Mothers typically act as gatekeepers to health care for their children, yet many Indigenous mothers report poor access to health services. Inadequate access to health services may contribute to the poor health outcomes experienced by Indigenous infants. Understanding how urban-dwelling Indigenous mothers experience selecting and using health services to meet the health needs of their infants is important to informing how health services can best support the needs of these families. This study employs qualitative interpretive description methodology guided by the Two-Eyed Seeing framework and Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Services Use. Interviews facilitated by ecomaps and a discussion group were conducted with 19 Indigenous mothers living in Hamilton with infants under the age of 2 years. Additional interviews with 12 health providers added further context to the mothers’ experiences. Results relate to three domains of health service use: primary care, acute care and early childhood health promotion services. Findings suggest that health providers can improve the access and use of health services by Indigenous mothers and infants through integrating three approaches to care: culturally safe care, trauma and violence-informed care and family centred care. While Indigenous-led supports may be better suited to meet the needs of Indigenous families, mainstream services can improve access and promote health service use through integrating these approaches to care. The findings have numerous implications for nursing education, practice and research as well as for health policy. Application of this evidence may result in equitable access to care, improved use of health services and better health outcomes for Indigenous infants and their families. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Access and use of health care are important to health and wellness. Indigenous infants are known to have poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous infants in Canada, yet little is understood of how their parents access health care to meet their health needs. This thesis uses qualitative methods, including interviews and a discussion group, to ask Indigenous mothers living in a city about their experiences selecting and using health services to meet their infant’s health needs. Interviews with health providers assist with understanding how health care is delivered to these families. The results provide important strategies for nurses and other health providers to improve how they provide care. This may then improve access to health services for Indigenous parents and ultimately lead to improved health outcomes for Indigenous infants and their families.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:mcmaster.ca/oai:macsphere.mcmaster.ca:11375/23844 |
| Date | January 2019 |
| Creators | Wright, Amy L. |
| Contributors | Wahoush, Olive, Ballantyne, Marilyn, Gabel, Chelsea, Jack, Susan M., Nursing |
| Source Sets | McMaster University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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