Sonia S Anand
Biographic Data
| ID | 331973 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sonia S Anand |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sonia S |
| FAMILY NAME | Anand |
| SIGNATURE | ANAND S S |
| AFFILIATIONS | McMaster University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-3692-7441 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 31 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 18 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 31 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1997 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
A conceptual framework for measuring AI health equity
BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in health systems globally and has the potential to improve efficiency, diagnostic accuracy, and decision support. However, its benefits remain unevenly distributed, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Models developed using datasets from specific populations may perform poorly in other settings, reinforcing structural inequities rather than correcting them. O…
Strategies, Reflections, and Recommendations for Community Engagement While Conducting Research With a Haudenosaunee First Nations Community: The Six Nations Covid CommUnity Study
There is limited literature regarding community engagement and research methods for First Nations communities that are generated by First Nations community members themselves. In this article, the authors draw on their experiences as both community members and research staff on the COVID CommUNITY Study, which occurred from 2021 to 2024 at Six Nations of the Grand River. We highlight the community engagement strategies used, reflections on those …
Who thrives in Canada? An Examination of social factors, healthcare access, and immigration status
High-income countries like Canada report some of the worlds’ highest life-satisfaction levels, yet less is known about how life satisfaction varies by race and immigration status. This study investigates the factors that influence subjective well-being among 8,063 adults from the Canadian Alliance of Healthy Hearts and Minds study recruited between 2014 and 2018, including a subset of 2,142 immigrants. Measures of demographic, socioeconomic, heal…
Covid-19 vaccine effectiveness among South Asians in Canada
We evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among South Asians living in Ontario, Canada compared to non-South Asians and compared the odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and related hospitalizations and deaths among non-vaccinated South Asians and non-South Asians. This was a test negative design study conducted in Ontario, Canada between December 14, 2020 and November 15, 2021. All eligible individuals >18 years with symptoms of COVI…
Sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in the South Asian community in Canada
Among South Asians living in ON and BC, time since immigration, prior COVID-19 infection, marital status, living in a multigenerational household, age, education, and employment status were associated with vaccine hesitancy. This information can be used to address vaccine hesitancy in the South Asian population in future COVID-19 waves or pandemics
Perspectives of nutrition and physical activity among families of an Indigenous Birth Cohort: A qualitative analysis exploring the barriers to and facilitators of healthy active living
This is a qualitative description of the perspectives and experiences of 15 mothers from the Indigenous Birth Cohort Study as it relates to barriers and facilitators to building and sustaining healthy active living practices. Our findings illustrate six themes: 1) Systemic reinforcements of a colonial legacy; 2) Self-perceived roles as caregivers to young children; 3) Social support and family support systems; 4) Health histories (personal, famil…
The association of maternal sugary beverage consumption during pregnancy and the early years with childhood sugary beverage consumption
Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry are common classification variables used in health research. However, there has been no formal agreement on the definitions of these terms, resulting in misuse, confusion, and a lack of clarity surrounding these concepts for researchers and their readers. This article examines past and current understandings of race, ethnicity, and ancestry in research, identifies the distinctions between these terms, examines the re…
Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry are common classification variables used in health research. However, there has been no formal agreement on the definitions of these terms, resulting in misuse, confusion, and a lack of clarity surrounding these concepts for researchers and their readers. This article examines past and current understandings of race, ethnicity, and ancestry in research, identifies the distinctions between these terms, examines the re…
Entsisewata’karí: Teke (You Will Be Healthy Again): Clinical Outcomes of Returning to a Traditional Haudenosaunee Diet
Haudenosaunee Peoples of eastern North America have a strong agricultural tradition and culture associated with maize horticulture. Traditional foodways and diet were disrupted after the people were dispossessed from traditional lands maintained prior to colonization. As a result, Haudenosaunee have been disconnected from their traditional diet and lifestyle, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are increasing. Healthy Roots was deve…
Bonding social capital and health within four First Nations communities in Canada: A cross-sectional study
To date, research on social capital in Indigenous contexts has been scarce. In this quantitative study, our objectives were to (1): Describe bonding social capital within four distinct First Nations communities in Canada, and (2) Explore the associations between bonding social capital and self-rated health in these communities. With community permission, cross-sectional data were drawn from the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds study…
Socio-economic, environmental and nutritional characteristics of urban and rural South Indian women in early pregnancy: Findings from the South Asian Birth Cohort (START)
