Rhonda C Bell
Biographic Data
| ID | 79141 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Rhonda C Bell |
| GIVEN NAMES | Rhonda C |
| FAMILY NAME | Bell |
| SIGNATURE | BELL R C |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Alberta |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4298-9641 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 19 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Perinatal wellbeing through restoring healthy family systems in a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) community
Introduction A collaborative research partnership in Alberta (Canada) was formed with the goal of supporting optimal health during the perinatal period for diverse Indigenous populations. Our approach utilized community-led strategies that promote the best possible healthy life for families and children. This partnership was guided by a Restoring and Supporting Healthy Family Systems (RSHFS) conceptual model based primarily on Indigenous ways of …
Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain Are Associated with Preschool Children’s Neuropsychological Outcomes in the APrON Cohort
This study examined the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) and children's neuropsychological outcomes at 3 to 5 years of age. A total of 379 women and their children from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study participated. Covariate-adjusted robust regressions examined associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG class, interaction terms, and child outcomes. Each unit inc…
Mâmawihitowin (bringing the camps together)
An Indigenous-led experiential learning intervention was effective in enhancing overall perceived cultural awareness and preparedness to provide culturally informed care for perinatal HCPs and staff. This study provides evidence for fostering relationships between Indigenous communities and health systems toward enhanced perinatal care
Cross-Sectional Study Protocol for the Covid-19 Impact Survey of Mothers and Their 7–11 Year Old Children in Alberta, Canada
Objectives: Our aim is to understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on families who have been followed longitudinally in two cohorts studied in Alberta, Canada. We will examine household infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial impact, domestic violence, substance use, child school and daily life and relationships in the home. We will identify risk and protective factors for maternal mental health outcomes using longitudinal data t…
Describing 24-hour movement behaviours among preconception and recently pregnant Canadian parents
This study aimed to describe adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines and determine factors associated with meeting guidelines in pregnancy planning and recently postpartum parents. A survey of preconception care attitudes and beliefs was conducted in Canadian adults who were pregnancy planning or ≤5 years postpartum. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to evaluate physical activity and sedentary time. Respondents reported the num…
Wîcohkamakew (“S/he Helps Someone”)
Background: Responding to concerns about perinatal health risks and adverse outcomes, we established a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership between a Nêhiyawi (Cree) community and university-based researchers. We designed and implemented a community-derived Elders Mentoring Program (EMP) to provide additional support for pregnant women and their partners. Our objective was to understand the collective experiences of those inv…
Wîcohkamakew (“S/he Helps Someone”)
A community-derived prenatal EMP, designed in partnership with those who have intimate knowledge of the community, is a major step toward ensuring multi-generational and culturally secure care in pregnancy for women and families
Cultural Adaptation, Validation, and Primary Application of a Questionnaire to Assess Intentions to Eat Low-Glycemic Index Foods among Rural Chinese Women
Different lines of evidence indicate that knowledge of low-glycemic index (GI) foods and the practice of eating them play important roles in blood glucose management and preventing T2DM in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). According to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), intention is a critical factor in complying with health-related behaviors. However, an instrument for assessing the intention to eat low-GI foods is lacking…
Development of a diet quality index to assess adherence to Canadian dietary recommendations in 3-year-old children
Objective: Little is known about the diet quality of preschool children in Canada. We adapted an established diet quality index for European preschool children to align with the Canadian context and applied the index to dietary data of 3-year-old children to assess patterns of diet quality. Design: Our diet quality index (DQI-C) consists of four components that align with Canada’s Food Guide (Vegetables and Fruit, Grain Products, Milk and Alterna…
Peyakohewamak-Needs of Involved Nehiyaw (Cree) Fathers Supporting Their Partners During Pregnancy
We sought to understand the needs of involved Nehiyaw (Cree) fathers who supported their partners during pregnancy. We used qualitative description and a community-based participatory research approach. We carried out in-depth semi-structured interviews with six Nehiyaw fathers. Four also participated in photovoice and follow-up interviews. All data were content analyzed qualitatively. Fathers felt they had to support their partners and overcome …
