Food insecurity is a growing problem in Canada including Saskatoon. How gender is linked to household food insecurity is largely unexplored. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between gender and food insecurity based on the lived experience of 11 heterosexual couples seeking food assistance or living on social assistance in Saskatoon. This study assessed their perceptions, attitudes and beliefs about food security, household resource management, coping strategies, and food shopping and preparation practices. Data were collected by interviewing 11 couples and ten key informants and analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological approach. This study found food decision and grocery shopping were gendered. Female participants were involved more than their partners in decision-making about what food to buy and grocery shopping where. Male participants viewed their partners more knowledgeable about food and shopping as feminine activity. Female participants felt more challenged than their spouses in grocery shopping and food preparation. There were no gender differences in other activities of household food management. Spouses supported each other and shared other household resources to manage food related activities. They held similar views about their food household situation and often agreed with each other about their household resources and the price, quality and type of food to buy. They bought foods that were affordable and nutritious. The food preferences of their family were accommodated where possible. They worked to ensure household food security. Food or money received from the Food Bank, CHEP and family were important in dealing with food insecurity. All participants and key informants agreed that food availability was not an issue but for some participants, affordability, access and time constraints were. Key informants and the participants suggested increasing support for families including more opportunities for income generation, increases in government welfare benefits, more grocery stores, transport assistance, and nutrition knowledge and cooking skill. The findings suggest policies related to gender as well as programs to improve food security in Saskatoon.

Sammanfattning  Bakgrund: Hjärtsvikt är en folksjukdom och ca 250 000 människor i Sverige är diagnostiserade med sjukdomen. Hur drabbade personer upplever sjukdomen i vardagslivet är viktigt för att kunna hjälpa dem så mycket som möjligt. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva personers upplevelser av att leva med hjärtsvikt. Metod: En litteraturöversikt med kvalitativ och induktiv ansats är genomförd av 13 resultatartiklar. Resultat: Två kategorier framkom vid analysarbetet, känslomässiga och kroppsliga förändringar. Upplevelser som kunde utläsas i resultatet var hopplöshet, frustration och depression, men också glädje över det friska livet de hunnit leva, trygghet i att ha någon nära och viljan att fortsätta trots begränsningar. Slutsatser: Hjärtsvikt genererar många blandade känslor. Fynden visar att det är viktigt för vården att kunna identifiera utmaningarna med att leva med hjärtsvikt. Detta för att kunna stötta och utbilda de drabbade personerna. Kunskap om symptom är en bemästringsstrategi som skapar trygghet.  Nyckelord: Hjärtsvikt, trygghet och otrygghet, begränsningar, Teori om planerat beteende. / Summary  Title: Peoples experiences of living with heart failure - a literature review.   Background: Heart failure is a public disease and about 250 000 people in Sweden are diagnosed with the disease. How affected people experience the disease in everyday life is important in order to be able to help them as much as possible. Aim: The aim was to describe persons experiences of living with heart failure Method: A qualitative literature review with an inductive approach. 13 articles was used for the result. Result: Two categories emerged during the analysis work, emotional and physical changes. Experiences that could be learned in the result were hopelessness, frustration and depression, but also joy for the healthy life that has been, security in having people close and the will to keep going despite of the limitations. Conclusion: Heart failure generate a lot of mixed feelings. The findings show that it is of great importance for the health care system to be able to recognize the challenges of living with heart failure. This is to be able to support and educate the affected people. Knowledge of the symptoms is a coping strategy that creates security.  Keywords: Heart failure, security and insecurity, limitations, Theory of Planned Behaviour.