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Lavoie JG, Clark W, McDonnell L, Nickel N, Dutton R, Kanayok J, Fowler-Woods M, Anawak J, Brown N, Voisey Clark G, Evaluardjuk-Palmer T, Wong ST, Sanguins J, Mudryj A, Mullins N, Ford M, Clark J. Mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Inuit living in Manitoba: community responses. Int J Circumpolar Health 2023; 82:2259135. [PMID: 37752773 PMCID: PMC10538448 DOI: 10.1080/22423982.2023.2259135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We document community responses to the COVID-19 pandemic among Inuit living in the province of Manitoba, Canada. This study was conducted by the Manitoba Inuit Association and a Council of Inuit Elders, in partnership with researchers from the University of Manitoba. We present findings from 12 health services providers and decision-makers, collected in 2021.Although Public Health orders led to the closure of the Manitoba Inuit Association's doors to community events and drop-in activities, it also created opportunities for the creation of programming and events delivered virtually and through outreach. The pandemic exacerbated pre-existing health and social system's shortcomings (limited access to safe housing, food insecurity) and trauma-related tensions within the community. The Manitoba Inuit Association achieved unprecedented visibility with the provincial government, receiving bi-weekly reports of COVID-19 testing, results and vaccination rates for Inuit. We conclude that after over a decade of advocacy received with at best tepid enthusiasm by federal and provincial governments, the Manitoba Inuit Association was able effectively advocate for Inuit-centric programming, and respond to Inuit community's needs, bringing visibility to a community that had until then been largely invisible. Still, many programs have been fueled with COVID-19 funding, raising the issue of sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josée G. Lavoie
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute for Health and Healing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Wayne Clark
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Leah McDonnell
- Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute for Health and Healing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nathan Nickel
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Rachel Dutton
- Manitoba Inuit Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Janet Kanayok
- Manitoba Inuit Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Melinda Fowler-Woods
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Jack Anawak
- Isumataq Sivuliuqti, Qanuinngitsiarutiksait Study, Canada
| | - Nuqaalaq Brown
- Isumataq Sivuliuqti, Qanuinngitsiarutiksait Study, Canada
| | | | | | - sabrina T. Wong
- National Institute of Nursing Research, Division of Intramural Research, Bethesda, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Adriana Mudryj
- Ongomiizwin Indigenous Institute for Health and Healing, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | | | - Marti Ford
- Manitoba Inuit Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Judy Clark
- Manitoba Inuit Association, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Lavoie JG, Clark W, McDonnell L, Nickel N, Dutton R, Kanayok J, Anawak J, Anawak C, Brown L, Clark GV, Evaluardjuk-Palmer M, Ford F, Fowler-Woods M, Wong S, Sanguins J, Katz A. Kivalliq Inuit women travelling to Manitoba for birthing: findings from the Qanuinngitsiarutiksait study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:870. [PMID: 36434515 PMCID: PMC9694830 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-05214-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Qanuinngitsiarutiksait study aimed to develop detailed profiles of Inuit health service utilization in Manitoba, by Inuit living in Manitoba (approximately 1,500) and by Inuit from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut who travel to Manitoba to access care not available in Nunavut (approximately 16,000 per year). METHODS We used health administrative data routinely collected in Manitoba for all services provided and developed an algorithm to identify Inuit in the dataset. This paper focused on health services used by Inuit from the Kivalliq for prenatal care and birthing. RESULTS Our study found that approximately 80 percent of births to women from the Kivalliq region occur in Manitoba, primarily in Winnipeg. When perinatal care and birthing are combined, they constitute one third of all consults happening by Kivalliq residents in Manitoba. For scale, hospitalizations for childbirths to Kivalliq women about to only 5 percent of all childbirth-related hospitalizations in Manitoba. CONCLUSIONS The practice of evacuating women from the Kivalliq for perinatal care and birthing is rooted in colonialism, rationalized as ensuring that women whose pregnancy is at high risk have access to specialized care not available in Nunavut. While defendable, this practice is costly, and does not provide Inuit women a choice as to where to birth. Attempts at relocating birthing to the north have proven complex to operationalize. Given this, there is an urgent need to develop Inuit-centric and culturally appropriate perinatal and birthing care in Manitoba.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josée G. Lavoie
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada
| | - Wayne Clark
- grid.17089.370000 0001 2190 316XUniversity of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Leah McDonnell
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada
| | - Nathan Nickel
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sabrina Wong
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada
| | | | - Alan Katz
- grid.21613.370000 0004 1936 9609University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB Canada
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