The way that we as researchers view and interpret our social worlds is impacted by where, when, and how we are socially located and in what society. The position from which we see the world around us impacts our research interests, how we approach the research and participants, the questions we ask, and how we interpret the data. In this article, we argue that it is not a straightforward or easy task to conceptualize and practice positionality. We have developed a Social Identity Map that researchers can use to explicitly identify and reflect on their social identity to address the difficulty that many novice critical qualitative researchers experience when trying to conceptualize their social identities and positionality. The Social Identity Map is not meant to be used as a rigid tool but rather as a flexible starting point to guide researchers to reflect and be reflexive about their social location. The map involves three tiers: the identification of social identities (Tier 1), how these positions impact our life (Tier 2), and details that may be tied to the particularities of our social identity (Tier 3). With the use of this map as a guide, we aim for researchers to be able to better identify and understand their social locations and how they may pose challenges and aspects of ease within the qualitative research process. Being explicit about our social identities allows us (as researchers) to produce reflexive research and give our readers the tools to recognize how we produced the data. Being reflexive about our social identities, particularly in comparison to the social position of our participants, helps us better understand the power relations imbued in our research, further providing an opportunity to be reflexive about how to address this in a responsible and respectful way.

Equal access for autism services remains suboptimal for diverse groups. In Canada, little is known about the barriers immigrant mothers face accessing services and support for their children with developmental disabilities. In this qualitative study, 21 immigrant mothers of children with Autism, from a diverse ethno cultural background, were interviewed in Toronto, Canada. We apply House’s (1981) four domains of social support to analyze findings. Structural support challenges, such as delays in diagnosis, fragmented and dispersed services were common, followed by instrumental challenges due to loss of social ties and stigma. Lack of expected support from partners, and negative perceptions of services, were identified as emotional and perceptive challenges. Focused attention is required to address inequalities within the context of current access pathways for autism.

Objectives Dyslipidemia is a major risk issue for the development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of our study was to observe the pattern and prevalence of dyslipidemia in Pakistani population. Methodology This is a sub analysis of a population based second National Diabetes Survey of Pakistan (NDSP) 2016-2017 in adults aged 20 years or above, carried out from February 2016 to August 2017 across Pakistan. Multi stage sampling technique was used for the stratification of population, based on rural and urban domains. District wise clusters and sub clusters were selected i.e. 27 and 46 in number. Subjects, consented to participate were requested to come after an overnight fast for anthropometric measurements, oral glucose tolerance test and fasting lipid profile (except for subjects with self-reported diabetes). Dyslipidemia was identified using Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Results A total of 10,834 subjects (43.8% male and 56.2% female) having mean age of 43.8 ± 14.0 years, participated in the survey. Of the subjects studied, 39.3% had hypercholesterolemia, 48.9% had hypertriglyceridemia, 39.7% had high LDL-C levels while 83.9% men and 90% women had low HDL levels. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels were highest in 50-59 years age group, while high LDL and low HDL was most common in 40-49 years age group. Diabetes, obesity and hypertension were found to be the significant determinants for dyslipidemia. Conclusion Prevalence of dyslipidemia seems to be very high in Pakistan, necessitating an urgent call for early screening and effective management through lifestyle intervention and appropriate lipid lowering drugs to prevent this important cardiovascular risk factor.

Background A failure to ensure racial equity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Black communities in Canada to disproportionately be impacted. The aim of the current study was to determine the needs and concerns of Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and to highlight the importance of collecting race-based COVID-19 data early on to address these needs. Methods Six qualitative interviews were conducted with local community health centre leaders who serve a high population of racialized communities within the GTA. Content analysis was used to extract the main themes and concerns raised during the interviews. Results The findings from this study provide further evidence of the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black and other racialized communities. Difficulty self-isolating due to overcrowded housing, food insecurity, and less social support for seniors were concerns identified by community health leaders. Also, enhanced financial support for front-line workers, such as Personal Support Workers (PSWs), was an important concern raised. In order to lessen the impact of the pandemic on these communities, leaders noted the need for greater accessibility of testing centres in these areas and a greater investment in tailored health promotion approaches. Conclusions Overall, our findings point to the importance of collecting race-based data to ensure an equitable response to the pandemic. The current “one size fits all” response is not effective for all individuals, especially Black communities. Not all populations have access to the same resources, nor do they live in the same conditions (Kantamneni, J Vocal Behav 119:103439, 2020). A deeper consideration of the social determinants of health are needed when implementing COVID-19 policies and responses. Also, a lack of attention to Black communities only continues to perpetuate the under-acknowledged issue of anti-Black racism prevalent in Canada.