Learning from intersectoral initiatives to respond to the needs of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants without status in the context of COVID-19 in Quebec and Ontario: a qualitative multiple case study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants without status experience precarious living and working conditions that disproportionately expose them to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the two most populous Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario), to reduce the vulnerability factors experienced by the most marginalized migrants, the public and community sectors engage in joint coordination efforts called intersectoral collaboration. This collaboration ensures holistic care provisioning, inclusive of psychosocial support, assistance to address food security, and educational and employment assistance. This research project explores how community and public sectors collaborated on intersectoral initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic to support refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants without status in the cities of Montreal, Sherbrooke, and Toronto, and generates lessons for a sustainable response to the heterogeneous needs of these migrants. METHODS: This theory-informed participatory research is co-created with socioculturally diverse research partners (refugees, asylum seekers and migrants without status, employees of community organizations, and employees of public organizations). We will utilize Mirzoev and Kane's framework on health systems' responsiveness to guide the four phases of a qualitative multiple case study (a case being an intersectoral initiative). These phases will include (1) building an inventory of intersectoral initiatives developed during the pandemic, (2) organizing a deliberative workshop with representatives of the study population, community, and public sector respondents to select and validate the intersectoral initiatives, (3) interviews (n = 80) with community and public sector frontline workers and managers, municipal/regional/provincial policymakers, and employees of philanthropic foundations, and (4) focus groups (n = 80) with refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants without status. Qualitative data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings will be used to develop discussion forums to spur cross-learning among service providers. DISCUSSION: This research will highlight the experiences of community and public organizations in their ability to offer responsive services for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants without status in the context of a pandemic. We will draw lessons learnt from the promising practices developed in the context of COVID-19, to improve services beyond times of crisis. Lastly, we will reflect upon our participatory approach-particularly in relation to the engagement of refugees and asylum seekers in the governance of our research.

Considering social inequalities in health in COVID-19 response: insights from a French case study.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the impact of social inequalities in health (SIH). Various studies have shown significant inequalities in mortality and morbidity associated with COVID-19 and the influence of social determinants of health. The objective of this qualitative case study was to analyze the consideration of SIH in the design of two key COVID-19 prevention and control interventions in France: testing and contact tracing. Interviews were conducted with 36 key informants involved in the design of the intervention and/or the government response to the pandemic as well as relevant documents (n = 15) were reviewed. We applied data triangulation and a hybrid deductive and inductive analysis to analyze the data. Findings revealed the divergent understandings and perspectives about SIH, as well as the challenges associated with consideration for these at the beginning stages of the pandemic. Despite a shared concern for SIH between the participants, an epidemiological frame of reference dominated the design of the intervention. It resulted in a model in which consideration for SIH appeared as a complement, with a clinical goal of the intervention: breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission. Although the COVID-19 health crisis highlighted the importance of SIH, it did not appear to be an opportunity to further their consideration in response efforts. This article provides original insights into consideration for SIH in the design of testing and contact-tracing interventions based upon a qualitative investigation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social inequalities in health (SIH) and the disproportionate burden of the pandemic and its consequences related to socioeconomic status, ethnicity and race, among other determinants of health. Public health interventions are likely to increase SIH when they are not considered in the design phase. Through a qualitative case study, we analyzed the design of one of the first local initiative providing testing and contact tracing offer to the general population in the Île-de-France region (Paris region, France) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article discusses the uncertainty and challenges associated with consideration for SIH in the intervention design. It explores the diverse understandings of SIH among the actors and the complexities of cross-sectoral partnerships addressing SIH in times of health crisis. Despite a consensual concern for this issue among the respondents, an epidemiological frame of reference dominated the intervention design. It resulted in a model in which consideration for SIH appeared as a complement, with a clinical goal of the intervention: breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission.

Evaluating the implementation of a referral system for virtual pharmacy counselling in a province-wide nurse phone line.

