Abstract

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Background
Keywords
Findings
Authors
What is already known on this subject?
What does this study add?

Text begins

Background

Aboriginal children have been shown to experience poorer health, compared with their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Differences in health status may be associated with family and social conditions, lifestyle or behaviour, and cultural factors.

Data and methods

The current study examined the parent-/guardian-reported health of First Nations children living off reserve and Métis children younger than 6. This does not include the 43% of First Nations children who were living on reserves in 2006. Data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey were used to investigate measures of child health and assess possible associations with social determinants of health.

Results

Most First Nations children living off reserve and Métis children were reported to be in excellent or very good health. The most common chronic conditions reported by parents/guardians were asthma, speech and language difficulties, allergies, and lactose intolerance. Several social determinants were associated with child health, including parental education, household income, breastfeeding, and perceptions of housing conditions and health facilities in the community.

Interpretation

The findings suggest that social factors can be associated with parent-/guardian-rated health of First Nations children living off reserve and Métis children under age 6.

Keywords

Aboriginal, child health, chronic disease, indigenous, limitation of activity, social environment, socio-economic status

Findings

Research has shown that Aboriginal children experience poorer health than do non- Aboriginal children. For example, a recent report revealed substantial Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal health differences, including higher rates of injury, accidental death, and sudden infant death syndrome. Aboriginal children are at higher risk of otitis media (chronic ear infection), respiratory tract infections, obesity, dental problems, and hospitalization due to asthma. [Full Text]

Authors

Leanne Findlay (leanne.findlay@statcan.gc.ca; 1-613-951-4648) is with the Health Analysis Division and Teresa Janz (teresa.janz@statcan.gc.ca; 1-613-951-4645) is with the Health Statistics Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.

What is already known on this subject?

Research has revealed disparities in the health of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children.
It has been suggested that such differences stem from social rather than biological determinants.
Much previous research examines Aboriginal peoples as a whole, although it has been recommended that studies focus on specific Aboriginal groups.

What does this study add?

The current study uses parent-/guardian reported data to examine the health of children younger than age 6 who were identified as First Nations living off reserve or as Métis.
More than 85% of the children in each group were reported to be in excellent or very good health.
The most common chronic conditions reported by parents/guardians were asthma, speech and language difficulties, allergies, and lactose intolerance.
Several social determinants of health were associated with child health, including parental education, household income, breastfeeding, perceived housing conditions, and community health care facilities.