Women In Barcelona Research Articles

Housing conditions and COVID-19 in Barcelona: do they change by gender?

Evidence has linked poor housing conditions to negative health outcomes. However, in urban contexts characterized by social vulnerability and population-level inequalities, the gender perspective is often overlooked, despite evidence showing that housing conditions impact men and women differently in terms of health. This study aimed to describe the association between housing conditions and the prevalence of COVID-19 among men and women in Barcelona, Spain. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted using the 2021 Barcelona Health Survey. The study population consisted of non-institutionalized residents over 14 years of age in Barcelona. The survey was administered to a sample of 3,545 participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, between February 2021 and February 2022. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios of COVID-19 (aPR), along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), were estimated using multivariate Poisson regression models with robust variance. The analysis was stratified by gender. A significant gradient was observed across age groups for both men and women, with higher COVID-19 prevalence in younger categories. The prevalence was notably higher among individuals born in low-income countries, particularly for women (aPR 1.62). We also identified a significant association between housing conditions, vulnerability factors, and COVID-19 prevalence in both men and women. Living with four or more cohabitants was associated with higher prevalence (aPR 1.96 for women and 1.89 for men), as was the presence of dampness in the home (aPR 1.34 for women and 1.27 for men). Additionally, energy poverty was significantly associated with higher COVID-19 prevalence in women (aPR 1.36), but not in men. This study highlights the association between housing conditions and COVID-19 in Barcelona, with a pronounced impact on young people, women from low-income countries, and women experiencing energy poverty.

Community mental health for migrant women in Barcelona (“Self-Care Among Women”): Protocol for a mixed-methods process evaluation of a pilot psychological intervention

IntroductionMigrant populations, especially women, are often more susceptible to poor mental health and they face healthcare access barriers. This study aims to develop and evaluate a community-based mental health intervention through a participative research process to promote mental health and prevent psychiatric disorders among migrant women in Barcelona city. The intervention is built upon two evidence-based guidelines: Group Problem Management Plus (Group PM+) and Self-Help Plus (SH+). Methods“Self-Care Among Women” is a mixed-methods process evaluation study for the development of a community-based psychological pilot intervention. A participatory approach will be employed to adapt the content agenda of the community mental health intervention. Process indicators on context, implementation and mechanisms of change will be assessed through an intersectionality lens to explore the way in which the intervention is developed and implemented. The contextual fit, acceptability and feasibility of the proposed psychological intervention will be examined through participants' and facilitators' perceptions of the intervention. Further, women's clinical mental health condition and wellbeing will be assessed before and after the intervention, through standardized and culturally-validated instruments. Ethics and disseminationEthical approval of the research protocol has been obtained by the Research Ethics Committees of Hospital Clínic, Fundació Institut Universitari per a la recerca a l’Atenció Primària de Salut Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol) and Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu. Written informed consent will be requested from all research participants for inclusion in the study. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and communicated to congresses.

Negotiating Islam and feminism: the political and social participation of Muslim women in Barcelona

ABSTRACT In secular contexts, the growing presence of Muslim women activists in the public sphere has challenged the stereotype that Islam plays an oppressive role in women’s emancipation and liberation. The relationship between secular feminism and religion is far more complex. This article explores how socially or politically engaged Muslim women understand, negotiate, and challenge secular feminist discourses and practices in Barcelona, Spain. Based upon 28 semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, and participant observation of political events, this article identifies three different positionings towards feminism: (1) women who identify as ‘feminist’, (2) women who identify as ‘Islamic feminist’, (3) women who express ambivalence regarding both feminism and Islamic feminism. Far from being a static classification, these three positionings show the different dilemmas that women face over the course of their lives. I discuss the way they are the result of negotiations and ‘recognition gaps’ in feminist movements.

Exploring self-care and cervical cancer prevention attitudes and practices among Moroccan and Pakistani immigrant women in Catalonia, Spain: a comparative qualitative study.

