Emma Ronayne

Topic

The Medicine Bundle Pilot: An Indigenous Approach to Sexual Health in British Columbia

School of Public Health and Social Policy

Date & location

• Thursday, January 11, 2024
• 9:30 A.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria (Supervisor)
• Dr. Kiffer Card, School of Public Health and Social Policy, UVic (Member)

External Examiner

• Dr. Astrid Pérez Piñán, School of Public Administration, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Donna McGhie-Richmond, Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies, UVic

Abstract

The social determinants of health and the determinants of Indigenous health, including the historical and ongoing effects of settler-colonialism across Turtle Island, contribute to increased rates of HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBI) facing Indigenous people in Canada. Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous folks face further systemic barriers to accessing sexual health resources. The Medicine Bundle Pilot project takes a strengths-based approach to addressing health inequities in HIV and STBBI awareness and prevention. The Medicine Bundle Pilot was developed by the Community-Based Research Centre’s Two-Spirit Program to address barriers and increase culturally safe access to sexual health resources for Indigenous people in British Columbia. The Medicine Bundle is an Indigenous-developed approach to the HIV self-test kit and dried-blood spot test, combining traditional Indigenous medicines with Western sexual health resources. Medicine Bundles were distributed to Indigenous communities and community members across British Columbia, fostering safer pathways to care. My thesis (1) assessed the effectiveness of the Medicine Bundle Pilot as an Indigenous-led HIV testing service, and (2) evaluated barriers and access limitations to sexual health resources for Indigenous people in British Columbia. Existing barriers include limited access to sexual health resources within communities and being wrongfully denied access to services. Results demonstrate that the Medicine Bundle is a very effective sexual health resource for Indigenous people, and participants reported improved experiences with testing through the Medicine Bundle.