Isabel Dias

Since 2015, the EU has been recommending and actively supporting the implementation of GE Plans (GEPs) in academic and research organisations. GEPs aim to address persistent gender inequalities in research and academic careers by moving along three axes envisaged by the European Research Area: i) to remove legal and other barriers to the recruitment, retention, and career progression of female researchers, ii) to address gender imbalances in decision-making processes, and iii) to strengthen the gender dimension in research (Council of the European Union, 2015). Despite the commitment of the EC to mainstream GE in research and innovation, the potential of GEPs to generate institutional and cultural change in universities is a contested matter. The use of efficiency arguments (e.g., economic outcomes of gender equality) to justify policy interventions and the predominance of conservative frameworks on GE to inform the measures are some of the critiques. Thus, current research and innovation framework programmes also refer to a gender+ strategy (e.g., intersectional approaches), meaning that gender remains the primary contemplated type of inequality. Still, its interaction with other sources of inequality and grounds of discrimination must be considered in the design and implementation of measures. RESET GEPs have aligned with this requirement and, from inception, have used intersectionality as an analytical tool for studying, understanding, and responding to the ways in which sex and gender intersect with other personal characteristics. This chapter will describe RESET partners’ experiences designing, implementing, and mainstreaming intersectional GEPs, reflecting upon the barriers and challenges of gender mainstreaming in contemporary higher education systems.

Sexual exploitation is a pervasive issue affecting individuals globally, characterized by the abuse of vulnerability, power, or trust for sexual purposes. This study aims to explore the perceptions of professionals and stakeholders in Portugal regarding the prevention, assistance, and protection of victims of sexual exploitation. Employing a qualitative research approach, four online focus groups were conducted with 17 participants from various professional backgrounds. The results highlight a comprehensive understanding of sexual exploitation among participants, who emphasized the coercion and exploitation of vulnerabilities as central elements. Significant barriers to addressing sexual exploitation were reported, including underreporting, societal indifference, and the impact of new technologies. Participants called for enhanced training for professionals across sectors, increased societal awareness, and stronger legal and policy frameworks. The study concludes with recommendations for elevating sexual exploitation as a governmental priority, improving professional training, and fostering international cooperation to combat this complex issue effectively.

This article analyses the experiences and perceptions of a sample of people over 60 about the most frequent type of violence in old age, the risk factors, the offenders and the reactions to abuse. A mixed study was carried out with the sequential application of 677 questionnaires and 45 interviews. The results show that older people are mainly victims of psychological abuse and financial exploitation; the type of abuse varies according to the type of aggressor; and that machismo, ageism, mental health problems, addictive behaviours and social isolation are risk factors for violence. Health and justice professionals are perceived as those to whom victims should turn and confide.

Wildland firefighting represents a physically and mentally demanding endeavour fraught with various risk factors. The primary aim of this study is to delineate occupational chemical exposure within the firefighting work environment on the firefront and its implications for firefighters’ health status. A systematic literature review was conducted utilising diverse keyword combinations across Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Complete, and ScienceDirect databases. Only English-language journal articles, real-world monitoring reports, and studies featuring samples of firefighters were considered for inclusion. Forty-one studies were analysed, with 26 focusing on firefighters’ occupational exposure to chemical agents during wildland firefighting and 15 addressing the health impairments of wildland firefighting activities. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), VOCs, and particulates emerged as the most prevalent chemical agents in the exposure profiles of frontline firefighters. They were shown to be the main incidents of cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and work-related cancer. The rigorous demands of wildland firefighting have been demonstrated to significantly impact firefighter health, resulting in a notable prevalence of fatalities and illnesses. Given that an elevated number of health issues are common in this occupation, adopting advanced assessment technologies is imperative.

