The Influence of Sociocultural Determinants on the Number of Diagnosed Chronic Illness Reported by Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the United States During SARS-CoV2.

Objectives: To determine the influence of cultural, including land-based, factors on the reported number of diagnosed chronic illnesses among Indigenous individuals living in Canada and the United States during SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Methods: 557 Indigenous individuals completed the Hearing Indigenous Voices survey (HIS) in 2021. Data from HIS respondents living with at least one chronic illness was used to conduct a Poisson regression. This equation estimated the effect of change in ancestral land use, participation in cultural activities, and demographic characteristics on the number of diagnosed chronic illnesses reported by Indigenous individuals.

Results: Results demonstrate that the number of chronic illnesses reported by Indigenous individuals during COVID-19 was positively correlated with 2 cultural factors. The first is spending a different amount of time on ancestral territories compared to before the pandemic (P < .01). Participating in beading, traditional arts and crafts, or Indigenous storytelling (P < .001) is the second. However, this relationship was moderated by age (P < .01) and socio-economic status (P < .001), with positive and negative associations respectively found for each demographic factor.

Discussion: Cultural practices, including accessing ancestral territories, often positively contribute to Indigenous Peoples' health. The increased number of diagnosed chronic illnesses among respondents who participate in cultural activities suggests that those living with chronic illness may not gain the same benefits from culture during pandemics because of the multitude of barriers they face during emergencies.