Grant: Planning and Dissemination Grant - Institute Community Support

When someone talks about the pelvic floor, what comes to mind? Laying on the floor and moving your hips? Some mysterious structure in your pelvis? Bladder leaks? Kegels? The pelvic floor is at the bottom of the pelvis, made up of muscles and other structures. These structures support the internal organs and help to control the bladder and bowel. Sometimes, the pelvic floor has difficulties with its functions. When this happens, people - more women than men - may be told they have a pelvic floor condition. Right now, there is not a lot of information about pelvic floor conditions in Indigenous groups in Canada. Without this information, the health services offered to Indigenous people may not meet their needs. Research can be harmful to individuals and communities that participate in studies. When people are asked to share their experiences, they may be forced to relive a traumatic event. Many women with pelvic floor conditions have also experienced a traumatic event that caused injury to the pelvic floor. Therefore, research of pelvic floor conditions needs to be done in a safe way. This research project will take place in the Northwest Territories (NWT). The NWT was chosen because of the high percentage of Indigenous residents, and because the health care system offers very few services for pelvic floor conditions. Before starting to research pelvic floor conditions in the NWT, we need to make sure that the research process is safe and respectful of Indigenous people's beliefs and experiences. A committee of researchers, Indigenous knowledge holders, and community members will be formed to create research guidelines. These guidelines will be used in a pelvic floor research project with Indigenous women in the NWT.