What is missing? Addressing the complex issues surrounding sexual and reproductive health in the circumpolar north

Jessen, Cornelia; Leston, Jessica; Simons, Brenna C.; Rink, Elizabeth

doi:10.3402/ijch.v75.34287

Cited by 4 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 10 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Studies that centre the perspectives, experiences, and priorities of LGBTQ+ persons regarding their healthcare are largely absent in Canada's Arctic. This study aims to fill knowledge gaps regarding the sexual healthcare experiences and recommendations of LGBTQ+ persons in the NWT, Canada (Jessen, Leston, Simons, & Rink, ; Logie & Lys, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Automatic assumption of your gender, sexuality and sexual practices is also discrimination”: Exploring sexual healthcare experiences and recommendations among sexually and gender diverse persons in Arctic Canada

Logie

Lys

Dias

et al. 2019

Health Soc Care Community

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sexual and mental health disparities are reported in Arctic Canada as in other Arctic regions that experience shared challenges of insufficient healthcare resources, limited transportation, and a scarcity of healthcare research. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer persons (LGBTQ+) report sexual and mental health disparities in comparison with their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts, and these disparities may be exacerbated in rural versus urban settings. Yet limited research has explored sexual healthcare experiences among LGBTQ+ persons in the Arctic who are at the juncture of Arctic and LGBTQ+ health disparities. We conducted a qualitative study from May 2015 to October 2015 with LGBTQ+ persons in the Northwest Territories, Canada that involved in‐depth individual interviews with LGBTQ+ youth (n = 16), LGBTQ+ adults (n = 21), and key informants (e.g. coaches, teachers, nurses, social workers, and healthcare providers) (n = 14). We conducted thematic analysis, a theoretically flexible approach that integrates deductive and inductive approaches, to identify and map themes in the data. Findings reveal geographical, social, and healthcare factors converge to shape healthcare access. Specifically, the interplay between heterosexism and cisnormativity, intersectional forms of stigma, and place limited LGBTQ+ persons’ sexual healthcare access and produced negative experiences in sexual healthcare. Limited healthcare facilities in small communities resulted in confidentiality concerns. Heteronormativity and cisnormativity constrained the ability to access appropriate sexual healthcare. LGBTQ+ persons experienced LGBTQ+, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections stigma in healthcare. Participants also discussed healthcare provider recommendations to better serve LGBTQ+ persons: non‐judgment, knowledge of LGBTQ+ health issues, and gender inclusivity. Findings can inform multi‐level strategies to reduce intersecting stigma in communities and healthcare, transform healthcare education, and build LGBTQ+ persons’ healthcare navigation skills.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Automatic assumption of your gender, sexuality and sexual practices is also discrimination”: Exploring sexual healthcare experiences and recommendations among sexually and gender diverse persons in Arctic Canada

Logie

Lys

Dias

et al. 2019

Health Soc Care Community

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Many of these articles touched on utilizing long-term community-based participatory research (CBPR) or participatory action research (PAR) as methods to improve sexual and reproductive health in northern Inuit communities. This form of intervention research is developed upon the understanding that positive change is achieved when community members and members of target populations actively participate in, and contribute meaningfully to, intervention and research development [ 3 , 12 , 19 ]. Effective CBPR and PAR approaches have been demonstrated with a focus on reproductive health communication, improving contraception accessibility, providing appropriate training, and involving the correct stakeholders.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Effective CBPR and PAR approaches have been demonstrated with a focus on reproductive health communication, improving contraception accessibility, providing appropriate training, and involving the correct stakeholders. These could contribute to improved Inuit specific reproductive health programming and outcomes in the north [ 3 , 12 , 19 ] although to date have not focused specifically on youth.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Finally, Jessen et al [ 19 ] suggested that the North American research community should increase the amount of scientific articles on northern Inuit reproductive health in order to raise awareness about and make a positive impact on reproductive health outcomes overall and for youth specifically. Research needs to have an emphasis on health interventions and programs, improving access to care, addressing social, psychological, and cultural factors, epidemiology, and health indicators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research needs to have an emphasis on health interventions and programs, improving access to care, addressing social, psychological, and cultural factors, epidemiology, and health indicators. Without quality research and evaluation, providing well-tailored and effective interventions for young people in northern Inuit communities will remain a challenge [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Reproductive health interventions for Inuit youth in the north: a scoping review

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Inuit have thrived in the northern regions of Canada and Alaska for thousands of years. Recent evidence suggests that Inuit in this region have experienced systemic barriers to reproductive health with resulting disparities in reproductive health-related outcomes including those among youth. Northern youth-focused reproductive health intervention research or evaluations have not to date been well summarized. The objective of this scoping review was to summarize the literature over the past twenty years focusing on reproductive health interventions for adolescents in northern Inuit communities. Methods English-language articles from 2000 to 2020 were identified from seven scientific databases, a general internet search and a review of relevant websites. Two reviewers screened titles, abstracts and full texts and included articles if they mentioned a reproductive health intervention and pertained, directly or indirectly, to reproductive health for Inuit aged 10–19 in northern communities. Results Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria, across six themes: (1) Barriers to reproductive health interventions in the north; (2) Northern midwifery; (3) Northern birthing centres; (4) Fetal fibronectin tests for identifying high-risk pregnancies; (5) Prenatal education classes; and (6) Interventions to improve access to and quality of reproductive health supports. Conclusion Overall there is relatively limited evidence base specific to reproductive health interventions and northern Inuit youth. What does exist largely focuses on maternal health interventions and is inclusive of but not specific to youth. There is some evidence that youth specific educational programs, participatory action research approaches and the promotion of northern birthing centres and midwifery can improve reproductive health for adolescents and young mothers in northern Inuit communities. Future initiatives should focus on the creation and evaluation of culturally relevant and youth specific interventions and increasing community and youth participation in intervention research for better reproductive health.

show abstract

An ecological approach to understanding Women’s reproductive health and pregnancy decision making in Greenland

Rink¹,

Anastario²,

Reimer³

et al. 2022

Health & Place

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

What is missing? Addressing the complex issues surrounding sexual and reproductive health in the circumpolar north

Cited by 4 publications

References 10 publications

“Automatic assumption of your gender, sexuality and sexual practices is also discrimination”: Exploring sexual healthcare experiences and recommendations among sexually and gender diverse persons in Arctic Canada

“Automatic assumption of your gender, sexuality and sexual practices is also discrimination”: Exploring sexual healthcare experiences and recommendations among sexually and gender diverse persons in Arctic Canada

Reproductive health interventions for Inuit youth in the north: a scoping review

An ecological approach to understanding Women’s reproductive health and pregnancy decision making in Greenland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About