Engaging Cree Youth in Health Services Planning

Problem

Globally, Indigenous populations continue to bear a disproportionate burden of chronic disease and ill-health while being underserved by healthcare systems. In northern regions, such as James Bay, Quebec, Canada, secondary and tertiary care services are limited, thus primary care plays a crucial role in health service delivery. In 2014, the Cree Board of Health and Social Services for James Bay (CBHSSJB) supported the Iiyuu Ahtaawin Miyupimaatisiiun Planning (IAMP) initiative to stimulate local prioritization and plans for health change across the region. While many healthcare challenges defined through IAMP are specific to youth (under 25 years of age), engagement of youths’ perspectives in IAMP health planning to date has been limited. We hence seek to (1) review the evidence of Indigenous youth voices and engagement in health planning across Canada, and (2) understand how Cree youth perceive youth health, health priorities and their engagement in health planning in general.

Approach

Setting: Key informant interviews with youth leaders/leadership took place across the entirety of Eeyou Istchee (James Bay Cree Territory, Quebec, Canada), while focus groups were conducted with Cree youth (aged 15-17) in the Cree nation of Nemaska. Methods: As part of a CBHSSJB-McGill University partnership to evaluate IAMP, this qualitative descriptive study uses a community-based participatory research approach. Following a review of the literature, ten Cree youth participated in two focus groups, and five key informant interviews were conducted with Cree youth community leaders. Thematic analysis was conducted; inductive codes were grouped into thematic categories following a constant comparative method.

Findings

Results: Poster will discuss 1) how Cree youth perceive health; 2) insights on how and where Cree youth want to be engaged in planning for better health and healthcare services; and 3) strategies to facilitate this engagement. The youth perspectives offer important insights that will help create new and adapt existing material to assist local and regional leadership in priority setting.

Consequences

Impact: This project will help reduce the knowledge gap on Indigenous youth voices in health and healthcare in Canada and globally, and offer insights related to engaging young Indigenous people in health services planning. Results will contribute to the evaluation of the Iiyuu Ahtaawin Miyupimaatisiiun Planning (IAMP) initiative and help shape future health services planning in Eeyou Istchee.