Self-care and preventive health strategies may trigger health inequities when individuals' cultural values and health beliefs are not fully understood and considered. In the case of cervical cancer (CC) screening programs immigrant women have shown lower attendance compared with native women, which increases the risk of late diagnosis and, consequently, a lower probability of survival. HPV self-sampling for CC screening has been recently added to the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of self-care interventions as a promising tool to reduce this disparity and improve screening coverage. In Catalonia, Spain, the introduction of HPV self-sampling as a part of the new population-based CC screening program, is a significant step. However, there is a lack of research addressing self-care and prevention among immigrant populations in this region. This study aims to fill this gap exploring self-care and prevention attitudes and practices among Moroccan and Pakistani women. We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 36 Moroccan and 37 Pakistani women in Barcelona, Spain. The topic guide of the focus groups included case vignettes to stimulate the discussion and a semi-structured questionnaire was used for the interviews. Our findings show that most Moroccan and Pakistani women do not prioritize self-care and prevention. They seek care for symptom treatment rather than disease prevention. In this sense, they reported not having the habit of doing regular check-ups and their self-care and prevention attitudes and practices seemed to be conditioned by cultural values. The implementation of an effective call and recall system could enhance the engagement of these populations with CC screening services. This study provides evidence on how universal concepts of self-care and prevention may not aligned with more collectivist societies, emphasizing the limited applicability and motivation of global self-care interventions guidelines for individuals with different cultural backgrounds and values. Therefore, the successful implementation of CC screening programs or any other self-care intervention requires the adoption of culturally appropriate strategies.

"Connected to the people": Social Inclusion & Cohesion in Action through a Cultural Heritage Digital Tool

Current cultural policies are evolving from social inclusion (removing barriers and promoting equality for participation in culture) to social cohesion (fostering solid bonds between groups despite their differences). Digital interventions can create spaces that promote social inclusion and cohesion. In this paper, we report on the design and evaluation of a cultural heritage and digital storytelling application supporting a participatory approach to culture and hosting society. We evaluate our intervention in three marginalized communities with different social-cultural contexts: migrant women in Barcelona, a community living in a priority neighbourhood in Paris and second and third-generation migrants in Lisbon. Through an analysis of their application use, our findings point at their needs and desires, highlighting how the app can support social inclusion as the first step towards cohesion, but that these are heterogeneous concepts susceptible to nuanced appropriations by the different communities.

Period poverty and mental health in a representative sample of young women in Barcelona, Spain

BackgroundThe intersection between poverty and mental health is clear. Period poverty, understood as the lack of access to menstrual products, has been gaining attention especially among low and middle-income countries as an overlooked aspect of gendered poverty. Less is known about the incidence of period poverty in high-income countries and its association with mental health. The purpose of this study is to examine this association in a representative sample of young women living in an urban setting in southern Europe.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from a representative survey of individuals aged 15 to 34 in the city of Barcelona (Spain), with a sample group of 647 young women. Subjects were selected through a systematic stratified random sampling method. A proportional quota sampling was used. The information was registered using CAPI data collection method. Period poverty was measured by a combination of three questions about the lack of access or misuse of menstrual products for economic reasons. The GHQ-12 was used to measure the risk of poor mental health. The analysis was carried out using multivariable logistic regression.ResultsFrom our sample, 15.3% of young women reported having experienced period poverty. Higher odds of poor mental health were estimated for women facing period poverty (AOR = 1.85 p < 0.05). This effect is statistically significant after controlling by their income status and level of deprivation. Young women living in poorer households have a higher probability of poor mental health than those living in high-income households (AOR = 0.47 p < 0.05). Finally, material deprivation was associated to an increased risk of poor mental health among young women reporting period poverty (AOR = 2.59 p < 0.01).ConclusionWe found that a considerable number of young women living in an urban setting in a high-income country cannot afford menstrual products, and this may have an impact on their mental wellbeing. The relationship between period poverty and respondents’ mental health is significant when controlling for factors known to confer an increased risk of poor mental health. If confirmed by further research, the public health burden of poor mental health in young women could be reduced by policy-level interventions to improve access to menstrual products.

Menstrual poverty among young women: a cross-sectional study in the urban context of Barcelona, Spain

Menstrual poverty has become a global issue, affecting women who do not have access to the menstrual products they need. Most of the related literature is based on low- and middle-income countries’ facts and experiences. Using the 2020 Youth Survey in Barcelona, this cross-sectional study provides novel data on the prevalence and the factors associated with menstrual poverty in an urban context (Barcelona) in a high-income country (Spain) with a randomly selected representative sample of 700 young women aged 15 to 34. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used in the analysis. Results show that 15.3 per cent of young women in Barcelona reported facing financial barriers to accessing menstrual products. Further, those young women with a high level of material deprivation (OR=4.42; CI=2.14–9.16) have a greater probability of suffering from menstrual poverty, whereas those living independently from their parents (OR=0.50; CI=0.28–0.90) and women with a non-EU origin (Latin-Americans: OR=0.54; CI=0.31–0.93; Others: OR=0.06; CI=0.01–0.46) have a lower probability of reporting menstrual poverty. Our findings advocate that the measurement of poverty should consider individual aspects and needs, and not only the household income level as the reference. Further, we would encourage rethinking poverty measurement with a gender perspective, as well as identifying how deprivations overlap to aggravate the experience of poverty.

