Theme: Models of Care Year: 2024
Background: In Canada, Indigenous people continue to be impacted by hepatitis C virus (HCV) and other sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs) at a significantly higher rate than non-Indigenous people. Indigenous people are disproportionately impacted by the ongoing harms of colonial systems that lead to increased exposure to HCV and other STBBIs. Increasing engagement in STBBI prevention and treatment among Indigenous people, and improving the cultural safety of harm reduction services, is an important contributor to Canada’s HCV response.
Description of model of care/intervention/program: The Dr. Peter Centre (DPC) launched services in 2022 to address these unique challenges faced by Indigenous people who use drugs living with HIV/HCV. Approximately 33% of DPC’s participants self-identify as Indigenous. The program integrates a Two-Eyed seeing approach which incorporates Indigenous medicine, knowledge, and practice that work alongside western medicine to provide a holistic client-centered approach to HCV care.
Effectiveness: The program has yielded encouraging outcomes. 74% of participants reported strengthened capacity to prevent HCV and improve health outcomes. DPC’s clinical background and culturally-responsive approaches integrating traditional healing and medicines have significantly reduced the stigma surrounding HCV discussions and care among participants. Cultural safety and awareness training for all staff is crucial to prevent further trauma and provide a culturally safe environment. Success is attributed to integrating Indigenous voices and ways of knowing into programming.
Conclusion and next steps: Identifying culturally safe, healing-centered approaches that support the wellbeing of Indigenous people who use drugs living with HCV is an essential step towards HCV elimination. It is essential for service providers to establish trauma-informed relationships with Indigenous clients and consider HCV care within a holistic wellness framework. The program seeks to scale-up best practices for other non-Indigenous frontline organizations, offering culturally-relevant initiatives to meet the population’s specific needs pertaining to HCV and STBBI response.
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