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Caring for Ourselves: An Alternative Structure for Health Care (Report on the Vancouver Women's Health Collective)

Publication type: 
Research Paper / Project Report
AttachmentSize
PDF icon chodarr0518.pdf6.22 MB
Agency: 
Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC)
Sponsor: 
Health and Welfare Canada (National Health Research and Development Project No. 610-1020A)
Date: 
1978
Pages: 
184
Summary: 
This research report on the Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC) traces the history and political framework of the organization, as well as the operations of the VWHC during the mid-1970s. It is composed of the findings of a 3-year study undertaken by 2 UBC students. The report is largely descriptive, based on participant observation and "interactive methodology" between researchers and the VWHC members and staff. As well, it includes findings based on in-depth interviews and evaluations by doctors and women who participated in and accessed the VWHC's resources and the VWHC's Women's Self-Help Clinic. The report details the provision of health care by lay-women and the self-help nature of the organization, which is central to its programs and services, including abortion counselling, diaphragm fitting, health education groups, health information resources, and the self-help clinic.
Keywords: 
Vancouver Women's Health Collective (VWHC); gender-based analysis; women and health; women's health; health; women's health movement; feminism; feminist organization; gender and health; awareness raising; BC health system; community-based health; doctors; empowerment; ethnography; case study; health clinic; feminist research methods; field research; health research; Nurses; participatory action research; prevention; sexually transmitted diseases (STDs); abortion counselling; breast self-exam; cervical self-exam; diaphragm fitting; University of British Columbia (UBC); volunteer; The Vancouver Women's Self-Help Clinic;