Celebrating 100% Success in SHRF Sprout Grant Competition

Giving birth to a child can be a positive, empowering experience for a woman; however, if the care she receives during childbirth lacks cultural security, it can cause confusion, anxiety, depression and trauma that stays with the mother throughout her life, influencing how she parents her child and ultimately, impacting the child’s growth and development. Dr. Angela Bowen believes improving access to traditional birth practices will help to identify gaps in health access and outcomes experienced by Indigenous families in Saskatchewan, particularly those living in rural and remote communities. Specifically, her research seeks to answer what pregnancy, birth and postpartum services would Saskatchewan Indigenous mothers and communities want to have access to so mothers can have “a good birth”,  what care model would promote access to culturally-secure birth for Indigenous mothers in Saskatchewan and what education do healthcare providers need to provide culturally-secure birth for Saskatchewan Indigenous mothers.

 Dr. Bowen’s research team on this grant includes Justina Whitehead (North East School Division), Kay Lerat (Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations), Nnamdi Ndubuka (Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority), Shirley Woods (Prince Albert Grand Council), Terrina Bellegarde (Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations), Holly Graham (College of Nursing), Jessica Dieter (All Nations’ Healing Hospital), Katelind Naitus (Ekweskeet Healing Lodge), Norma Rabbitskin (Sturgeon Lake Health Centre), Katherine Hennessy (Health Canada), Lorna Brietkreuz (All Nations’ Healing Hospital), Veronica McKinney (Northern Medical Services), Audrey Boyer (Population Health Unit – La Ronge), Carrie Pratt (Graduate Student, College of Nursing). Collaborators include KidsFirst North, Saskatchewan College of Midwives, Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority, Prince Albert Grand Council and Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations.

Prince Albert and the surrounding area is experiencing an alcohol and illicit substance use crisis, negatively impacting lives and straining healthcare, policing and social service resources. Families bear the brunt of substance use and addiction as caregivers and supporters. In the PA area, there are not many resources developed to support families affected by addiction.  With the state of substance use and addiction in mind, a team of researchers led by College of Nursing’s Dr. Geoffrey Maina, has taken on a project to look at the needs of families in the Prince Albert region and collaboratively develop resources to support them.

The project is expected to take two years and will be undertaken in two phases. In phase 1, Dr. Maina and his team will collect data on family needs and experiences with substance use and addiction. In phase 2, they will share the findings of the studies with the families and invite them to participate in the development of resources relevant for their support. Once the materials are developed, they will be reproduced and made available for circulation in health care units and centers, addiction clinics and social services centers, as well as online. This project builds on research previously conducted during a one-day knowledge exchange forum that was held in Prince Albert in 2017.