Women's health in northern British Columbia: the role of geography and gender.

INTRODUCTION

Although research interest in women's health is growing, much of the literature does not sufficiently describe the importance of geography and gender for the health of women. This qualitative study explored factors in the northern Canadian context that influence women's health by interviewing 25 women in northern Canada.

RESULTS

Findings reveal that the importance of the northern context for women's health can be attributed to the north's historical location, and its physical, sociocultural and political environments. The northern context contributes to the marginalization of northern women that is characterized by isolation, limited options, limited power and being silenced.

CONCLUSION

Health care practice and policy must attend to contextual as well as individual and sociocultural factors if women's health is to be advanced in northern settings.