Inuit Perinatal Health Hub

Summary

The study focuses on perinatal resources for Inuit in the Kivalliq Region in Nunavut. Inuit women identified their health needs were not being adequately addressed to prepare them for childbirth. They reported not having follow-up care after they left the hospital. Because of the lack of supports, we are conducting a four-year study to learn what supports and resources are needed and wanted by Inuit in the Kivalliq. We want to develop these resources/supports with Inuit to ensure the supports/resources are culturally and socially appropriate and easy to access and in Inuktitut. These resources (for example, an App, videos, virtual reality device, and or posters) will be created based on the input of women and Elders and youth through focus groups and surveys and interviews. Additional interviews with service providers in local communities will also be held. We will conduct workshops (focus groups) in Arviat and Rankin Inlet and Winnipeg to explore supports and resources with Inuit and co-develop these together. We will hold more workshops to look together at what is then developed and final set of workshops to test the resources out with women again. We will continue to work with Inuit women to try to improve these supports/resources over the course of the project to make sure they are what the women want and believe is needed. We will then share what we have learned as widely as possible. We want to develop these supports/resources to bring together Inuit ways of knowing and being, with what Inuit have experienced, and link it to medical information. We aim to improve the health and well-being of Inuit women and babies in Nunavut.