Advancing circumpolar maternal and child health: insights from the ICARP IV session.

Abstract

This proceedings paper synthesises contributions from a dedicated session on circumpolar maternal and child health held during the International Conference on Arctic Research Planning IV. The objective was to highlight the significance of maternal and child health within Arctic research and to identify community‑anchored, culturally grounded approaches to care across regions. The paper draws on presentations and facilitated dialogue involving researchers, Indigenous midwives, birthworkers, and practitioners, who shared findings related to knowledge dissemination, service delivery, health system structures, and nutrition in the field of maternal and child health. Using a qualitative synthesis of session presentations and a subsequent sharing circle, the paper summarises key themes that illustrate how structural conditions, policy environments, cultural safety, and community strengths shape reproductive health and early‑life wellbeing across Arctic settings. The results demonstrate consistent concerns about cultural safety, evacuation for birth, workforce instability, and the effects of food insecurity, alongside examples of innovative community‑led practices and Indigenous‑centred models of care. The discussion highlights the conceptual importance of cross‑regional learning, Indigenous leadership, and relational models of care for strengthening maternal and child health systems in the circumpolar North. Overall, the paper advances understanding of shared challenges and region‑specific strengths and underscores the need for sustained collaboration, increased documentation of Indigenous‑led models, and policies that support culturally grounded, family‑centred care.