Access to primary care and COVID-19 related care among marginalized Indigenous cisgender and transgender women, two-spirit peoples, and women sex workers, with a focus on Indigenous health

This thesis explores the prevalence and correlates of 1) access to healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic among marginalized Indigenous cisgender and transgender women and Two-Spirit Peoples, and 2) COVID-19 testing and vaccination in a cohort of women sex workers, among whom Indigenous women are greatly overrepresented. Previous and ongoing work clearly articulate the deeply harmful roles of colonialism and racism in continuing to systemically exclude Indigenous Peoples and highly marginalized populations of women (e.g., sex workers and women living with HIV) from accessing equitable healthcare and supports. While the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified structural inequities, little attention has been paid to how the pandemic impacts access to healthcare and COVID services among marginalized Indigenous women, Two-Spirit Peoples, and sex workers, particularly with regards to potential inequities experienced by Indigenous Peoples. Findings support the need for accessible, culturally-safe, anti-racist, and trauma-informed healthcare for marginalized Indigenous women, Two-Spirit Peoples, and women sex workers.