Shela Hirani
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Associate Professor
Office: Research and Innovation Centre, Room 508
E-mail: shela.hirani@uregina.ca
Phone: 306-337-8544
Office: Research and Innovation Centre, Room 508
E-mail: shela.hirani@uregina.ca
Phone: 306-337-8544
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Recent Submissions
Item Open Access Editorial: Conflicts and humanitarian crises on displaced people's health.(Frontiers Media S.A., 2023-07-11) Hossain, Ahmed; Bartolucci, Andrea; Hirani, Shela Akbar AliItem Open Access Workplace Lactation Support Program: An Avenue to Benefit Workplace Settings, Employed Women and Infants(MedCrave Group Kft., 2015-07-02) Shela Akbar Ali HiraniEmployed women are one of those groups who often find it challenging to continue their breastfeeding practices with paid work; hence they often up into stress and role- conflict due to their inability to manage infant’s feeding responsibilities along with employment. Considering the rising trend of women’s labor force participation and gradual decline in breastfeeding prevalence among employed women, in this paper, workplace lactation support program is discussed as an avenue that can not only sustain breastfeeding practices of employed women and improve maternal and child health in a society but can also benefit workplace organizations by enhancing job satisfaction, decreasing absenteeism and lowering turnover rates among female employees.Item Open Access Effects of early life experiences on brain development of premature babies admitted in neonatal intensive care unit(Savvy Science Publishers, 2013-04-04) Hirani, S. A.Infancy is the most crucial time period in children’s life during which babies require sensitive and responsive care-giving from their primary caregivers for their overall growth and development. Sick preterm babies, who require admission at Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and experience physical separation from their parents during early days of their lives, are at high risk to encounter toxic stress that can be detrimental for their developing brains, overall development and stress regulatory mechanism in later life. This paper presents case study of a preterm baby who encountered toxic stress due to the effects of disease process, physical separation from primary caregivers, painful procedures at NICU, as well as bright and noisy environment of NICU. In the light of the presented case study and reviewed literature, modifications in the NICU environment are suggested to reduce the sources of toxic stress on the developing brains of premature babies. Role of lactation support for mothers of preterm babies, kangaroo mother care, and neurodevelopmental care in the NICU environment is highlighted to assure growth promotion, brain development, infant-mother bonding, and better cognitive functions among premature babies.Item Open Access Caring for breastfeeding mothers in disaster relief camps: A call to innovation in nursing curriculum(Elsevier BV, 2022-12) Shela Akbar Ali HiraniDuring natural disasters, people are forced to flee their homes and resettle in temporary disaster relief camps (such as huts, tents, and transitional shelters) that are often located on barren ground, far from cities. Disaster relief camps are one of the most vulnerable settings where women are at risk of discontinuing their breastfeeding practices. A critical ethnographic study undertaken with the internally displaced mothers residing in disaster relief camps in Pakistan re- vealed that the availability of formal support from healthcare professionals is one of the key determinants that shape the breastfeeding experiences of the displaced mothers. Hence suggested the need for innovative strategies in the nurs- ing curriculum to build the capacity of nurses to provide culturally sensitive care to breastfeeding mothers affected by disaster and displacement. Considering these findings, it is recommended that nursing educational settings must in- clude courses on “caring for the vulnerable population during a disaster” at the baccalaureate, graduate, and post- graduate levels. The inclusion of these courses will foster nurses to understand the needs of the displaced community, identify the importance of making a difference through collaborative work, and take part in designing innovative interventions (surrounding health, housing, economic upliftment, and well-being) for the displaced communities. Moreover, onsite clinical experience in disaster relief camps is recommended. This will enhance nurses' competence, hands-on skills, knowledge, and cultural sensitivity while providing care to displaced mothers with a variety of clinical presentations and breastfeeding concerns. Continuing education sessions and seminars must be organized for nurses to update their knowledge about breastfeeding and facilitate evidence-based practice in the setting of disaster relief camps.Item Open Access Impact of COVID-19 on Women Who Are Refugees and Mothering: A Critical Ethnographic Study(SAGE Publications, 2022-01) Shela Akbar Ali Hirani; Joan WagnerRefugee women often experience trauma and social disconnection in a new country and are at risk of experiencing reduced physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Globally, COVID-19 has affected the health and well-being of the population at large. This critical ethnographic study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 on women who are refugees and mothering in Saskatchewan, Canada. In-depth interviews were undertaken with 27 women who are refugees and mothering young