Objective High frequency of low birth weight (LBW) is observed in rural compared with urban Indian women. Since maternal BMI is known to be associated with pregnancy outcomes, the present study aimed to investigate factors associated with BMI in early pregnancy of urban and rural South Indian women. Design Prospective observational cohort. Setting A hospital-based study conducted at an urban and a rural health centre in Karnataka State. Subjects …
Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds: First Nations Cohort Study Rationale and Design
Information collected in the indigenous cohort will be used to assist communities to develop local management strategies for chronic disease, and can be used collectively to understand the contextual, environmental, socioeconomic, and biological determinants of differences in health status in harmony with First Nations beliefs and reality
A Case Study of a Methodological Approach to Cocreating Perinatal Health Knowledge Between Western and Indigenous Communities
This article describes the methods taken to create an understanding of the perinatal health beliefs of elder Indigenous women of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. Our study paired constructivist grounded theory data collection and analysis methods with an Indigenous epistemological framework. We aimed to create knowledge that was specific to an Indigenous context, which was useful and resonant with both Indigenous and Western…
Re-stitching and strengthening community: Three global examples of how doll-making translates into well-being in Indigenous cultures
Traditional doll-making has important meanings that translate into personal and communal identity. As one of the earliest discovered play artefacts, dolls are deeply intertwined with symbolic meanings around spirituality, rituals, familial histories and communal traditions. These values are especially important in Indigenous groups where health and well-being pivots on the preservation of cultural heritage. This article develops the theory on the…
Rationale, design, and methods for Canadian alliance for healthy hearts and minds cohort study (CAHHM) – a Pan Canadian cohort study
CAHHM is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate the impact of community level factors, individual health behaviours, and access to health services, on cognitive function, subclinical vascular disease, fat distribution, and the development of chronic diseases among adults living in Canada
Attending Religious Services and Its Relationship with Coronary Heart Disease and Related Risk Factors in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study of Church Pastors’ and Parishioners’ Perspectives
The Relationship Between Religious Service Attendance and Coronary Heart Disease and Related Risk Factors in Saskatchewan, Canada
Research suggests that attending religious services could provide small yet important protective benefits against coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension). The extent to which these benefits apply to Canada deserves study because approximately one-third of adult Canadians attend religious services at least monthly. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the association between frequency of rel…
Rationale and design of South Asian Birth Cohort (START): A Canada-India collaborative study
The START cohort will increase our understanding of the environmental and genetic determinants of adiposity and related metabolic abnormalities among South Asians living in India and Canada
Aboriginal birth cohort (ABC): A prospective cohort study of early life determinants of adiposity and associated risk factors among Aboriginal people in Canada
There is an urgent need to understand maternal and child factors that underlie the early development of adiposity and type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal people. The information generated from this cohort will assist the Six Nations community in developing interventions to prevent early adiposity in Aboriginal children
Contextual determinants of health behaviours in an aboriginal community in Canada: Pilot project
The built environment, access and affordability of healthy food and tobacco on the Six Nations Reserve are not perceived favourably. Modification of these contextual factors described here may reduce adverse health behaviours in the community
Declining incidence of breast cancer after decreased use of hormone-replacement therapy: Magnitude and time lags in different countries
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) use steadily increased in the Western world. In 2002, the early termination of the Women's Health Initiative trial due to an excess of adverse events attributable to HRT, led to a precipitous decline in its use. Breast cancer incidence began to decline soon thereafter in the USA and several other countries. However, the magnitude of the decline in breast cancer inci…
Community genetics. Its definition 2010
This paper presents a definition of the medical field of community genetics. It starts with a brief historical overview, defines the requirements for an adequate definition, presents the definition, and discusses the constituent parts of the definition
A Family-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in an Aboriginal Community in Canada
Fears and beliefs of patients regarding cardiac catheterization
Classifying ethnicity utilizing the Canadian mortality data base
Last names and country of birth can be used to determined ethnicity of SA and CH with validity and reliability, and leads to a more accurate classification than country of birth alone. The contrasting patterns observed in mortality from major causes of death suggest many interesting hypotheses for further study
A Family-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in an Aboriginal Community in Canada
A Case Study of a Methodological Approach to Cocreating Perinatal Health Knowledge Between Western and Indigenous Communities
This article describes the methods taken to create an understanding of the perinatal health beliefs of elder Indigenous women of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. Our study paired constructivist grounded theory data collection and analysis methods with an Indigenous epistemological framework. We aimed to create knowledge that was specific to an Indigenous context, which was useful and resonant with both Indigenous and Western…
