Modeling the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Communities: Some Considerations

Authors

  • Josée G. Lavoie University of Manitoba, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2483-431X
  • Razvan G. Romanescu Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Canada
  • Alan Katz Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Canada
  • Nathan Nickel Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18584/iipj.2020.11.3.10733

Keywords:

Infectious diseases, mathematical modeling, public health, Indigenous, Aboriginal, Canada, COVID-19, pandemic

Abstract

Objectives: This article articulates the complexity of modeling in First Nations, Metis, and Inuit contexts by providing the results of a modeling exercise completed at the request of the First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba. 

Methods: We developed a model using the impact of a previous pandemic (the 2009 H1N1) to generate estimates.

Results: The lack of readily available data has resulted in a model that assumes homogeneity of communities in terms of health status, behaviour, and infrastructure limitations. While homogeneity may be a reasonable assumption for province-wide planning, First Nation communities and Tribal Councils require more precise information in order to plan effectively. Metis and urban Inuit communities, in contrast, have access to much less information, making the role of Indigenous organizations mandated to serve the needs of these populations that much more difficult.

Conclusion: For many years, Indigenous organizations have advocated for the need to have access to current and precise data to meet their needs. The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the importance of timely and accurate community-based data to support pandemic responses. 

Author Biographies

Josée G. Lavoie, University of Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Josée Lavoie is a Professor with the Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, and Director of OngomiizwinResearch at the University of Manitoba.

Razvan G. Romanescu, Centre for Healthcare Innovation, University of Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Razvan Romanescu joined the Data Science platform on January 20 as consulting biostatistician with the Biostatistics Group. Dr. Romanescu completed his PhD in 2016 at the University of Guelph. He then joined the Lunenfeld Research Institute at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto as a post-doctoral fellow. Dr. Romanescu’s expertise lies in statistical genetics, data-driven modeling, and infectious disease modeling. 

Alan Katz, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Canada

Alan Katz is the Director of the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy and professor in the Departments of Community Health Sciences and Family Medicine. He is also the MHRC Chair in Primary Prevention Research. He received his medical training at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He worked in rural Saskatchewan and a community clinic in the core of Winnipeg prior to joining the Department of Family Medicine. He is a past chair of the Health Research Ethics Board in the Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences and is a researcher at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. His research interests are focused on Primary Care delivery, including quality of care indicators, knowledge translation and disease prevention.

Nathan Nickel, Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, University of Manitoba, Canada

Dr. Nickel received his Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Community Health Sciences at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a focus in maternal and child nutrition policies and global health. He completed his PhD in Maternal and Child Health Policy at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

In 2013 he joined the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy as a Research Scientist and received a faculty appointment in the Department of Community Health Sciences.

In 2020 he was promoted to Associate Professor and became the Associate Director overseeing deliverables at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy.

International Indigenous Policy Journal July 2020 Volume 11 Issue 3; Nicholas Spence, Editor-in-Chief; Susan Wingert, Managing Editor

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Published

2020-10-07

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2020): The COVID-19 Pandemic and Indigenous Peoples

Section

Research

License

Copyright (c) 2020 Josée Lavoie, Razvan G. Romanescu, Alan Katz, Nathan Nickel

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