Assessing Community-Based Testing Models of Care for Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs) across Inuit Nunangat: Point-of-care testing, dried blood spot, self-testing, and multiplex units

Syphilis transmission, and notably, syphilis cases among pregnant females, remains a public health priority across Inuit Nunangat. Despite promising efforts to enhance community-based testing for syphilis in the Canadian Arctic, the COVID-19 pandemic diverted healthcare resources away from sexual/reproductive health for several years. With the syphilis outbreak worsening, there is need for renewed focus on preventing congenital syphilis through targeting access to screening, testing, and follow-up treatment. Regional variations in healthcare infrastructure across Inuit Nunangat demand localized approaches to testing, treatment, and prevention, as well as significant stakeholder engagement. To assess emerging community-based testing options, a realist review and environmental scan will be conducted in collaboration with Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada's Inuit Sexual Health Network. This review will involve engagement with provincial and territorial health representatives, public health providers, community leaders, and subject-matter experts, to explore various models of care for syphilis screening, testing, and follow-up. This project aims to develop a resource that maps community-based testing options within regional Inuit service delivery structures. As an Inuk researcher, I intend for this work to contribute to improving the syphilis response across Inuit regions and align with broader efforts to address reproductive health disparities and birth outcomes experienced by Indigenous communities in Canada.