Sociodemographic factors associated with vaccine hesitancy in the South Asian community in Canada
Among South Asians living in ON and BC, time since immigration, prior COVID-19 infection, marital status, living in a multigenerational household, age, education, and employment status were associated with vaccine hesitancy. This information can be used to address vaccine hesitancy in the South Asian population in future COVID-19 waves or pandemics
Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry are common classification variables used in health research. However, there has been no formal agreement on the definitions of these terms, resulting in misuse, confusion, and a lack of clarity surrounding these concepts for researchers and their readers. This article examines past and current understandings of race, ethnicity, and ancestry in research, identifies the distinctions between these terms, examines the re…
Declining incidence of breast cancer after decreased use of hormone-replacement therapy: Magnitude and time lags in different countries
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) use steadily increased in the Western world. In 2002, the early termination of the Women's Health Initiative trial due to an excess of adverse events attributable to HRT, led to a precipitous decline in its use. Breast cancer incidence began to decline soon thereafter in the USA and several other countries. However, the magnitude of the decline in breast cancer inci…
Fears and beliefs of patients regarding cardiac catheterization
Classifying ethnicity utilizing the Canadian mortality data base
Last names and country of birth can be used to determined ethnicity of SA and CH with validity and reliability, and leads to a more accurate classification than country of birth alone. The contrasting patterns observed in mortality from major causes of death suggest many interesting hypotheses for further study
Using Ethnicity as a Classification Variable in Health Research: Perpetuating the myth of biological determinism, serving socio-political agendas, or making valuable contributions to medical sciences
There is a need for a valid way to classify the human species consistently and reliably, be it to highlight similarities between human populations such as intelligence or physical capacity, to dispel myths about group differences, or to discover 'novel' risk factors for diseases. In contrast to racial divisions, which are usually based on differences in skin colour and physical features, ethnicity is a complex concept which has both socio-cultura…
Differences in risk factors, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease between ethnic groups in Canada: The Study of Health Assessment and Risk in Ethnic groups (SHARE)
Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases: Part I: General Considerations, the Epidemiologic Transition, Risk Factors, and Impact of Urbanization
This two-part article provides an overview of the global burden of atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. Part I initially discusses the epidemiologic transition which has resulted in a decrease in deaths in childhood due to infections, with a concomitant increase in cardiovascular and other chronic diseases; and then provides estimates of the burden of cardiovascular (CV) diseases with specific focus on the developing countries. Next, we summa…
Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases: Part II: Variations in Cardiovascular Disease by Specific Ethnic Groups and Geographic Regions and Prevention Strategies
This two-part article provides an overview of the global burden of atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. Part I initially discusses the epidemiological transition which has resulted in a decrease in deaths in childhood due to infections, with a concomitant increase in cardiovascular and other chronic diseases; and then provides estimates of the burden of cardiovascular (CV) diseases with specific focus on the developing countries. Next, we sum…
Obesity and the risk of myocardial infarction in 27 000 participants from 52 countries: A case-control study
A Family-based Intervention to Promote Healthy Lifestyles in an Aboriginal Community in Canada
Fears and beliefs of patients regarding cardiac catheterization
Community genetics. Its definition 2010
This paper presents a definition of the medical field of community genetics. It starts with a brief historical overview, defines the requirements for an adequate definition, presents the definition, and discusses the constituent parts of the definition
Contextual determinants of health behaviours in an aboriginal community in Canada: Pilot project
The built environment, access and affordability of healthy food and tobacco on the Six Nations Reserve are not perceived favourably. Modification of these contextual factors described here may reduce adverse health behaviours in the community
Declining incidence of breast cancer after decreased use of hormone-replacement therapy: Magnitude and time lags in different countries
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) use steadily increased in the Western world. In 2002, the early termination of the Women's Health Initiative trial due to an excess of adverse events attributable to HRT, led to a precipitous decline in its use. Breast cancer incidence began to decline soon thereafter in the USA and several other countries. However, the magnitude of the decline in breast cancer inci…
Rationale and design of South Asian Birth Cohort (START): A Canada-India collaborative study
The START cohort will increase our understanding of the environmental and genetic determinants of adiposity and related metabolic abnormalities among South Asians living in India and Canada
Aboriginal birth cohort (ABC): A prospective cohort study of early life determinants of adiposity and associated risk factors among Aboriginal people in Canada
There is an urgent need to understand maternal and child factors that underlie the early development of adiposity and type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal people. The information generated from this cohort will assist the Six Nations community in developing interventions to prevent early adiposity in Aboriginal children
