PERCEPTIONS OF PREGNANT INUIT WOMEN, ELDERS, COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE EXPERTS, PROVIDERS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH REPRESENTATIVES IN NUNAVUT ABOUT MATERNAL PERTUSSIS IMMUNIZATION

Abstract

There are established maternal pertussis and influenza immunization programs in Nunavut. This thesis project provides information about the perceptions of community healthcare experts, providers, and community healthcare representatives about maternal pertussis immunizations and the determinants of maternal pertussis immunization. I used a mixed methods, sequential research design including narrative collection and sharing circles, both of which informed the generation of a panel of survey questions to be validated and tested outside the scope of this thesis.

Participants described working in complex system with various configurations of prenatal and public health. Human resources and retention were identified as either contributing to or detracting from collective knowledge about maternal immunization and trust between patient and provider, both of which are identified as determinants of maternal immunization. These findings suggest that a complexity-informed approach to existing and nascent maternal immunization programs may be both culturally and logistically appropriate in Nunavut.