Indigenous Health Monitoring, October 2026
Inside you will find seven short summaries of articles indicating their relevance to public health work.
Perinatal period
Models of antenatal care for rural Indigenous women: A systematic review
As is the case in Canada, Indigenous women in Australia have less access to prenatal care and services than their non-Indigenous counterparts, a situation that is exaggerated in remote areas. This systematic review targets characteristics of prenatal care associated with better health results for mothers and their children. From the results of 29 studies of which a majority are qualitative, three main themes emerge: service structure, accessibility and environment. Community-based and controlled care appears to be the central characteristic of an effective model as demonstrated by close patient involvement and improved health results.
More than 6,000 participants from every Canadian province and territory, including about 300 Indigenous persons, completed the RESPCCT survey exploring their experiences with pregnancy and childbirth care between 2009 and 2022. The data was analyzed using a rights-based framework drawing on three flagship documents: the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Calls to Action, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. About two of every five Indigenous respondents reported abuse and a lack of respect during childbirth, which are a violation of their rights.
People’s experiences
Health care through an Indigenous lens: Insights from a university photovoice study
Photovoice research uses photography to empower participants to express themselves when it comes to difficult experiences that are hard to verbalize. Twenty Cree patients who visited the McGill University Health Centre present the difficulties and challenges they faced as Indigenous patients, as well as solutions that had been found. The many barriers to care described (e.g., racism, poor communication, social isolation and financial issues) point to the persistence of structural inequalities in the healthcare system. Respectful and empathetic care experiences were also reported, as was the importance of links to culture, family and community—proof that transformation is possible.
The Urban Indigenous Wellness Collective in British Columbia was established in 2008 in response to a need for holistic and culturally safe approaches to care. All of the province’s affiliated Friendship Centres then went on to create governance circles to guide research on the urban Indigenous population based on a collective vision. The article explains the development of partnerships during a research project on diabetes and obesity, and how close collaboration between Indigenous partners, health professionals and researchers can lead to health services that are effective, accessible and locally relevant.
Data governance involves deciding which data to collect, how to collect it, and who owns and controls it. Reliable and representative local data is necessary for designing and implementing public health interventions that meet local needs. The 18 participants interviewed, all of whom work with Innu health data in various Labrador jurisdictions, saw a round table—a space for dialogue among equals—as the data governance model to prioritize. Under this model, public health data is cocreated by all stakeholders, while analysis and interpretation of the data are directed by the Innu. Moreover, all partners are involved in monitoring, but only Innu determine which issues take precedence.
The installation of vending machines to sell health-promoting supplies that help prevent infectious diseases and overdoses (e.g., condoms, naloxone or safe injection equipment) is a recent innovation in harm reduction. While one vending machine was installed in a remote rural community in the United States, the perceptions of people using the machine were not known, hence this study. The 12 participants interviewed were in favour of the machine, which meets the needs of people who use drugs. In their opinion, the vending machine was a symbol of recognition of people who use drugs by the community.
New publication from INSPQ
Agressions sexuelles chez les personnes mineures autochtones : survol de la problématique (Childhood sexual abuse among Indigenous people)
This new knowledge synthesis (only in French) identifies and describes factors that increase or reduce the risk of childhood sexual abuse, the potential consequences, and prevention strategies in Indigenous contexts. A summary sheet is also available in French and English.