Digital technology offers several opportunities to improve access to professional expertise in primary care, and the offer of various "virtual" services has exploded in the past few years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a direct-to-consumer on-line pharmacy consultation service (Ask Your Pharmacist - AYP) to a universal phone consultation service led by the universal public health system in Quebec (811 Info-Santé), through a direct bridge. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinician users of the service, and stakeholders involved in this pilot project funded by the Ministry of Economy (n = 22); documents were also analyzed, and content of the question was asked through the AYP service. Adoption of the service was low, and it suggests a poor alignment between the need and the service as implemented. Further research should investigate the mechanisms for an appropriate integration of digital services for primary care universal consultation services.

Considering social inequalities in health in large-scale testing for COVID-19 in Montréal: a qualitative case study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence continues to demonstrate that certain marginalised populations are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. While many studies document the impacts of COVID-19 on social inequalities in health, none has examined how public health responses to the pandemic have unfolded to address these inequities in Canada. The purpose of our study was to assess how social inequalities in health were considered in the design and planning of large-scale COVID-19 testing programs in Montréal (Québec, Canada). METHODS: Part of the multicountry study HoSPiCOVID, this article reports on a qualitative case study of large-scale testing for COVID-19 in Montréal. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 stakeholders involved in planning large-scale testing or working with vulnerable populations during the pandemic. We developed interview guides and a codebook using existing literature on policy design and planning, and analysed data deductively and inductively using thematic analysis in NVivo. RESULTS: Our findings suggest that large-scale COVID-19 testing in Montréal did not initially consider social inequalities in health in its design and planning phases. Considering the sense of urgency brought by the pandemic, participants noted the challenges linked to the uptake of an intersectoral approach and of a unified vision of social inequalities in health. However, adaptations were gradually made to large-scale testing to improve its accessibility, acceptability, and availability. Actors from the community sector, among others, played an important role in supporting the health sector to address the needs of specific subgroups of the population. CONCLUSIONS: These findings contribute to the reflections on the lessons learned from COVID-19, highlighting that public health programs must tackle structural barriers to accessing healthcare services during health crises. This will be necessary to ensure that pandemic preparedness and response, including large-scale testing, do not further increase social inequalities in health.

Towards CR2 evaluation: Culturally -reflexive and -responsive evaluation in crises times and beyond.

More than ever, health services evaluators are in high demand. In such context, evaluation deliverables are time- and/or culturally-sensitive. For the target communities or for those with an interest in the evaluation, the priority is to make sure their voice is prominently featured in evaluation deliverables. This priority coincides with a context where evaluators need to negotiate their positionality, in a context where evaluation deliverables are time- and/or culturally-sensitive. Beyond the mere inclusion of health service users as evaluation stakeholders, how do evaluators position themselves in these discussions? How do they meaningfully navigate this new paradigm in health services evaluation? This issue refers to intangible processes, which can be supported through both natural predisposition and the acquisition of specific skills. Core competencies for credentialled evaluators now all feature the importance of self-awareness and reflexive thinking; as well as the demonstration of appropriate and respectful verbal and non-verbal communication skills, and the capacity to identify practice communities' needs and capacity to participate, while recognising, respecting, and responding to aspects of diversity. Culturally-responsive evaluation is a promising approach to reconcile the world of evaluators and diverse practice communities. Recently, the concept of cultural humility-a reflexive learning process initially designed for frontline workers-has also gained important traction. In this perspective paper, we reflect on the added-value of combining these two approaches (hence, CR2 evaluation-reflexive and responsive) to fulfil the promise of patient and community-centeredness in health service evaluation.

Factors influencing variation in implementation outcomes of the redesigned community health fund in the Dodoma region of Tanzania: a mixed-methods study.

