Research lead: Rebecca Rich
MSc graduate Institute for Health Policy Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health
University of Toronto

Elder Research Advisor: Besha Blondin, Northwest Territories.

A scoping review of the international academic and grey literatures generated a working list of indicators. Fourteen circumpolar maternity care experts then participated in a two-round modified Delphi consensus process. Elven indicators met criteria for importance, circumpolar relevance, validity, and reliability. Twenty-nine additional indicators were identified for further consideration. This study demonstrated that while most circumpolar health systems engage in performance reporting for maternity care, current indicators do not always reflect local priorities. This study was effective in beginning to select contextually appropriate maternity care indicators. Future work should ensure that circumpolar performance indicators appropriately capture issues related to social determinants of health, travel for care, and cultural competency.

Initial study findings from the scoping review are published in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net/index.php/ijch/article/view/31470

Findings from indigenous knowledge circle and Delphi process are coming soon.