Higher Pre-pregnancy BMI and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain are Risk Factors for Rapid Weight Gain in Infants
Relations between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and birth outcomes are mediated by maternal weight
Contrasting “back home” and “here”
A complex network of factors seem to influence Northeast African women's health during pregnancy and postpartum upon migration to Canada. It is of the utmost importance to provide these women with the immediate sociocultural and environmental factors they need to successfully thrive during pregnancy and postpartum, especially while establishing social and support networks "here
Different Approaches to Cross-Lingual Focus Groups
Focus groups are a useful data-generation strategy in qualitative health research when it is important to understand how social contexts shape participants' health. However, when cross-lingual focus groups are conducted across cultural groups, and in languages in which the researcher is not fluent, questions regarding the usefulness and rigor of the findings can be raised. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to cross-lingu…
The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort study
The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study is an ongoing prospective cohort study that recruits pregnant women early in pregnancy and, as of 2012, is following up their infants to 3 years of age. It has currently enrolled approximately 5000 Canadians (2000 pregnant women, their offspring and many of their partners). The primary aims of the APrON study were to determine the relationships between maternal nutrient intake and status,…
Assessment of Canadian Cree infants' birth size using the WHO Child Growth Standards
OBJECTIVES: The WHO Child Growth Standards (CGS) which were recently adopted by the Canadian Pediatric Society were used to assess the relative size of Cree newborns. METHODS: Birth weight, length, and head circumference, and growth indices of 2,127 Cree newborns were compared with the CGS. Maternal characteristics of pregnancy and infant birth outcomes were recorded and stratified by birth weight category. RESULTS: Among Cree newborns, 2.4% were…
Different Approaches to Cross-Lingual Focus Groups
Focus groups are a useful data-generation strategy in qualitative health research when it is important to understand how social contexts shape participants' health. However, when cross-lingual focus groups are conducted across cultural groups, and in languages in which the researcher is not fluent, questions regarding the usefulness and rigor of the findings can be raised. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to cross-lingu…
Relations between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and birth outcomes are mediated by maternal weight
Peyakohewamak-Needs of Involved Nehiyaw (Cree) Fathers Supporting Their Partners During Pregnancy
We sought to understand the needs of involved Nehiyaw (Cree) fathers who supported their partners during pregnancy. We used qualitative description and a community-based participatory research approach. We carried out in-depth semi-structured interviews with six Nehiyaw fathers. Four also participated in photovoice and follow-up interviews. All data were content analyzed qualitatively. Fathers felt they had to support their partners and overcome …
Assessment of Canadian Cree infants' birth size using the WHO Child Growth Standards
OBJECTIVES: The WHO Child Growth Standards (CGS) which were recently adopted by the Canadian Pediatric Society were used to assess the relative size of Cree newborns. METHODS: Birth weight, length, and head circumference, and growth indices of 2,127 Cree newborns were compared with the CGS. Maternal characteristics of pregnancy and infant birth outcomes were recorded and stratified by birth weight category. RESULTS: Among Cree newborns, 2.4% were…
The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) cohort study
The Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study is an ongoing prospective cohort study that recruits pregnant women early in pregnancy and, as of 2012, is following up their infants to 3 years of age. It has currently enrolled approximately 5000 Canadians (2000 pregnant women, their offspring and many of their partners). The primary aims of the APrON study were to determine the relationships between maternal nutrient intake and status,…
Different Approaches to Cross-Lingual Focus Groups
Focus groups are a useful data-generation strategy in qualitative health research when it is important to understand how social contexts shape participants' health. However, when cross-lingual focus groups are conducted across cultural groups, and in languages in which the researcher is not fluent, questions regarding the usefulness and rigor of the findings can be raised. In this article, we will discuss three different approaches to cross-lingu…
Contrasting “back home” and “here”
A complex network of factors seem to influence Northeast African women's health during pregnancy and postpartum upon migration to Canada. It is of the utmost importance to provide these women with the immediate sociocultural and environmental factors they need to successfully thrive during pregnancy and postpartum, especially while establishing social and support networks "here
Higher Pre-pregnancy BMI and Excessive Gestational Weight Gain are Risk Factors for Rapid Weight Gain in Infants
Relations between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and birth outcomes are mediated by maternal weight