INTRODUCTION: Micro-health insurance (MHI) has been identified as a possible interim solution to foster progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Still, MHI schemes suffer from chronically low penetration rates, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Initiatives to promote and sustain enrolment have yielded limited effect, yet little effort has been channelled towards understanding how such initiatives are implemented. We aimed to fill this gap in knowledge by examining heterogeneity in implementation outcomes and their moderating factors within the context of the Redesigned Community Health Fund in the Dodoma region in Tanzania. METHODS: We adopted a mixed-methods design to examine implementation outcomes, defined as adoption and fidelity of implementation (FOI) as well as their moderating factors. A survey questionnaire collected individual level data and a document review checklist and in-depth interview guide collected district level data. We relied on descriptive statistics, a chi square test and thematic analysis to analyse our data. RESULTS: A review of district level data revealed high adoption (78%) and FOI (77%) supported also by qualitative interviews. In contrast, survey participants reported relatively low adoption (55%) and FOI (58%). Heterogeneity in adoption and FOI was observed across the districts and was attributed to organisational weakness or strengths, communication and facilitation strategies, resource availability (fiscal capacity, human resources and materials), reward systems, the number of stakeholders, leadership engagement, and implementer's skills. At an individual level, heterogeneity in adoption and FOI of scheme components was explained by the survey participant's level of education, occupation, years of stay in the district and duration of working in the scheme. For example, the adoption of job description was statistically associated with occupation (p = 0.001) and wworking in the scheme for more than 20 months had marginal significant association with FOI (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that assessing the implementation processes helps to detect implementation weaknesses and therefore address such weaknesses as the interventions are implemented or rolled out to other settings. Attention to contextual and individual implementer elements should be paid in advance to adjust implementation strategies and ensure greater adoption and fidelity of implementation.

Learning from public health and hospital resilience to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: protocol for a multiple case study (Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, and Mali).

BACKGROUND: All prevention efforts currently being implemented for COVID-19 are aimed at reducing the burden on strained health systems and human resources. There has been little research conducted to understand how SARS-CoV-2 has affected health care systems and professionals in terms of their work. Finding effective ways to share the knowledge and insight between countries, including lessons learned, is paramount to the international containment and management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this project is to compare the pandemic response to COVID-19 in Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, and Mali. This comparison will be used to identify strengths and weaknesses in the response, including challenges for health professionals and health systems. METHODS: We will use a multiple case study approach with multiple levels of nested analysis. We have chosen these countries as they represent different continents and different stages of the pandemic. We will focus on several major hospitals and two public health interventions (contact tracing and testing). It will employ a multidisciplinary research approach that will use qualitative data through observations, document analysis, and interviews, as well as quantitative data based on disease surveillance data and other publicly available data. Given that the methodological approaches of the project will be largely qualitative, the ethical risks are minimal. For the quantitative component, the data being used will be made publicly available. DISCUSSION: We will deliver lessons learned based on a rigorous process and on strong evidence to enable operational-level insight for national and international stakeholders.

Implementing performance-based financing in peripheral health centres in Mali: what can we learn from it?

INTRODUCTION: Numerous sub-Saharan African countries have experimented with performance-based financing (PBF) with the goal of improving health system performance. To date, few articles have examined the implementation of this type of complex intervention in Francophone West Africa. This qualitative research aims to understand the process of implementing a PBF pilot project in Mali's Koulikoro region. METHOD: We conducted a contrasted multiple case study of performance in 12 community health centres in three districts. We collected 161 semi-structured interviews, 69 informal interviews and 96 non-participant observation sessions. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research adapted to the research topic and local context. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that the internal context of the PBF implementation played a key role in the process. High-performing centres exercised leadership and commitment more strongly than low-performing ones. These two characteristics were associated with taking initiatives to promote PBF implementation and strengthening team spirit. Information regarding the intervention was best appropriated by qualified health professionals. However, the limited duration of the implementation did not allow for the emergence of networks or champions. The enthusiasm initially generated by PBF quickly dissipated, mainly due to delays in the implementation schedule and the payment modalities. CONCLUSION: PBF is a complex intervention in which many actors intervene in diverse contexts. The initial level of performance and the internal and external contexts of primary healthcare facilities influence the implementation of PBF. Future work in this area would benefit from an interdisciplinary approach combining public health and anthropology to better understand such an intervention. The deductive-inductive approach must be the stepping-stone of such a methodological approach.