Attending Religious Services and Its Relationship with Coronary Heart Disease and Related Risk Factors in Older Adults: A Qualitative Study of Church Pastors’ and Parishioners’ Perspectives
The Relationship Between Religious Service Attendance and Coronary Heart Disease and Related Risk Factors in Saskatchewan, Canada
Research suggests that attending religious services could provide small yet important protective benefits against coronary heart disease (CHD) and CHD risk factors (e.g., diabetes, hypertension). The extent to which these benefits apply to Canada deserves study because approximately one-third of adult Canadians attend religious services at least monthly. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the association between frequency of rel…
Re-stitching and strengthening community: Three global examples of how doll-making translates into well-being in Indigenous cultures
Traditional doll-making has important meanings that translate into personal and communal identity. As one of the earliest discovered play artefacts, dolls are deeply intertwined with symbolic meanings around spirituality, rituals, familial histories and communal traditions. These values are especially important in Indigenous groups where health and well-being pivots on the preservation of cultural heritage. This article develops the theory on the…
Rationale, design, and methods for Canadian alliance for healthy hearts and minds cohort study (CAHHM) – a Pan Canadian cohort study
CAHHM is a prospective cohort study designed to investigate the impact of community level factors, individual health behaviours, and access to health services, on cognitive function, subclinical vascular disease, fat distribution, and the development of chronic diseases among adults living in Canada
A Case Study of a Methodological Approach to Cocreating Perinatal Health Knowledge Between Western and Indigenous Communities
This article describes the methods taken to create an understanding of the perinatal health beliefs of elder Indigenous women of the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, Canada. Our study paired constructivist grounded theory data collection and analysis methods with an Indigenous epistemological framework. We aimed to create knowledge that was specific to an Indigenous context, which was useful and resonant with both Indigenous and Western…
Socio-economic, environmental and nutritional characteristics of urban and rural South Indian women in early pregnancy: Findings from the South Asian Birth Cohort (START)
Objective High frequency of low birth weight (LBW) is observed in rural compared with urban Indian women. Since maternal BMI is known to be associated with pregnancy outcomes, the present study aimed to investigate factors associated with BMI in early pregnancy of urban and rural South Indian women. Design Prospective observational cohort. Setting A hospital-based study conducted at an urban and a rural health centre in Karnataka State. Subjects …
Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds: First Nations Cohort Study Rationale and Design
Information collected in the indigenous cohort will be used to assist communities to develop local management strategies for chronic disease, and can be used collectively to understand the contextual, environmental, socioeconomic, and biological determinants of differences in health status in harmony with First Nations beliefs and reality
Entsisewata’karí: Teke (You Will Be Healthy Again): Clinical Outcomes of Returning to a Traditional Haudenosaunee Diet
Haudenosaunee Peoples of eastern North America have a strong agricultural tradition and culture associated with maize horticulture. Traditional foodways and diet were disrupted after the people were dispossessed from traditional lands maintained prior to colonization. As a result, Haudenosaunee have been disconnected from their traditional diet and lifestyle, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity are increasing. Healthy Roots was deve…
Bonding social capital and health within four First Nations communities in Canada: A cross-sectional study
To date, research on social capital in Indigenous contexts has been scarce. In this quantitative study, our objectives were to (1): Describe bonding social capital within four distinct First Nations communities in Canada, and (2) Explore the associations between bonding social capital and self-rated health in these communities. With community permission, cross-sectional data were drawn from the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds study…
Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry are common classification variables used in health research. However, there has been no formal agreement on the definitions of these terms, resulting in misuse, confusion, and a lack of clarity surrounding these concepts for researchers and their readers. This article examines past and current understandings of race, ethnicity, and ancestry in research, identifies the distinctions between these terms, examines the re…
Use of race, ethnicity, and ancestry data in health research
Race, ethnicity, and ancestry are common classification variables used in health research. However, there has been no formal agreement on the definitions of these terms, resulting in misuse, confusion, and a lack of clarity surrounding these concepts for researchers and their readers. This article examines past and current understandings of race, ethnicity, and ancestry in research, identifies the distinctions between these terms, examines the re…
Perspectives of nutrition and physical activity among families of an Indigenous Birth Cohort: A qualitative analysis exploring the barriers to and facilitators of healthy active living
This is a qualitative description of the perspectives and experiences of 15 mothers from the Indigenous Birth Cohort Study as it relates to barriers and facilitators to building and sustaining healthy active living practices. Our findings illustrate six themes: 1) Systemic reinforcements of a colonial legacy; 2) Self-perceived roles as caregivers to young children; 3) Social support and family support systems; 4) Health histories (personal, famil…
Medicine (24 works) · Demography (12 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Ethnic group (10 works) · Gerontology (10 works) · Public health (9 works) · Demography (8 works) · Internal Medicine (8 works) · Psychology (8 works)