COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples’ access to STBBI services: Summarizing a national survey
CHRONIC AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES Sexually transmitted and blood-borne Infections (STBBIs) are a public health concern in Canada. This infographic explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the availability and accessibility of STBBI and related health services for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis teens and adults who sought or wanted to find STBBI services during the pandemic. The information in this infographic is based on the national “Impact of COVID-19 Survey”, coordinated by the Public Health Agency of Canada, in partnership with the National Collaborating Centres for Indigenous Health and Infectious Diseases (NCCID) 1. This infographic is a companion to the report “COVID-19 and Indigenous peoples’ access to STBBI and related health services: National survey results” and report summary “COVID-19 and Indigenous Peoples’ access to STBBI services: Summarizing survey, interview, and focus group findings.”
General information: HIV, Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis C, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, HPV, herpes simplex virus, and lymphogranuloma venereum are the most common STBBIs. Injection drug use accounts for most new infections for both HIV and hepatitis C cases among Indigenous populations.
Survey details and findings:
How did respondents identify?
70.4 First Nations
Métis
0%
Bisexual
Two Spirit
20%
40%
60%
of 1,183
Respondents reported that their mental health had worsened during the pandemic
31.6% of 752
1
Respondents felt they could not use mental health and wellness services provided by a therapist, counsellor, nurse, social worker, or physician during the pandemic
5.6
7.9 4.3 1.7
Heterosexual
61.8%
12.3 Two Spirit
78.3
Number of respondents (n): 1,183 between July 2021 and January 2022 Among those responding to questions about mental wellness:
Men
4.5
Inuit
78.8 Women
23.7
Gay or Lesbian
80%
100%
Number of respondents who looked for, considered, or wanted to get healthcare services for STBBI prevention, testing, and treatment during the pandemic:
114
The quantitative findings are from the Impact of COVID-19 Survey coordinated by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The Impact of COVID-19 Survey was conducted from July 2021 to January 2022 and assessed the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery and access to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) prevention and testing services, including harm reduction services, on key populations in Canada. The opinions expressed in this infographic are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.