How is the discourse of performance-based financing shaped at the global level? A poststructural analysis.

BACKGROUND: Performance-based financing (PBF) in low- and middle-income settings has diffused at an unusually rapid pace. While many studies have looked at PBF implementation processes and effects, there is an empirical research gap investigating the ways PBF has diffused. Discursive processes are paramount elements of policy diffusion because they explain the origins of essential elements of the political debate on PBF. Using Bacchi's poststructural approach that emphasises problem representations embedded in the discourse, the present study analyses the construction of the global discourse on PBF. METHODS: A rich corpus of qualitative data (57 in-depth interviews and 10 observation notes) was collected. The transcribed material was coded using QDAMiner©. Codes were assembled to populate analytical categories informed by the framework on diffusion entrepeneurs and Bacchi's poststructural approach. RESULTS: Our results feature problem representations shaped and spread by PBF global diffusion entrepreneurs. We explain how these representations reflected diffusion entrepreneurs' own belief systems and interests, and conflicted with those of non-diffusion entrepreneurs. This research also reveals the specific strategies global diffusion entrepreneurs engaged in to effectively diffuse PBF, through reflecting problem representations based on the discourse on PBF, and inducing certain forms of policy experimentation, emulation, and learning. CONCLUSIONS: Bacchi's poststructural approach is useful to analyse the construction of global health problem representations and the strategies set by global diffusion entrepreneurs to spread these representations. Future research is needed to investigate the belief systems, motivations, resources, and strategies of actors that shape the construction of global health discourses.

Kenya's Health in All Policies strategy: a policy analysis using Kingdon's multiple streams.

BACKGROUND: Health in All Policies (HiAP) is an intersectoral approach that facilitates decision-making among policy-makers to maximise positive health impacts of other public policies. Kenya, as a member of WHO, has committed to adopting HiAP, which has been included in the Kenya Health Policy for the period 2014-2030. This study aims to assess the extent to which this commitment is being translated into the process of governmental policy-making and supported by international development partners as well as non-state actors. METHODS: To examine HiAP in Kenya, a qualitative case study was performed, including a review of relevant policy documents. Furthermore, 40 key informants with diverse backgrounds (government, UN agencies, development agencies, civil society) were interviewed. Analysis was carried out using the main dimensions of Kingdon's Multiple Streams Approach (problems, policy, politics). RESULTS: Kenya is facing major health challenges that are influenced by various social determinants, but the implementation of intersectoral action focusing on health promotion is still arbitrary. On the policy level, little is known about HiAP in other government ministries. Many health-related collaborations exist under the concept of intersectoral collaboration, which is prominent in the country's development framework - Vision 2030 - but with no specific reference to HiAP. Under the political stream, the study highlights that political commitment from the highest office would facilitate mainstreaming the HiAP strategy, e.g. by setting up a department under the President's Office. The budgeting process and planning for the Sustainable Development Goals were found to be potential windows of opportunity. CONCLUSION: While HiAP is being adopted as policy in Kenya, it is still perceived by many stakeholders as the business of the health sector, rather than a policy for the whole government and beyond. Kenya's Vision 2030 should use HiAP to foster progress in all sectors with health promotion as an explicit goal.

[Ageing and memory loss: opinions of Haitian migrants living in Quebec.] / Vieillissement et perte de mémoire : avis de migrants haïtiens résidant au Québec.

