Understanding Indigenous Health Literacy through Community-Led Engagement

Abstract

ABSTRACT Context: This is a community engagement model which evolved from a Mixed Methods Participatory Social Justice (MMPSJ) research project. This model evolved from engagement of Elders in co-creating the questions and then through authentic engagement with the participants in all aspects of the research processes including both synthesis and dissemination. Indigenous community members alongside Elders and researchers explored health literacy in an effort to illuminate root causes of the social determinants of health (SDoH) and to build community capacity. Objective: To better understand the connections between health and literacy from a local perspective (living on Treaty Six Territory). Research Questions: In what ways can literacy be considered a social determinant of health from an urban Indigenous community? What literacy issues marginalize the community? How would you like this information shared or disseminated? Design: Mixed methods participatory social justice and community based participatory health research. Participants: There were: 12 participants. Results/Findings: Local, contemporary, Indigenous perspectives were shared in ways that were meaningful to the participants. Conclusions: Appropriate engagement with local community can: inform the social determinants of health in an appreciative way; enhance ethical space; and provide a richer understanding within community-based research. This approach builds capacity in and with community members, health care practitioners, educators and policy makers. This in turn will strengthen relationships across systems. This research was reviewed and approved by the University of Saskatchewan’s Behavioural Research Ethics Board. (Beh ID#733).