Peyakohewamak-Needs of Involved Nehiyaw (Cree) Fathers Supporting Their Partners During Pregnancy
We sought to understand the needs of involved Nehiyaw (Cree) fathers who supported their partners during pregnancy. We used qualitative description and a community-based participatory research approach. We carried out in-depth semi-structured interviews with six Nehiyaw fathers. Four also participated in photovoice and follow-up interviews. All data were content analyzed qualitatively. Fathers felt they had to support their partners and overcome …
Cultural Adaptation, Validation, and Primary Application of a Questionnaire to Assess Intentions to Eat Low-Glycemic Index Foods among Rural Chinese Women
Different lines of evidence indicate that knowledge of low-glycemic index (GI) foods and the practice of eating them play important roles in blood glucose management and preventing T2DM in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). According to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), intention is a critical factor in complying with health-related behaviors. However, an instrument for assessing the intention to eat low-GI foods is lacking…
Development of a diet quality index to assess adherence to Canadian dietary recommendations in 3-year-old children
Objective: Little is known about the diet quality of preschool children in Canada. We adapted an established diet quality index for European preschool children to align with the Canadian context and applied the index to dietary data of 3-year-old children to assess patterns of diet quality. Design: Our diet quality index (DQI-C) consists of four components that align with Canada’s Food Guide (Vegetables and Fruit, Grain Products, Milk and Alterna…
Cross-Sectional Study Protocol for the Covid-19 Impact Survey of Mothers and Their 7–11 Year Old Children in Alberta, Canada
Objectives: Our aim is to understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on families who have been followed longitudinally in two cohorts studied in Alberta, Canada. We will examine household infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, financial impact, domestic violence, substance use, child school and daily life and relationships in the home. We will identify risk and protective factors for maternal mental health outcomes using longitudinal data t…
Describing 24-hour movement behaviours among preconception and recently pregnant Canadian parents
This study aimed to describe adherence to 24-hour movement guidelines and determine factors associated with meeting guidelines in pregnancy planning and recently postpartum parents. A survey of preconception care attitudes and beliefs was conducted in Canadian adults who were pregnancy planning or ≤5 years postpartum. The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to evaluate physical activity and sedentary time. Respondents reported the num…
Wîcohkamakew (“S/he Helps Someone”)
Background: Responding to concerns about perinatal health risks and adverse outcomes, we established a community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership between a Nêhiyawi (Cree) community and university-based researchers. We designed and implemented a community-derived Elders Mentoring Program (EMP) to provide additional support for pregnant women and their partners. Our objective was to understand the collective experiences of those inv…
Wîcohkamakew (“S/he Helps Someone”)
A community-derived prenatal EMP, designed in partnership with those who have intimate knowledge of the community, is a major step toward ensuring multi-generational and culturally secure care in pregnancy for women and families
Mâmawihitowin (bringing the camps together)
An Indigenous-led experiential learning intervention was effective in enhancing overall perceived cultural awareness and preparedness to provide culturally informed care for perinatal HCPs and staff. This study provides evidence for fostering relationships between Indigenous communities and health systems toward enhanced perinatal care
Maternal Pre-Pregnancy BMI and Gestational Weight Gain Are Associated with Preschool Children’s Neuropsychological Outcomes in the APrON Cohort
This study examined the associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain (GWG) and children's neuropsychological outcomes at 3 to 5 years of age. A total of 379 women and their children from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study participated. Covariate-adjusted robust regressions examined associations between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, GWG class, interaction terms, and child outcomes. Each unit inc…
Perinatal wellbeing through restoring healthy family systems in a nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) community
Introduction A collaborative research partnership in Alberta (Canada) was formed with the goal of supporting optimal health during the perinatal period for diverse Indigenous populations. Our approach utilized community-led strategies that promote the best possible healthy life for families and children. This partnership was guided by a Restoring and Supporting Healthy Family Systems (RSHFS) conceptual model based primarily on Indigenous ways of …
Medicine (15 works) · Pregnancy (8 works) · Psychology (7 works) · Community-based participatory research (6 works) · Gestational Diabetes Research and Management (6 works) · Participatory action research (6 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Demography (5 works) · Environmental health (5 works) · Indigenous (5 works)