Women’s Health in Rural Communities

The Women’s Health in Rural Communities (WHIRC) project begins with the understanding that young women are the guardians of future health in rural communities; therefore, promotion of rural women’s health should not only strengthen the individual, but also strengthen the health of the rural community. Limited health research has been conducted involving young rural women, and it is for this reason that the emotional, physical, and spiritual health of young rural women is the focus of WHIRC research.

WHIRC is funded by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) New Emerging Teams (NET) grant in Rural and Northern Health and is based at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and the IWK Health Centre.

WHIRC is focusing on understanding current challenges facing rural communities, and the effects these challenges may be having on the health of young rural women. The project is divided into four broad themes of research that relate to the health of young rural women:

1. mental and emotional health
2. rural safety
3. resilience and change in rural communities
4. nutrition and dietary decision behaviour

Studies under each theme will focus on understanding current challenges facing rural communities and the effects these challenges may be having on the health of young rural women.