Burden Ethnographic Modeling Evaluation Qaujilisaaqtuq (BEMEQ) RSV: The Nunavut and Nunavik burden study

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: health, infants, hospitalization, acute respiratory infection

Principal Investigator: Goldfarb, David (3)
Licence Number: 17241
Organization: University of British Columbia
Licensed Year(s): 2023 2022
Issued: Apr 27, 2023
Project Team: Mai-Lei (Maggie) Kinshella, Darcy Scott, Michelle Dittrick

Objective(s): To identify the respiratory infection admissions at all hospitals serving Nunavummiut children under one year of age from 2010-2020.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.5494. The research team propose to identify the respiratory infection admissions at all hospitals serving Nunavummiut children under one year of age from 2010-2020. The objectives of the study are to: 1) Determine the rate and outcome of infant respiratory infection hospitalizations; 2) Assess the effectiveness of the palivizumab vaccination program in preventing hospital admissions due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in Nunavut; 3) Understand the factors associated with severe hospital stays due to respiratory tract infections; and 4) Assess the potential indirect impact of the COVID-19 pandemic measures on burden of infant admissions to hospital for respiratory infections The research team will review hospital charts at the six hospitals serving the population of Nunavut: Qikiqtani General Hospital, Stanton Territorial Hospital, Montreal Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Winnipeg Children’s Hospital, and Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. The research team will engage public health, clinical and community partners in Nunavut and Northwest Territories throughout the research to identify appropriate ways to inform communities about the project and its outcomes. Methods of sharing results include dissemination teleconferences and a policy brief one pager. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from April 26, 2023 to December 31, 2023.