INTRODUCTION: ‘Dementia’ is usually presented as a syndrome characterized by the decline of one or more cognitive abilities such as memory loss. However, memory loss does not necessarily mean dementia. The most common type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. Its incidence increases with age. In medical anthropology, diseases represent socio-cultural constructs that are not recognized and interpreted in the same way by everyone. Moreover, the migratory context is a source of difficulties in the field of dementia. In this article, we discuss the links between old age, dementia and seeking help in this context. METHOD: This is an exploratory qualitative study. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with women and men born in Haiti who then immigrated to Quebec. These interviews allowed us to discuss seniors’ status issues, the meaning of memory loss and seeking help. RESULTS: Interview data reveal a plurality of representations about memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease. They highlight a diversity of beliefs, attitudes and values that reflect cultural and social changes within the same community. Taking into account the context makes it possible to consider the transformation or continuity of representations and behaviors vis-à-vis loss of memory. CONCLUSION: Dementia does not seem to be a phenomenon that is easily approached in the Haitian community in Quebec. Our study reveals a lack of information in this regard.

Deconstructing the notion of "global health research partnerships" across Northern and African contexts.

BACKGROUND: Global health conceives the notion of partnership between North and South as central to the foundations of this academic field. Indeed, global health aspires to an equal positioning of Northern and Southern actors. While the notion of partnership may be used to position the field of global health morally, this politicization may mask persisting inequalities in global health. In this paper, we reflect on global health partnerships by revisiting the origins of global health and deconstructing the notion of partnership. We also review promising initiatives that may help to rebalance the relationship. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Historical accounts are helpful in unpacking the genesis of collaborative research between Northerners and Southerners - particularly those coming from the African continent. In the 1980s, the creation of a scientific hub of working relationships based on material differences created a context that was bound to create tensions between the alleged "partners". Today, partnerships provide assistance to underfunded African research institutions, but this assistance is often tied with hypotheses about program priorities that Northern funders require from their Southern collaborators. African researchers are often unable to lead or contribute substantially to publications for lack of scientific writing skills, for instance. Conversely, academics from African countries report frustrations at not being consulted when the main conceptual issues of a research project are discussed. However, in the name of political correctness, these frustrations are not spoken aloud. Fortunately, initiatives that shift paternalistic programs to formally incorporate a mutually beneficial design at their inception with equal input from all stakeholders are becoming increasingly prominent, especially initiatives involving young researchers. CONCLUSION: Several concrete steps can be undertaken to rethink partnerships. This goes hand in hand with reconceptualizing global health as an academic discipline, mainly through being explicit about past and present inequalities between Northern and Southern universities that this discipline has thus far eluded. Authentic and transformative partnerships are vital to overcome the one-sided nature of many partnerships that can provide a breeding-ground for inequality.

Implementation of the redesigned Community Health Fund in the Dodoma region of Tanzania: A qualitative study of views from rural communities.

The need to understand how an intervention is received by the beneficiary community is well recognised and particularly neglected in the micro-health insurance (MHI) domain. This study explored the views and reactions of the beneficiary community of the redesigned Community Health Fund (CHF) implemented in the Dodoma region of Tanzania. We collected data from focus group discussions with 24 groups of villagers (CHF members and nonmembers) and in-depth interviews with 12 key informants (enrolment officers and health care workers). The transcribed material was analysed thematically. We found that participants highly appreciate the scheme, but to be resolved are the challenges posed by the implementation strategies adopted. The responses of the community were nested within a complex pathway relating to their interaction with the implementation strategies and their ongoing reflections regarding the benefits of the scheme. Community reactions ranged from accepting to rejecting the scheme, demanding the right to receive benefit packages once enrolled, and dropping out of the scheme when it failed to meet their expectations. Reported drivers of the responses included intensity of CHF communication activities, management of enrolment procedures, delivery of benefit packages, critical features of the scheme, and contextual factors (health system and socio-political context). This study highlights that scheme design and implementation strategies that address people's needs, voices, and values can improve uptake of MHI interventions. The study adds to the knowledge base on implementing MHI initiatives and could promote interests in assessing the response to interventions within the MHI domain and beyond.

Italy's contribution to global health: the need for a paradigm shift.

