Health needs of northern women

This project was funded by the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport 1 with support from the BC Provincial Women’s Health Network and the Northern Health Women’s Health and Wellness Program, to explore the self-identified determinants of health most salient to women 45 years and older in northern BC. [...] The strongest messages which emerged out of the data are related to access to health care; affordability / accessibility of health and wellness supports; socialization and community connectedness; information and education; and life transitions and adjustments. [...] In the 1990s, the Centres of Excellence for Women’s Health Program was established by Health Canada and was mandated to improve the health status of Canadian women by enhancing the health system’s understanding of, and responsiveness 6. Health Needs of Northern Women 45 Years and Older to, women’s health issues (Morrow, 2007). [...] In 2000, the federal government also established the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, one of which is the Institute of Gender and Health, which served to increase the capacity of researchers to investigate questions related to gender and health. [...] The same report indicates that women living in the northern and rural communities of BC have the lowest levels of health status indicators, such as life expectancy, when compared to women of a similar age and circumstance living in other parts of the province.