Traffic-related air pollution and birth weight: the roles of noise, placental function, green space, physical activity, and socioeconomic status (FRONTIER)

Background and aim: FRONTIER aims to study the impact of maternal exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on fetal growth while disentangling the effects of noise, elucidating the role of placental function as an underlying mechanism; and exploring the potential of greenspace to mitigate it. Methods: FRONTIER has established a new pregnancy cohort of 1,086 pregnant women in Barcelona (BiSC), Spain. Fetal growth was characterized by anthropometric measures at birth together with ultrasound-based measures of fetal development. We are integrating objective data on time-activity patterns with a hybrid modeling framework combining dispersion and land use regression models and campaigns of personal and home-outdoor air pollution monitoring to estimate maternal exposure level and inhaled dose of NO2, PM2.5, and PM2.5 light absorption and contents at the main microenvironments (home, workplace, and commuting routes). We are assessing maternal exposure to noise by integrating measurements at participants’ home-outdoor using noise monitors together with modeled microenvironmental noise levels and data on noise sensitivity, annoyance, and protections against noise. We will develop single- and multi-pollutant models to evaluate the impact of air pollution exposure and inhaled dose on fetal growth and the mediatory role of placental function. Results: BiSC mothers had an average age of 34.8 years with 31.1% having high school education and less and 73.6% having European origin. The mean (SD) of the first and third trimester measured personal NO2 levels were respectively 31.9(11.7) and 31.0(12.1)&amp;#x3bc;g/m3 for the pre-pandemic period and 26.6(10.9) and 25.1(12.1)&amp;#x3bc;g/m3 for the pandemic period. The mean (SD) of measured home-outdoor noise levels (LAeq,24h) was 61.5 (6.7)dB(A). 49.2% of newborns were girl and the mean (SD) of birthweight was 3276.8 (508.2)g The analyses are still ongoing. Conclusions: FRONTIER will provide a robust and comprehensive evaluation of the impact of TRAP exposure on fetal growth using high-resolution exposure data.

EP38.03: Anxiety, stress and wellbeing throughout gestation in a cohort of pregnant women in Barcelona

EP38.03: Anxiety, stress and wellbeing throughout gestation in a cohort of pregnant women in Barcelona

EP37.35: Adherence to Mediterranean diet in a cohort of pregnant women in Barcelona

EP37.35: Adherence to Mediterranean diet in a cohort of pregnant women in Barcelona

At the intersection of language, gender, and religion

Language use is notably connected to the construction and negotiation of gendered identity (Butler, 1993; Cameron, 1997; Norton, 2000; Menard-Warwick, 2009). However, the study of intersectional identities – such as gendered and religious identity – as it relates to linguistic behavior remains a relatively unexplored area of research. This study examines self-reported language use as a gendered practice among Muslim immigrant women in Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Using data collected from interviews with 34 Muslim women, this study looks at self-reported gendered roles, as well as the linguistic and gendered ideologies that are reflected in informants’ beliefs about their own language use. Furthermore, this study provides evidence of informants expressing specific gender roles that stem from both the heritage and target language (Spanish/Catalan) communities, as reflected in informants’ tendencies to interact primarily with other women and vary their speech depending on the gender and/or heritage identity of their interlocutors.

Falling HIV incidence in a community clinic cohort of men who have sex with men and transgender women in Barcelona, Spain.

In Barcelona, Spain prior to 2006, HIV testing was mostly limited to formal healthcare facilities with no incidence data reported. A community-based organization (BCN Checkpoint) was established to increase HIV testing in a peer-led community location to generate incidence data in men who have sex with men and transgender women. Three community engagement interventions were conducted between 2009 and 2017 as follows: 2009-2011 (peer-led point-of-care testing for HIV), 2012-2014 (12-monthly HIV testing with an emphasis on testing in partnerships), 2015-2017 (three-monthly HIV testing with rapid referral for antiretroviral initiation). Between 2009 and 2017 a predominantly cisgender male (99.4%) and Spanish national (62.4%) population with mean age of 34.8 years had 49,630 visits. Mean visit number increased from 1.69 in the first to 2.07 in the last three-year period. HIV incidence fell from 4.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.53-4.93) per 100 person-years in 2009-2011 to 1.57 (95% CI: 1.30-1.89) per 100 person-years in 2015-2017. This represents a 62% reduction (incidence rate ratio: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.29-0.48) between the first and third study period (p < 0.001). These early interventions may have contributed to the reduction seen in HIV incidence in this cohort.

