OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence, exacerbations and management of asthma among Canada's Aboriginal populations, and its relationship to socio-economic and geographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional questionnaire survey. METHODS: Data were collected in 2000 and 2001 through a survey of Aboriginal children and adults residing on- and off-reserve as part of the 2001 Aboriginal People's Survey (APS). The asthma related outcome variables - physician-diagnosed asthma, attack in past year and regular use of inhalants - were examined in relation to socio-economic and geographic factors such as income, education, housing and location of residence. Statistical analyses were based on weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: The results show variations in asthma diagnosis, attacks and inhalant use across geographic location, socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Geographic location was found to be significantly associated with asthma for both adults and children, with those living in the northern territories, on-reserve or rural locations being the least likely to be diagnosed. Geographic location and Aboriginal identity were also found to be significantly associated with asthma medication use. CONCLUSIONS: While these findings may suggest a "healthier" population in more remote locations, they alternatively point to a general pattern of under-diagnosis, potentially due to poor health care access, as is typical in more remote locations.
OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence, exacerbations and management of asthma among Canada's Aboriginal populations, and its relationship to socio-economic and geographic factors. STUDY DESIGN: Secondary analysis of a national cross-sectional questionnaire survey. METHODS: Data were collected in 2000 and 2001 through a survey of Aboriginal children and adults residing on- and off-reserve as part of the 2001 Aboriginal People's Survey (APS). The asthma related outcome variables - physician-diagnosed asthma, attack in past year and regular use of inhalants - were examined in relation to socio-economic and geographic factors such as income, education, housing and location of residence. Statistical analyses were based on weighted univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: The results show variations in asthma diagnosis, attacks and inhalant use across geographic location, socio-economic and demographic characteristics. Geographic location was found to be significantly associated with asthma for both adults and children, with those living in the northern territories, on-reserve or rural locations being the least likely to be diagnosed. Geographic location and Aboriginal identity were also found to be significantly associated with asthma medication use. CONCLUSIONS: While these findings may suggest a "healthier" population in more remote locations, they alternatively point to a general pattern of under-diagnosis, potentially due to poor health care access, as is typical in more remote locations.
Authors: Maureen L Douglas; Shawna L McGhan; Danielle Tougas; Nancy Fenton; Christopher Sarin; Oxana Latycheva; A Dean Befus Journal: Can Respir J Date: 2013 Jul-Aug Impact factor: 2.409
Authors: Punam Pahwa; Sylvia Abonyi; Chandima Karunanayake; Donna C Rennie; Bonnie Janzen; Shelley Kirychuk; Joshua A Lawson; Tarun Katapally; Kathleen McMullin; Jeremy Seeseequasis; Arnold Naytowhow; Louise Hagel; Roland F Dyck; Mark Fenton; Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan; Vivian Ramsden; Malcolm King; Niels Koehncke; Greg Marchildon; Lesley McBain; Thomas Smith-Windsor; Janet Smylie; Jo-Ann Episkenew; James A Dosman Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2015-05-16
Authors: Teresa To; Sanja Stanojevic; Rachel Feldman; Rahim Moineddin; Eshetu G Atenafu; Jun Guan; Andrea S Gershon Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2013-03-21 Impact factor: 3.295