children aged 2 years and under. This study suggests that during COVID-19, refugee women are at high risk of experiencing add-on stressors due to isolation, difficulty in accessing health care, COVID-19-related restrictions in hospitals, limited follow-up care, limited social support, financial difficulties, and compromised nutrition. During COVID-19, collaborative efforts by nurses, other health-care professionals, and governmental and non-governmental organizations are essential to provide need-based mental health support, skills-building programs, nutritional counseling, and follow-up care to this vulnerable group.Item Open Access Challenges of Conducting a Critical Ethnographic Breastfeeding Study in the Post-Disaster Settings: Lessons Learned(Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., 2023-01-09) Shela Akbar Ali HiraniPost-disaster settings are the most vulnerable settings where researchers may face challenges specific to their safety, research logistics, and maintenance of ethical integrity in a high-stress context. This paper presents the researcher’s reflections on undertaking a critical ethnographic breastfeeding study in the post-disaster settings of rural Pakistan where displaced women with young children were under extreme stress due to recurrent natural disasters, displacement, disruption to life, and homelessness. This paper identifies encountered challenges by the researcher during fieldwork in that post-disaster settings, presents the strategies utilized by the researcher during the fieldwork, and shares recommendations for future researchers on ways to maintain research integrity in this challenging context.Item Open Access Sociocultural Factors Affecting Breastfeeding Practices of Mothers During Natural Disasters: A Critical Ethnography in Rural Pakistan(SAGE Publications, 2023-01) Shela Akbar Ali Hirani; Solina Richter; Bukola Salami; Helen VallianatosNatural disasters affect the health and well-being of mothers with young children. During natural disasters, this population is at risk of discontinuation of their breastfeeding practices. Pakistan is a middle-income country that is susceptible to natural disasters. This study intended to examine sociocultural factors that shape the breastfeeding experiences and practices of internally displaced mothers in Pakistan. This critical ethnographic study was undertaken in disaster-affected villages of Chitral, Pakistan. Data were collected utilizing multiple methods, including in-depth interviews with 18 internally displaced mothers and field observations. Multiple sociocultural factors were identified as either barriers or facilitators to these mothers’ capacities to breastfeed their children. Informal support, formal support, breastfeeding culture, and spiritual practices facilitated displaced mothers to sustain their breastfeeding practices. On the other hand, lack of privacy, cultural beliefs, practices and expectations, covert oppression, and lack of healthcare support served as barriers to the breastfeeding practices of displaced mothers.Item Open Access Baby-friendly initiatives to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers: A qualitative study in Saskatchewan, Canada(Elsevier BV, 2023-03) Shela Akbar Ali HiraniImmigrant mothers, who often experience separation from extended family and social disconnection in a new country, are at risk of experiencing reduced physical, mental and emotional well-being, especially during the perinatal phase of their lives. Saskatchewan has a noticeable increase in the immigrant population with young children, limited availability of healthcare settings with baby-friendly initiative (BFI) status, potential risks to the health of young immigrant children after breastfeeding discontinuation, and the limited number of empirical studies that intend to seek recommendations from immigrant mothers on need-based initiatives that can promote, protect and support their breastfeeding practices. This qualitative study intended to seek recommendations from immigrant mothers belonging to diverse ethnic groups on need-based initiatives to promote, protect and support the breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada. Using a critical ethnographic study design, this study was undertaken in Saskatchewan, Canada. After receiving ethics approval, in-depth interviews were undertaken with 30 immigrant mothers with young children of age 1 day to 24 months. Immigrant mothers were recruited from different cities through purposive and snowball sampling. Data was also gathered through observations of breastfeeding services in Saskatchewan. Immigrant mothers recommended the need for support from people in their social network (healthcare provider, husband, community and government), baby-friendly initiatives in hospital and community-based settings (breastfeeding counselling facilities, breastfeeding education before and after childbirth, and follow-up care), culturally-sensitive care (interpretation services and culturally appropriate food in hospitals), breastfeeding helplines (offering services in multiple languages), breastfeeding acceptance in a variety of public places (workplace, airports, restaurants, parks and public transportation), and investment in immigrant programs (maternal and child programs) to promote the well-being of immigrant mothers with young children. Breastfeeding support in hospitals, public places, workplaces and society at large is essential to promote, protect and support the breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada. The role of healthcare professionals, family members, workplace