuals from seeking care. Additionally, challenges such as limited access to family doctors and long wait times were frequently cited as barriers. However, those who had received HCV treatment reported positive experiences and remained engaged in follow-up care. Conclusion There is an urgent need to improve access to care for immigrants from endemic countries to eliminate HCV in Canada. We took a systematic, theory-informed approach to understand lived experiences and views among Egyptian immigrants in Canada. We identified key factors contributing to the low uptake of HCV screening and treatment. These findings will inform a theory-based intervention to optimize HCV care in immigrant communities
Transformations de la vision d'avenir du Québec : analyse de romans québécois d'anticipation sociale de 1978 à 2021
No full textL'avenir du Québec est au cœur de son imaginaire social et collectif. Loin d'être immuable, cette vision d'avenir connaît des transformations parfois profondes en fonction des époques, des différents contextes sociopolitiques ainsi que des dynamiques qui animent la société québécoise. Ces transformations se reflètent au cœur des institutions de la société, mais aussi en sa culture. Cette thèse se penche donc sur les éléments liés à la vision d'avenir du Québec partagée par la société et qui participent à construire la référence québécoise. Pour ce faire, 11 romans québécois d'anticipation sociale présentant un Québec futur ou alternatif et qui ont été publiés entre 1978 et 2021 ont été analysés puis comparés entre eux. Bien qu'il soit difficile d'établir une référence québécoise claire et spécifique à partir de cette analyse, elle a tout de même permis de mettre en lumière certaines tendances, comme la portée de moins en moins forte du nationalisme et de l'idée d'identité nationale au cœur de l'imaginaire collectif québécois. La référence s'inscrit souvent en opposition à l'Autre ou à une autre référence de façon parfois dichotomique. Elle tend à se fragmenter et est difficile à établir dans un monde de plus en plus mondialisé et dominé par de grandes puissances culturelles. Afin de guider l'analyse, cette thèse s'appuie principalement sur les théories de deux penseurs québécois, à savoir la sociologie du roman telle que développée par Jean-Charles Falardeau et la notion de référence de Fernand Dumont. Elle tient compte aussi des concepts d'utopie et d'imaginaire social, puisque les romans s'inscrivent évidemment parfaitement dans ces notions