Research summary
Indigenous doulas have become more common in North America, Australia and New Zealand in recent years. These birth assistants play a critical role in providing culturally appropriate emotional, physical and spiritual support for expectant parents and their families during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period.
Dr. Jaime Cidro’s previous research found a lack of models for implementing sustainable Indigenous doula programs. As Canada Research Chair in Health and Culture, she plans to address this knowledge gap. Cidro and her research team are developing and piloting an urban Indigenous doula program and creating an advanced mentorship model. They are also developing partnerships to identify best practices in urban perinatal and maternal health research and make policy and program recommendations. Ultimately, Cidro’s research will improve the experiences of Indigenous birthing parents and their families who interact with our health-care and social systems.