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Background: The Public Health Agency of Canada’s integrated bio-behavioural surveillance system—Tracks surveys—assesses the burden of HIV, hepatitis C and associated risks in key populations in Canada. From 2018–2020, Tracks surveys were successfully implemented by First Nations Health Services Organizations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Methods: First Nations-led survey teams invited community members who identified as First Nations, Inuit or Métis to participate in Tracks surveys and testing for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis. Information was collected on social determinants of health, use of prevention services, substance use, sexual behaviours and care for HIV and hepatitis C. Descriptive statistics are presented. Results: Of the 1,828 survey participants, 97.4% self-identified as First Nations and 91.4% lived in an on-reserve community. Over half (52.2%) were cisgender female, average age was 36.3 years, 82.5% lived in stable housing, 82% had access to primary healthcare and 73.8% reported having good to excellent mental health. Most participants (97%) had a family member who had experienced residential school. High proportions experienced stigma and discrimination (65.6%), financial strain (64.3%) and abuse in childhood (65.1%). Testing for HIV (62.8%) and hepatitis C (55.3%) was relatively high. Prevalence of HIV was 1.6% (of whom 64% knew their infection status). Hepatitis C ribonucleic acid prevalence was 5% (44.9% of whom knew their current infection status). Conclusion: Historical and ongoing experiences of trauma, and higher prevalence of hepatitis C were identified, reaffirming evidence of the ongoing legacies of colonialism, Indian Residential Schools and systemic racism. High participation in sexually transmitted blood-borne infection testing and prevention reflect the importance of First Nations-led culturally sensitive, safe and responsive healthcare services and programs to effect improved outcomes for First Nations peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Public Health Agency of Canada's integrated bio-behavioural surveillance system-Tracks surveys-assesses the burden of HIV, hepatitis C and associated risks in key populations in Canada. From 2018-2020, Tracks surveys were successfully implemented by First Nations Health Services Organizations in Alberta and Saskatchewan.Methods: First Nations-led survey teams invited community members who identified as First Nations, Inuit or Métis to participate in Tracks surveys and testing for HIV, hepatitis C and syphilis. Information was collected on social determinants of health, use of prevention services, substance use, sexual behaviours and care for HIV and hepatitis C. Descriptive statistics are presented.Results: Of the 1,828 survey participants, 97.4% self-identified as First Nations and 91.4% lived in an on-reserve community. Over half (52.2%) were cisgender female, average age was 36.3 years, 82.5% lived in stable housing, 82% had access to primary healthcare and 73.8% reported having good to excellent mental health. Most participants (97%) had a family member who had experienced residential school. High proportions experienced stigma and discrimination (65.6%), financial strain (64.3%) and abuse in childhood (65.1%). Testing for HIV (62.8%) and hepatitis C (55.3%) was relatively high. Prevalence of HIV was 1.6% (of whom 64% knew their infection status). Hepatitis C ribonucleic acid prevalence was 5% (44.9% of whom knew their current infection status).Conclusion: Historical and ongoing experiences of trauma, and higher prevalence of hepatitis C were identified, reaffirming evidence of the ongoing legacies of colonialism, Indian Residential Schools and systemic racism. High participation in sexually transmitted blood-borne infection testing and prevention reflect the importance of First Nations-led culturally sensitive, safe and responsive healthcare services and programs to effect improved outcomes for First Nations peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Tracks survey of people who inject drugs (PWID) collected data in 14 sentinel sites across Canada (2017-2019). These findings describe the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C and associated risk behaviours among Indigenous participants.Methods: Information regarding socio-demographics, social determinants of health, use of prevention services and testing, drug use, risk behaviours, and HIV and hepatitis C testing, care and treatment was collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires. Biological samples were tested for HIV, hepatitis C antibodies and hepatitis C ribonucleic acid (RNA). Descriptive statistics were calculated and reviewed by an Indigenous-led advisory group using the Two-Eyed Seeing approach.Results: Of the 2,383 participants, 997 were Indigenous (82.9% First Nations, 14.9% Métis, 2.2% Inuit). Over half (54.5%) were cisgender male and the average age was 38.9 years. A large proportion (84.0%) reported their mental health as "fair to excellent". High proportions experienced stigma and discrimination (90.2%) and physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse in childhood (87.5%) or with a sexual partner (78.6%). Use of a needle/syringe distribution program (90.5%) and testing for HIV (87.9%) and hepatitis C (87.8%) were high. Prevalence of HIV was 15.4% (78.2% were aware of infection status) and 36.4% were hepatitis C RNA-positive (49.4% were aware of infection status).Conclusion: High rates of HIV and hepatitis C were identified. Challenges in access to and maintenance of HIV and hepatitis C care and treatment were noted. This information informs harm reduction strategies, including the need to scale-up awareness of prophylaxis in a culturally relevant manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]