NCCIH

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Indigenous populations: Background paper

December 2024

In the Fall of 2020, the Public Health Agency of Canada approached the National Collaborating Centres for Indigenous Health (NCCIH) and Infectious Diseases (NCCID) to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the ability of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth and adults to access health services related to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). This background paper is intended to enhance this research by providing a comprehensive overview of the broader factors that influence STBBI transmission, prevention, and treatment among Indigenous Peoples; the experiences of First Nations peoples, Inuit, and Métis peoples with STBBIs; and strategies for addressing the disproportionate rates of STBBIs in Indigenous communities. The report concludes by providing examples of promising practices in STBBI prevention, testing, and care, and research in the context of Indigenous Peoples.

View or download the report (PDF)