supervisors and colleagues, policymakers, and governmental/non-governmental organizations is crucial in supporting the breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers.Item Open Access Housing Challenges of Refugee and Immigrant Families in Saskatchewan Canada(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2023-07-12) Hirani, ShelaItem Open Access Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding Practices of Refugee Mothers with PTSD(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2023-04-20) Hirani, ShelaPost-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) negatively affects the breastfeeding practices of mothers. Refugee mothers are high-risk groups. This resource is developed in consultation with the patient partners and healthcare providers. It presents strategies to promote, protect and support breastfeeding practices of refugee mothers with PTSD. Our gratitude to the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF) and the University of Regina for supporting this work.Item Open Access Healthcare Barriers Affecting Breastfeeding Immigrant Mothers(Faculty of Nursing, 2022-10-30) Hirani, ShelaThis video presents healthcare barriers experienced by breastfeeding immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada.Item Open Access Breastfeeding Challenges of Immigrant Women in the Workforce(Faculty of Nursing, 2022-08-28) Hirani, ShelaThis video presents the breastfeeding challenges of immigrant mothers who combine breastfeeding with employment.Item Open Access Breastfeeding Challenges of Immigrant Mothers during COVID-19(Faculty of Nursing, 2022-05-21) Hirani, ShelaGlobally, the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the health and well-being of the population, especially immigrant women with young children. It is essential to explore the breastfeeding experiences of vulnerable immigrant women who often lack adequate breastfeeding support in a new country. This video presents the positive and negative effects of COVID-19 on breastfeeding practices of immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, CanadaItem Open Access Breastfeeding Experiences and Recommendations of Immigrant Mothers in Saskatchewan(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2022-01-26) Hirani, ShelaImmigrant mothers often lack adequate social support and access to health care services with breastfeeding supports that are affordable, accessible, need-based and culturally/gender-sensitive. This video presents breastfeeding challenges and recommendations of immigrant mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada on ways to promote, protect and support their breastfeeding practices.Item Open Access Challenges and Breastfeeding Experiences of Refugee Mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada - Arabic Version(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2021-11-05) Hirani, ShelaRefugee mothers are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. This vulnerability often has a negative impact on refugee mothers’ breastfeeding practices, related to social, emotional, psychological, and physical stressors. This video presents challenges and breastfeeding experiences of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services in Saskatchewan, Canada.Item Open Access Challenges and Breastfeeding Experiences of Refugee Mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2021-11-02) Hirani, ShelaRefugee mothers are vulnerable to cultural stereotyping and socioeconomic hardships when they migrate to a new country. This vulnerability often has a negative impact on refugee mothers’ breastfeeding practices, related to social, emotional, psychological, and physical stressors. This video presents challenges and breastfeeding experiences of refugee mothers accessing and utilizing healthcare services in Saskatchewan, Canada.Item Open Access Health & Well-Being of Refugee Mothers During COVID-19 Arabic Version (Saskatchewan, Canada)(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2021-06-02) Hirani, ShelaThe Arabic version of resource is designed for Refugee Mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada to promote their health and well-being during COVID-19. Dr. Shela Hirani and her team acknowledged the support of Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation that supported their breastfeeding refugee study in Saskatchewan, Canada.Item Open Access Health & Well-being of Refugee Mothers during COVID-19(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2021-02-03) Hirani, ShelaThis resource is designed for Refugee Mothers in Saskatchewan, Canada to promote their health and well-being during COVID-19. Dr Shela Hirani and her team acknowledge the support of Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation that funded the Refugee Study in Saskatchewan.Item Open Access Breastfeeding During Covid-19 An Information Guide(Faculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 2020-05-03) Hirani, ShelaBreastmilk is essential for the growth and development of young children. Considering its benefits, breastfeeding is recommended at all times for young children, especially during crisis situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This animated video on "Breastfeeding during COVID-19" provides need-based information to breastfeeding mothers who may lack breastfeeding support and access to information during the current state of emergency and self-isolation. It will also clarify misconceptions surrounding breastfeeding during COVID-19 and raise public awareness on safe infant feeding practices during this pandemic.