Disparities in primary and emergency health care among “off-reserve” Indigenous females compared with non-Indigenous females aged 15–55 years in Canada – CMAJ

August 28, 2023

Sebastian A. Srugo, Christina Ricci, Jennifer Leason, Ying Jiang, Wei Luo, Chantal Nelson and the Indigenous Advisory Committee
Abstract

Background: Access to primary care protects the reproductive and non-reproductive health of females. We aimed to quantify health care disparities among “off-reserve” First Nations, Métis and Inuit females, compared with non-Indigenous females of reproductive age.

Methods: We used population-based data from cross-sectional cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2015–2020), including 4 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. We included all females aged 15–55 years. We measured health care access, use and unmet needs, and quantified disparities through weighted and age-standardized absolute prevalence differences compared with non-Indigenous females.

Results: We included 2902 First Nations, 2345 Métis, 742 Inuit and 74 760 non-Indigenous females of reproductive age, weighted to represent 9.7 million people. Compared with non-Indigenous females, Indigenous females reported poorer health and higher morbidity, yet 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.8% to 6.6%) fewer First Nations females and 40.7% (95% CI 34.3% to 47.1%) fewer Inuit females had access to a regular health care provider. Indigenous females waited longer for primary care, more used hospital services for nonurgent care, and fewer had consultations with dental professionals. Accordingly, 3.2% (95% CI 0.3% to 6.1%) more First Nations females and 4.0% (95% CI 0.7% to 7.3%) more Métis females reported unmet needs, especially for mental health (data for Inuit females not reported owing to high variability).

Read More: https://www.cmaj.ca/content/195/33/E1097