This paper reviews Italian Development Assistance for Health and overall contribution to Global Health from 2001 to 2012. It analyses strategies and roles of central and decentralized authorities as well as those of private non-profit and corporate actors. The research illustrates a very low and unstable official contribution that lags far behind internationally agreed upon objectives, a highly fragmented institutional scenario, and controversial political choices favouring "vertical" global initiatives undermining national health systems, and in contrast with Italian deep-rooted principles, traditional approaches and official guidelines. Italy's contribution to global health goes beyond official development aid, however. The raising movement toward Universal Health Coverage may offer an extraordinary opportunity for a leading role to a country whose National Health System is founded on the principles of universal and equitable access to care. At the same time, the distinctive experience of Italian decentralized cooperation, with the involvement of a multiplicity actors in a coordinated effort for cooperation in health with homologous partners in developing countries, may offer--if adequately harnessed--new opportunities for an Italian "system" of development cooperation. Nevertheless, the indispensable prerequisite of a substantial increase in public funding is challenged by the current economic crisis and domestic political situation. For a renewed Italian role in development and global health, a paradigm shift is needed, requiring both conceptual revision and deep institutional and managerial reforms to ensure an appropriate strategic direction and an efficient and effective use of resources.

Inequality in COVID-19 mortality in Quebec associated with neighbourhood-level vulnerability domains.

OBJECTIVES: We measured disparities in COVID-19 mortality associated with increasing vulnerability to severe outcomes of infectious disease at the neighbourhood level to identify domains for prioritization of public interventions. METHODS: In this retrospective ecological study, we calculated COVID-19 mortality rate ratios (RR) comparing neighbourhoods with the greatest vulnerability relative to lowest vulnerability using the five domains from the COVID-19 vulnerability index for Quebec using hospital data from the first year of the pandemic and vulnerability levels from 13,182 neighbourhoods. We estimated the attributable fraction to assess disparities in COVID-19 mortality associated with vulnerability. Domains covered biological susceptibility, sociocultural characteristics, socioeconomic characteristics, and indoor and outdoor risk factors for exposure to SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS: Vulnerable neighbourhoods accounted for 60.7% of COVID-19 deaths between March 2020 and February 2021. Neighbourhoods with biological susceptibility accounted for 46.1% and indoor exposure for 44.6% of deaths. Neighbourhoods with socioeconomic vulnerability experienced 23.5%, outdoor exposure 14.6%, and sociocultural vulnerability 9.0% of deaths. Neighbourhoods with high relative vulnerability had 4.66 times greater risk of COVID-19 mortality compared with those with low vulnerability (95%CI 3.82-5.67). High vulnerability in the biological (RR 3.33; 95%CI 2.71-4.09), sociocultural (RR 1.50; 95%CI 1.27-1.77), socioeconomic (RR 2.08; 95%CI 1.75-2.48), and indoor (RR 3.21; 95%CI 2.74-3.76) exposure domains were associated with elevated risks of mortality compared with the least vulnerable neighbourhoods. Outdoor exposure was unassociated with mortality (RR 1.17; 95%CI 0.96-2.43). CONCLUSION: Public intervention to protect vulnerable populations should be adapted to focus on domains most associated with COVID-19 mortality to ensure addressing local needs.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Nous avons mesuré les inégalités de mortalité de COVID-19 associées à la vulnérabilité croissante des conséquences sévères de maladies infectieuses au Québec. L'échelle de quartier permet d'identifier des domaines à prioriser lors d'interventions publiques. MéTHODES: Dans cette étude écologique rétrospective, nous avons calculé des ratios des taux (RT) en comparant les territoires de plus grande vulnérabilité avec ceux de plus faible vulnérabilité à l'aide de données d'hospitalisation de la première année de la pandémie et de mesures de vulnérabilité de 13 182 aires de diffusion (AD). Nous avons estimé la fraction attribuable pour évaluer les disparités de mortalité par la COVID-19. Les domaines examinés concernaient la susceptibilité biologique, les caractéristiques socioculturelles et socioéconomiques ainsi que des facteurs de risque d'exposition au SRAS-CoV-2 à l'intérieur et à l'extérieur. RéSULTATS: Dans l'ensemble, les territoires vulnérables couvraient 60,7 % des cas de mortalité de COVID-19 pendant la première année de la pandémie. Les AD avec une vulnérabilité élevée avaient un risque de mortalité par la COVID-19 4,66 fois plus élevé comparé aux territoires de faible vulnérabilité (IC de 95% 3,82-5,67). Les aires de diffusion avec une susceptibilité biologique comptaient pour 46,1 % des décès et celles avec une exposition au SRAS-CoV-2 à l'intérieur pour 44,6 %. La vulnérabilité socioéconomique comptait pour 23,5 %, l'exposition à l'extérieur pour 14,6 %, et la vulnérabilité socioculturelle pour 9,0 % des décès. Les domaines biologique (RT 3,33; IC de 95% 2,71-4,09), socioculturel (RT 1,50; IC de 95% 1,27-1,77), socioéconomique (RT 2,08; IC de 95% 1,75-2,48), et d'exposition intérieure (RT 3,21; IC de 95% 2,74-3,76) étaient associés à un risque élevé de mortalité par la COVID-19 comparé aux territoires les moins vulnérables. L'exposition extérieure n'était pas associée avec un risque de mortalité par la COVID-19 (RT 1,17; IC de 95% 0,96-2,43). CONCLUSION: Les interventions publiques visant à protéger les populations vulnérables devraient être adaptées aux domaines les plus associés avec la mortalité par la COVID-19 au Québec et ce, à l'échelle de quartier pour s'assurer que les besoins locaux soient couverts.

