ABSTRACT
In this call to action, a coalition of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, United States and Canada argue for the urgent need for adequately funded Indigenous-led solutions to perinatal health inequities for Indigenous families in well-resourced settler-colonial countries. Authors describe examples of successful community-driven programs making a difference and call on all peoples to support and resource Indigenous-led perinatal health services by providing practical actions for individuals and different groups.
Subject(s)
Health Services Accessibility , Health Services, Indigenous , Reproductive Rights , Australia , Colonialism , Female , Humans , Midwifery , New Zealand , Patient Rights , Pregnancy , United StatesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) TRC has called to increase the number of Indigenous practitioners and include cultural competency education in their curricula. However, it remains unknown how nursing and midwifery programs are progressing towards these goals. PURPOSE: To examine the extent to which baccalaureate nursing and midwifery programs are creating culturally safe spaces for Indigenous students, responding to TRC-recommended curricular changes, and including Indigenous content. METHODS: A digital environmental scan of accredited baccalaureate nursing and midwifery programs in Canada was conducted. Analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Of the 107 programs, less than one-fifth (n = 19, 17.8%) met all three cultural safety criteria. More than half (n = 59, 55.1%) included culturally safe spaces for Indigenous students, 20 (18.7%) satisfied TRC call #24 to require Indigenous-relevant coursework, and one-third (n = 36, 33.6%) were seen as infusing their curricula with Indigenous-related content. CONCLUSIONS: This represents the first attempt to systematically catalog nursing and midwifery programs' response to the TRC Calls to Action. Most schools have not made substantial progress towards cultural safety. Nursing and midwifery programs should commit to expanding their cultural safety programming to incorporate multiple ways of knowing and being in their curricula.