Visibilizando estrategias de agencia y empoderamiento económico

Las mujeres migrantes y musulmanas se enfrentan a una imagen estereotipada de amas de casa y sujetas pasivas en sus procesos de incorporación a la sociedad receptora, que asume su invisibilidad en el mercado laboral como un atributo intrínseco y “natural”. El presente artículo pretende cuestionar esta imagen y arrojar luz sobre los procesos de agencia en el ámbito de la economía productiva y reproductiva del colectivo de mujeres de origen pakistaní en Barcelona. En particular, se examinan los obstáculos de carácter estructural y cultural que las mujeres experimentan para acceder al mercado laboral, así como las estrategias de agencia y empoderamiento que despliegan para sortearlos. A partir de dos investigaciones recientes centradas en este colectivo, los resultados muestran cómo la agencia se encuentra imbricada (“embedded”) (Khurshid, 2015) en los constreñimientos estructurales de la sociedad receptora, así como en el sistema de valores e ideologías de género patriarcales de la comunidad pakistaní.

‘The Best Investment of Your Life’: Mortgage Lending and Transnational Care among Ecuadorian Migrant Women in Barcelona

ABSTRACT After Ecuador’s worst economic downturn in 1999, women left the country in the thousands. They migrated for economic reasons but also hoping to distance themselves from gendered duties and obligations that confined them to oppressive feminine roles. Less than a decade later they bought into Spain’s housing bubble in an effort to ‘make up’ for their departure. I argue that Ecuadorian migrant women’s decisions to buy mortgaged homes in Barcelona were in part informed by their conceptualizations of domesticity, care giving, and motherhood. For women portrayed as culpables or ‘culprits’ for leaving Ecuador and failing to upkeep their caregiving responsibilities in their country of origin, the promise of homeownership became a way of accomplishing complex forms of transnational caregiving as well as upward mobility. This article focuses on gendered conceptualizations of care, motherhood, and kinship amongst Ecuadorian migrant women and the relationship these notions have with housing financialization.

Memories of the struggles for the rights of immigrant women in Barcelona

This article is the result of an intentional articulation between the authors’ activist and academic positions as feminists and anti-racists in Barcelona. Using a narrative construction, we discuss memories of the struggles for the rights of immigrant women in the city. Firstly, the memories interact with other trajectories of struggle that go beyond ‘immigrant’ identity. Secondly, the memories give an account of activisms crossed by difference, in which difference operates as a linking category, from where dialogue and interpellation relationships are established. Thirdly, the memories help to construct the body and day-to-day life within spaces of resistance, serving as an instrument alongside gender in the struggles for rights. We close the article reflecting on memory and gender as intersectional processes that offer further perspectives on resistance and immigration.

Traffic-related air pollution and birth weight

TPS 682: Long-term health effects of air pollutants 2, Exhibition Hall, Ground floor, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background: A substantial body of evidence has associated air pollution to impaired fetal growth; however, there are still important limitations in terms of applied exposure assessment methods, disentangling role of co-exposure such as noise, and evaluating the modifiers, mediators, and mitigators of this association. Objectives: To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the impact of maternal air pollution exposure on fetal growth. Towards this aim, FRONTIER will (i) disentangle the effects of noise; (ii) identify relevant window(s) of exposure; (iii) evaluate its modification by socioeconomic status, stress, and physical activity; (iv) elucidate the mediatory role of placental function; and (v) explore the potential of greenspace to mitigate it. Methods: FRONTIER is establishing a cohort of 1000 women in Barcelona, Spain. Fetal growth is characterized by newborn anthropometric measures and ultrasound-based trajectories of fetal development. Placental function is evaluated using Doppler ultrasound indicators. Hair cortisol levels will be used as an indicator of maternal stress. Time-activity patterns are objectively characterized using smartphones and personal physical activity monitors. We will develop an innovative exposure assessment framework integrating data on time-activity patterns with a hybrid modeling framework and campaigns of personal and home-outdoor air pollution monitoring to estimate maternal exposure level and inhaled dose of NO2 and PM2.5 (mass and constitutes) at the main microenvironments for pregnant women. We assess maternal exposure to noise by integrating measurements at participants’ home-outdoor together with modeled microenvironmental levels of noise. We will separately characterize the canopy and greenness surrounding maternal residential address using high-resolution maps. We will develop single- and multi-pollutant models to evaluate the impact of air pollution on fetal growth and the mediatory role of placental function. Expected impact: FRONTIER is now in recruitment phase. It will generate vigorous evidence base for implementing finely-targeted regulations to tackle effects of air pollution on fetal growth.

Eulàlia Ferrer, viuda de Brusi (1780-1841): La capacidad de obrar de las mujeres.

