Findings among Indigenous participants of the Tracks survey of people who inject drugs in Canada, Phase 4, 2017-2019

Jill Tarasuk; Meghan Sullivan; Donna Bush; Christian Hui; Melissa Morris; Tami Starlight; François Cholette; Leigh Jonah; Maggie Bryson; Dana Paquette; Renée Masching

doi:10.14745/ccdr.v47i01a07

Findings among Indigenous participants of the Tracks survey of people who inject drugs in Canada, Phase 4, 2017-2019

Can Commun Dis Rep. 2021 Jan 29;47(1):37-46. doi: 10.14745/ccdr.v47i01a07.

Authors

Jill Tarasuk¹, Meghan Sullivan², Donna Bush³, Christian Hui^{1

2

3

4}, Melissa Morris^{1

2

3

4}, Tami Starlight^{1

2

3

4}, François Cholette⁴, Leigh Jonah¹, Maggie Bryson¹, Dana Paquette¹, Renée Masching²

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Communicable Diseases and Infection Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
² Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, Halifax, NS.
³ Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada, Ottawa, ON.
⁴ National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, MB.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Indigenous people who inject drugs; Keywords: HIV; care and treatment; drug use; hepatitis C; infection status; injecting behaviours; overdose; sexual risk practices; testing.