Summary findings from Tracks surveys implemented by First Nations in Saskatchewan and Alberta, Canada, 2018-2020

• Published in: Canada communicable disease report Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 146 - 156
• Main Authors: Lydon-Hassen, Kathleen, Jonah, Leigh, Mayotte, Lisa, Hrabowy, Ashley, Graham, Bonny, Missens, Beverley, Nelson, Amanda, Andkhoie, Mustafa, Nahachewsky, Deana, Yalamanchili, Dharma Teja, Gupta, Sabyasachi, Ndubuka, Nnamdi, Khan, Ibrahim, Yacoub, Wadieh, Bryson, Maggie, Paquette, Dana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada Public Health Agency of Canada 06-04-2022
• Series: First Nations Health
• Subjects: canada; care and treatment; Children; Community; community-led; Councils; Drug use; first nations; Health care; Health facilities; Health services; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; indigenous peoples; Infections; Inuit; Native North Americans; on-reserve communities; Participation; Polls & surveys; Prevention; Public health; Questionnaires; Research ethics; resilience; Schools; Sensitivity analysis; Sexual behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; Social behavior; Sociodemographics; stbbi; STD; sti; Substance use; Surveillance systems; Survey; Surveys; Syphilis; testing; tracks survey; Alberta Canada; Canada; Saskatchewan Canada; Indigenous Peoples; Tracks survey; hepatitis C; testing; STI; STBBI; Canada; First Nations; HIV; on-reserve communities; community-led; resilience; care and treatment
• ISSN: 1188-4169; 1481-8531; 1481-8531
• DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v48i04a05

The Public Health Agency of Canada's integrated bio-behavioural surveillance system-Tracks surveys-assesses the burden of HIV, hepatitis C and associated risks in key populations in Canada. From 2018-2020, Tracks surveys were successfully implemented by First Nations Health Services Organizations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
First Nations-led survey teams invited community members who identified as First Nations, Inuit or Métis to participate in Tracks surveys and testing for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis. Information was collected on social determinants of health, use of prevention services, substance use, sexual behaviours and care for HIV and hepatitis C. Descriptive statistics are presented.
Of the 1,828 survey participants, 97.4% self-identified as First Nations and 91.4% lived in an on-reserve community. Over half (52.2%) were cisgender female, average age was 36.3 years, 82.5% lived in stable housing, 82% had access to primary healthcare and 73.8% reported having good to excellent mental health. Most participants (97%) had a family member who had experienced residential school. High proportions experienced stigma and discrimination (65.6%), financial strain (64.3%) and abuse in childhood (65.1%). Testing for HIV (62.8%) and hepatitis C (55.3%) was relatively high. Prevalence of HIV was 1.6% (of whom 64% knew their infection status). Hepatitis C ribonucleic acid prevalence was 5% (44.9% of whom knew their current infection status).
Historical and ongoing experiences of trauma, and higher prevalence of hepatitis C were identified, reaffirming evidence of the ongoing legacies of colonialism, Indian Residential Schools and systemic racism. High participation in sexually transmitted blood-borne infection testing and prevention reflect the importance of First Nations-led culturally sensitive, safe and responsive healthcare services and programs to effect improved outcomes for First Nations peoples.