In past times, women (most of them uneducated or untrained, except in tasks belonging to their nature) working in jobs related to books were de iure simple transitional characters among male business owners. Their professional role was defined and established in different regulatory frameworks determining the construction of their identity: familial, educational, societal and legal frameworks. There were, however, some exceptions, and some women were active in their business or in the shop’s specialized tasks. The case of the publisher and bookseller Eulalia Ferrer Montserrat (1780-1841; married to Antoni Brusi and also known as Eulalia Brusi, her married name) exemplifies the professional practice and authority of these women in Barcelona in the first half of the 19th century; Eulalia Ferrer’s work will be analyzed on the basis of her legal capacity to act; that is, of the juridical recognition and validity of her work.

Influence of Social Determinants, Lifestyle, Emotional Well-Being and the Use of Unconventional Therapies in Breast Cancer Progression in a Cohort of Women in Barcelona: Protocol for the DAMA Cohort.

BackgroundBreast cancer continues to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Breast cancer survivors face numerous problems, especially after completing the first year of intense treatment. We present the protocol for an ongoing study to analyze the impact of a series of factors on breast cancer survival related to lifestyle, emotional well-being, and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).ObjectiveWe aim to analyze the influence of social determinants, lifestyle changes, emotional well-being, and use of CAM in the progression of breast cancer in women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2003 and 2013 in Barcelona, Spain.MethodsWe will perform a mixed cohort study (prospective and retrospective) of women diagnosed with breast cancer, created using a convenience sample in which we study the evolution of the disease (relapse, death, or remaining disease-free). Once identified, we sent the women information about the study and an informed consent form that they are required to sign in order to participate; a total of 2235 women were recruited. We obtained the following information from all participants: sociodemographic profile via a phone interview, and a self-administered survey of information about the study’s objectives (lifestyles, emotional well-being, health care services, and the use of CAM). Lastly, we examined clinical records to obtain data on the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the treatment received, the occurrence of relapses (if any), and the tumor typology. We present data on the women’s social profile based on descriptive data obtained from the telephone interview (welcome survey).ResultsBased on the welcome survey, which was completed by 2712 women, 14.42% (391/2712) of respondents were <50 years of age, 45.50% (1234/2712) were between 50 and 65 years of age, and 40.08% (1087/2712) were >65 years of age. A total of 43.69% (1185/2712) belonged to the highest social classes (I and II), 31.27% (848/2712) to the middle class (III), and 23.49% (637/2712) to the working classes (IV and V). Approximately 22.71% (616/2712) lived alone, 38.31% (1039/2712) lived with one person, and 38.97% (1057/2712) lived with two or more people.ConclusionsWe obtained information from a large cohort of women, but this study has limitations related to the convenience sampling strategy, one of which is reduced representativeness. Conversely, being a self-administered survey, the study introduces biases, especially from respondents that answered on paper. However, the information that the study provides will serve as the basis for designing future interventions aimed at improving the knowledge gaps indicated for women with breast cancer.

Polish migrant women’s narratives about language, racialised and gendered difference in Barcelona

The European Union expansion in 2004 resulted in significant changes in migration in Europe. For Spain, which did not open its labour market to the new accession countries until 2006, the extent of Polish migration has been substantially smaller than in countries like Britain. Hence, little scholarly attention has been paid to the experiences of Polish migrants in the Iberian Peninsula. Compared to other European cities, the case of Barcelona is significant, especially in terms of cultural diversity, Catalan identity and bilingual status, something that the newcomers are often unaware of. By drawing on the conceptual framework of conviviality and on data gathered through participant observation, narrative interviews and a focus group conducted with Polish women in Barcelona, this article concentrates on various forms of encounters with the local population. It argues that race, ethnicity, gender, language and spatiality are important factors influencing convivial relations. It contributes to the existing literature by exploring various forms and degrees of conviviality discussed as situated, not necessarily free from tensions and racialised and gendered perceptions of the Other.

Cuerpos juveniles, género y lugares públicos en Barcelona

Reflexionaremos aquí sobre el lugar del cuerpo femenino en la ciudad a través del caso de las jóvenes adoptadas en Barcelona. Sin pretender que tengan una manera distinta de vivir los espacios urbanos barcelonés a la de las demás jóvenes de su edad, consideramos que sus testimonios son reveladores de fenómenos que afectan más generalmente al conjunto de las mujeres. El texto propone así mismo unas reflexiones históricas sobre el impacto de la dicotomía público/privado en el proceso de constitución de nuestras urbes contemporáneas y sobre el lugar dejado a los niños y las niñas en la ciudad.