NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area, Sahtu Settlement Area, Dehcho Region, North Slave Region, South Slave Region, Qikiqtaaluk Region

Tags: health, physical health, COVID-19, pandemic, Indigenous health

Objective(s): To study the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5254. The objective is study the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories. The research team hope this study will produce high level policy recommendations for future pandemic response. Furthermore, the team hope the co-development of COVID 19 data and evidence will contribute to the development of national strategies with Indigenous communities. This project will use a parallel mixed methods approach to explore the impact of COVID-19 on Indigenous people in the Northwest Territories. Retrospective data analysis, focus groups and policy review will all contribute to this project. Research Methods/Procedures: (1) Dataset Analysis Information about COVID-19 cases in the Northwest Territories from January 1, 2020 to August 31, 2022 will be examined in this study. A COVID-19 case dataset with aggregate (de-identified) data already exists; this dataset draws from the following sources: PCR (polymerase chain reaction) laboratory testing results data (NWT Stanton Hospital Lab, Alberta Precision Lab), COVID-19 variant testing lab data (Alberta Precision Lab), Electronic Medical Record point-of-care COVID-19 testing, Hospitalization and severe outcome data – provided by the severe outcome liaison, severe outcome Surveillance Report form, and electronic Medical Record Vaccination administration data. The case data is stored on a shared drive on a secured GNWT server that is restricted to approved users. Aggregate numbers for COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, ICU (Intensive Care Unit) admissions and mortality, and vaccination status for each category will be recorded in a password protected file. (2) Focus Groups Kimberly Fairman (study team member) is the Director of the Institute for Circumpolar Health Research, where she has developed connections with other health organizations and Indigenous communities throughout her career. She is Nunavummiut, and her home community is?Taloyoak. She will contact organizations (e.g. Dene Council) to identify interested participants and elders for focus groups. (3) Policy Review A literature review and web search will be conducted for national and local policies relating to COVID-19. For communications to NWT Indigenous Groups and stakeholders, one of the study members (Kimberly Fairman) has developed connections with Indigenous communities throughout her career and will assist with contacting Councils and organizations (such as the Dene Council) to identify interested participants. An email update will be provided to relevant community organizations once focus groups are completed. Deliverables (including a report or publication link) will be provided through email to communities and participants once the project is completed around Fall 2023. Communications will generally occur through email. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from February 23, 2023 to December 31, 2023.