Racism and the lack of primary care providers mean off-reserve First Nations, Metis and Inuit women and girls have poorer health overall compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, says a study by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Researchers used data for all females aged 15 to 55 from the annual Canadian Community Health Survey between 2015 and 2020. That amounted to 6,000 people from the three distinct groups and 74,760 non-Indigenous females, all in their reproductive years.
"Even when we compare Indigenous women and people assigned female at birth to non-Indigenous counterparts of a similar age, similar education, income and living in the same places, we still have those gaps," Srugo said. Primary care providers could support the women in their reproductive decisions and assess them for conditions including heart disease, depression and cancer, he said.
The study included 2,902 First Nations, 2,345 Metis and 742 Inuit women and girls. Researchers also received input from an advisory committee specifically created for the project. Members were from four organizations -- Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak , the Native Women's Association of Canada, Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada and 2 Spirits in Motion.
Clark said she hoped the federal government would use the findings to "hold provinces accountable" to deliver targeted programs for women whose needs have been sidelined for too long.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Racism partly to blame for worse health outcomes of Indigenous women: study'Indigenous females waited longer for primary care, more used hospital services for non-urgent care and fewer had consultations with dental professionals,' a PHAC study says.
Read more »
Indigenous females face more hurdles in health care access, study findsA study has found a higher percentage of First Nations, Métis and Inuit females report being in poor health and have less access to health care than non-Indigenous females
Read more »
'Visible to anyone and everyone': Indigenous teens to paint mural outside art galleryBeginning next week, more than a dozen Indigenous youth will work with local artist Lucia Laford to create large woodland art mural on exterior of Art Gallery of Algoma
Read more »
Hundreds of thousands 'at risk' from Indigenous claim: N.B. premierGovernment files court action to protect the property rights of more than 250,000 citizens he says are threatened by the Wolastoqey title claim; First ...
Read more »
Charla Huber: An Elder’s phone number is more than numbersIn Indigenous culture, “relationships are forever.”
Read more »
Canada confirms it changed land claim process, mulls Indian Act changesCanada changed the way it settles First Nation land claims, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada confirmed Friday.
Read more »