The frequency of forest fires has increased in recent years. This phenomenon has led to an increase in the difficulty of fighting them and an increase in the occupational exposure of firefighters. This study aims to carry out a systematic review protocol to obtain information on firefighters' occupational exposure on the fire front. A protocol was carried out following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: PRISMA Statement guidelines. There were no age, gender or publication date restrictions for including articles within the scope of firefighter samples. The study aimed to understand all the risks to which firefighters are exposed when fighting forest fires and their relationship with the onset of occupational diseases. Thus, all studies with laboratory or real-time monitoring, using samples of firefighters, and which carried out evaluations that made it possible to identify exposure risk factors and their relationship with occupational activity were included. This list makes it possible to verify all the studies carried out up to the date of the review on this subject and to guarantee a contribution to improving knowledge in this area of research.

Introduction: This paper addresses the broader issue of elder abuse and seeks to analyse how victims and non-victims of abuse connect and explain the perception of ageing and the phenomenon of violence against older people.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted based on evidence gathered through 45 semi-structured interviews with people aged 60 or above who are part of the Portuguese EPIPorto population cohort. The interviews were analysed using grounded theory.Results/discussion: The results show that respondents link the ageist narratives that exist in our societies to the prevalence and naturalisation of violence against older people, that the risk of abuse increases with the weakening of family support networks, and that abuse is both a manifestation of asymmetrical power relations between victims and perpetrators and a severe violation of human rights. The findings also highlight the need to broaden the concept of violence against older people to include offences in the public sphere and not just in the context of the family and institutions.

This paper addresses the broad topic of what older people think about nursing homes in Portugal. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and considering the tragic events taking place in nursing homes, the challenge of reimagining the sector involves not only improving procedures and models of care, making sure they meet what citizens consider adequate, but also rehabilitating the image people have about nursing homes and rebuilding trust. Current and future decisions about how one meets LTC needs is influenced by the extent to which individuals see the alternatives as adequate. The paper presents evidence collected from a qualitative study run just before the COVID-19 pandemic began, with a sample of 45 community-dwelling individuals aged 60 plus, in Portugal. Opinions and views about nursing homes were collected and the results point to enduring negative aspects that are considered at odds with what constitutes adequate care. The paper discusses in length what those aspects are and concludes that future reforms of the nursing homes sector in Portugal need to consider what current and future users think and feel about that specific type of service. Debates in Portugal tend to be more focused on discussions about expanding the sector and less on aspects of quality of care. Views and opinions of interviewed participants, however, suggest that people may be more worried about quality of care.

Cleaning services are a transversal activity that guarantees the proper functioning and conditions of safety, hygiene, and health across all economic sectors. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the need for clean, sanitary spaces, particularly in health services and other areas with a large number of people. The workers in these services were often placed on the frontline without any specific training or information. Their low average schooling aggravated this situation. Therefore, exploring these workers’ perceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic and its potential influence on their mental health was the primary goal of our research. Structured interviews were conducted based on questionnaires in a sample of 436 women. Their characterisation focused on three aspects related to the pandemic. First, to prevent infecting others (85.5%) and that people close to them could die (86.0%) were the dominant concerns; second, the feeling of permanent vigilance was mentioned (56.2%); and third, the fear of not getting medical care (60.7%). Thus, the workers felt there was a need for more dissemination of individual protection measures, as well as more training, better general working conditions, and access to psychological counselling.

This study aims to investigate how exposure to poverty, food insecurity, and abuse at older ages relates to health outcomes. A questionnaire collecting data on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, health status, depressive symptoms, food insecurity, and abuse was administered to a sample of 677 older adults. Logistic regression was used to quantify the association of poverty, food insecurity, and abuse with perceived health status and depressive symptoms. If the older person only reported experiences of abuse, it was more likely to report the presence of depressive symptoms, even after adjustment for covariates. If it was only reported the experience of food insecurity, it was more likely to report a worse health status. Older people exposed to at least two factors of vulnerability were significantly more likely to report (very) poor perceived health status (OR: 7.11, 95% CI: 2.77–18.25) and the presence of relevant depressive symptoms (OR: 4.34; 95% CI: 2.04–9.22). Thus, the combined effect of vulnerabilities was significantly associated with worse health among older people. Public health policies to mitigate these adverse exposures should be developed to promote health and well-being in this population.