# Insight into Post-Pandemic Needs in Healthcare and Well-Being Among Francophone Families in the Canadian Prairies

## TL;DR

This study explores the post-pandemic healthcare and well-being needs of Francophone families in Canada's Prairie provinces, revealing disparities in French-language access and highlighting region-specific priorities.

## Contribution

The study identifies common and province-specific post-pandemic health and well-being needs of Francophone families in a language minority context.

## Key findings

- Three high-priority needs were shared across provinces: French-language recreational activities for children, French-speaking healthcare professionals, and French social activities for families.
- AB/SK respondents emphasized mental health services in French for adults and youth, while MB families prioritized community belonging and French-language education services.
- Socio-demographic factors like gender, education, and language differences influenced the prioritization of specific needs.

## Abstract

Public health relevance: How does this work relate to a public health issue?
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing disparities in information and service access in French for these populations.This work demonstrates the lack of equal access to healthcare and social services between the official languages of Canada in a language minority context.

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the pre-existing disparities in information and service access in French for these populations.

This work demonstrates the lack of equal access to healthcare and social services between the official languages of Canada in a language minority context.

Public health significance: Why is this work of significance to public health?
This work provides insight into the lived experiences of Francophone families throughout the pandemic and the needs that remain to be addressed.Working directly with Francophone families provides results that can improve community belonging, healthcare, and education of this population.

This work provides insight into the lived experiences of Francophone families throughout the pandemic and the needs that remain to be addressed.

Working directly with Francophone families provides results that can improve community belonging, healthcare, and education of this population.

Public health implications: What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers, and/or researchers in public health?
Our results highlight common and province-specific priorities to improve policy and service planning in a bilingual country.This study provides access to solid research-based evidence to inform tailored responses, such as enhancing mental health services in AB and SK and fostering Francophone community and educational support in MB.

Our results highlight common and province-specific priorities to improve policy and service planning in a bilingual country.

This study provides access to solid research-based evidence to inform tailored responses, such as enhancing mental health services in AB and SK and fostering Francophone community and educational support in MB.

Francophone populations outside Quebec were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Despite French being one of Canada’s official languages, access to information and services in French remains limited. This study examined Francophone families’ (FF) post-pandemic health and well-being needs (PPHW) in the Canadian Prairie provinces. An online survey assessed PPHW needs among 319 FF in Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), and Manitoba (MB). Respondents ranked PPHW needs from a predefined list; logistic regression analyzed socio-demographic influences. Divided into AB/SK and MB cohorts, sociodemographic profiles were statistically distinct for many variables, but with similarities found in gender of respondents (women: 73% in AB/SK, 79% in MB), marital status (married: 81% in AB/SK, 88% in MB), area of residence (urban: 86% in AB/SK, 81% in MB), and number of children (2 children: 49% in AB/SK, 41% in MB). Three high-priority needs were shared across provinces: (1) access to recreational, athletic, and artistic activities in French for children (variations by child gender); (2) access to French healthcare professionals (variations by education level and language difference); and (3) social activities in French for families. AB/SK respondents prioritized mental health services in French for adults and youth. MB families prioritized belonging to a Francophone community (variations by gender of children) and education services in French (variations by age of children). Understanding these common and province-specific priorities can inform policy and service planning.