Exploring how social inequalities in health have influenced the design of Mali's SARS-CoV-2 testing policy: a qualitative study.

In the fight against infectious diseases, social inequalities in health (SIH) are generally forgotten. Mali, already weakened by security and political unrest, has not been spared by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the country was unprepared, the authorities were quick to implement public health measures, including a SARS-CoV-2 testing programme. This study aimed to understand if and how social inequalities in health were addressed in the design and planning for the national COVID-19 testing policy in Mali. A qualitative survey was conducted between March and April 2021 in Bamako, the capital of Mali. A total of 26 interviews were conducted with key government actors and national and international partners. A document review of national reports and policy documents complemented this data collection. The results demonstrated that the concept of SIH was unclear to the participants and was not a priority. The authorities focused on a symptom-based testing strategy that was publicly available. Participants also mentioned some efforts to reduce inequalities across geographical territories. The reflection and consideration of SIH within COVID-19 interventions was difficult given the governance approach to response efforts. The urgency of the situation, the perceptions of COVID-19 and the country's pre-existing fragility were factors limiting this reflection. Over time, little action has been taken to adapt to the specific needs of certain groups in the Malian population. This study (re)highlights the need to consider SIH in the planning stages of a public health intervention, to adapt its implementation and to limit the negative impact on SIH.

Supporting Reassigned Hospital Staff During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Montreal Region: What Does it say About Leadership Styles?

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic took a high toll on health human resources, especially in contexts where these resources were already fragile. In Quebec, to make up for the shortage of health human resources, and to contain the COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities, many hospital staff (including a majority of nurses) were sent to those facilities, with varying degrees of support. Building on the body of evidence linking leadership style and resilience, we conducted a qualitative comparative analysis of two hospitals in the Montreal Metropolitan Area, Quebec. We explored respondents' experience of psychosocial support tools provided to hospital staff reassigned to COVID-affected facilities. Data from 27 in-depth interviews with high- and mid-level managers, and front-line workers, was analyzed through the lens of leadership styles. Our findings highlighted how the design and implementation of support tools revealed major differences across the two hospitals' leadership styles (i.e., one hospital expressing leader-centered styles vs. the other expressing follower-centered leadership styles). The expression of these leadership styles was largely shaped by recent policies, notably a major political reform of 2015, which enforced more centralized decision-making. Our study offered additional empirical evidence that leadership styles fostering the recovery of health human resources may be a key indicator of successful response to crises.