New Aboriginal sexual and reproductive health website launched
Ottawa, June 21, 2011 – There are over one million Aboriginal people in Canada, many of whom are women facing a disproportionately high rate of adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes such as STIs, complications in pregnancy and delivery, as well as sexual violence. Today, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) launches www.AboriginalSexualHealth.ca — a unique and evolving source of information and materials supporting improved health-care for First Nation, Inuit and Métis women.”It’s a new way that we can share what we’re doing and what we’re learning with our members, other health-care professionals and our partners, as well as Aboriginal women, their families and their communities,” says Dr. Sandra de la Ronde, co-chair of the Aboriginal Health Initiative Committee.
The site includes a section for health-care professionals, focused on supporting the delivery of culturally-safe care through guidelines, policies and other key resources. Another section is tailored for Aboriginal women and youth, featuring public health materials in easy-to-access formats, such as YouTube videos. One of these is a message from Aboriginal actor Adam Beach, produced in partnership with the SOGC’s sexualityandU.cawebsite, promoting healthy sexual relationships among Aboriginal youth.
“The homepage features a medicine wheel, a First Nation sacred teaching, which we chose as our centre image because it symbolizes the cycle of life and how everything in life is connected,” says Dr. Wilson. “It is symbolic of harmony, balance and an inclusive place for everyone and we felt it is fitting for the objectives of this site.”
The concept of the medicine wheel also provides an excellent framework in which to consider the social determinants of health, such as the connection between poverty, social injustices and health inequities. “When we consider these determinants of health, we can more effectively plan helpful and supportive health interventions as the need arises,” says Dr. Wilson.
Messaging throughout the site is reflective of this, speaking to the belief that Aboriginal women face sexual and reproductive illnesses that can be prevented and that Aboriginal mothers and their children experience poor health outcomes that can be eliminated.
“We know that Aboriginal women are more likely to experience high-risk pregnancies and complicated or pre-term deliveries. We know that the risk of maternal mortality and infant mortality is about twice as high in Aboriginal communities compared to the general population. We believe that if we work together, with our partners, with government and with communities, that we can support change and advance Aboriginal women’s health,” says Dr. Darrien Rattray, junior member of the Aboriginal Health Initiative Committee.
Today, the launch of www.AboriginalSexualHealth.ca marks a milestone in the advancement of quality sexual and reproductive health-care for Aboriginal women, a key pillar of the SOGC’s strategic directions. The launch will be celebrated at the reception of the International Indigenous Women’s Health Symposium, being hosted today as part of the SOGC’s Annual Clinical Meeting in Vancouver.
About the SOGC
The SOGC is one of Canada’s oldest national specialty organizations. Established in 1944, the Society’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, outreach and education. The SOGC represents obstetricians/ gynaecologists, family physicians, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals working in the field of sexual reproductive health. For more information, visit www.sogc.org.
For further information:
Media Relations:
Natalie Wright
Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Tel: (613) 730-4192 or Toll-free: 1-800-561-2416, ext. 366
Email: nwright@sogc.com
