Birth outcomes and infant mortality among First Nations Inuit, and non-Indigenous women by northern versus southern residence, Quebec

Background: In circumpolar countries such as Canada, northern regions represent a unique geographical entity climatically, socioeconomically and environmentally. There is a lack of comparative data on birth outcomes among Indigenous and non-Indigenous subpopulations within northern regions and compa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
Main Authors: Luo, Z.-C. (Zhong-Cheng), Wilkins, R. (Russell), Heaman, M. (Maureen), Smylie, J. (Janet), Martens, P.J. (Patricia J.), McHugh, N.G.L. (Nancy G. L.), Labranche, E. (Elena), Simonet, F. (Fabienne), Wassimi, S. (Spogmai), Minich, K. (Katherine), Fraser, W.D. (William D.)
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: 2012
Subjects:
Canada
First Nations
inuit
Online Access:https://ir.library.carleton.ca/pub/26886
https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2009.092619
Description
Summary:Background: In circumpolar countries such as Canada, northern regions represent a unique geographical entity climatically, socioeconomically and environmentally. There is a lack of comparative data on birth outcomes among Indigenous and non-Indigenous subpopulations within northern regions and compared with southern regions. Methods: A cohort study of all births by maternal mother tongue to residents of northern (2616 First Nations (North American Indians), 2388 Inuit and 5006 non-Indigenous) and southern (2563 First Nations, 810 643 non-Indigenous) Quebec, 1991-2000. Results: Compared with births to southern non-Indigenous mother tongue women, births to northern women of all three mother tongue groups were at substantially elevated risks of infant death (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.7-2.9), especially postneonatal death (aOR 2.2-4.4) after controlling for maternal education, age, marital status and parity. The risk elevation in perinatal death was greater for southern First Nations (aOR 1.6) than for northern First Nations (aOR 1.2). Infant macrosomia was highly prevalent among First Nations in Quebec, especially in the north (31% vs 24% in the south). Within northern regions, Inuit births were at highest risk of preterm delivery (aOR 1.4) and infant death (aOR 1.6). Conclusion: All northern infants (First Nations, Inuit or non-Indigenous) were at substantially elevated risk of infant death in Quebec, despite a universal health i

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