title: Inuit family understandings of sexual health and relationships in Nunavut.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore Inuit family understandings of sexual health and relationships in order to inform responsive public health interventions that are designed to meet the needs of Nunavummiut.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative indigenous knowledge approach was used for this study with a focus on Inuit epistemology and methodology, as described in the Piliriqatigiinniq Community Health Research Partnership Model. Interviews were conducted with 20 parents in three Nunavut communities in 2011. An immersion and crystallization analytical approach was used to analyze the data and to identify groupings or themes in the data. The stories shared by parents are honoured, keeping their words intact as often as possible in the presentation of results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents in this study largely discussed sexual health in the context of historical community events related to settlement and/or residential schools. Residential schools and forced settlement into communities were linked to trauma, family separation, hardship and grief. These experiences were prominent in participants' understandings of sexual health and perceptions of sexual health behaviours among youth in the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the complexity of the landscape of sexual health in Nunavut and the need for public health approaches that are inclusive of Inuit family perspectives on sexual health. Greater understanding of historical and community context can contribute to the development of pertinent, evidence-based public health interventions that will meet the needs of the population.
authors.affiliation: Qaujigiartiit Health Research Centre. gwen.healey@qhrc.ca.
authors.forename: Gwen K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Healey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D004930:Inuit / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D020957:Nunavut; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Inuit; family health; indigenous population; reproductive health; social determinants of health