Abstract
Objective: To describe the health of First Nations adults residing on Ontario reserves using data from the Ontario First Nations Regional Health Survey (OFNRHS).
Method: Communities were randomly selected; individuals were systematically selected based on gender and age. Health questions were parallel to those used in the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and included general health, chronic conditions, substance use, and health service utilization.
Results: Response rate was 86% (N=1094) in participating communities; 23 of 30 selected communities participated. Most OFNRHS respondents reported that their health was good or better. Comparisons of OFNRHS participants with NPHS Ontario respondents showed: some chronic health conditions (including diabetes, high blood pressure) were more common; a greater proportion reported smoking; and a substantially lower proportion indicated that they consumed alcohol in the past year.
Conclusions: The OFNRHS provides important province-wide data to inform decisions by the First Nations people about how to intervene effectively to improve their health status.
Résumé
Objectif: Décrire, à partir des données de l’enquête Ontario First Nations Regional Health Survey (OFNRHS), l’état de santé des membres adultes des Premières nations vivant dans les réserves de l’Ontario.
Méthode: Les communautés ont été sélectionnées au hasard; les participants ont été choisis de façon systématique selon leur sexe et leur âge. Les questions sur la santé, tirées de l’Enquête nationale sur la santé de la population (ENSP), portaient notamment sur l’état de santé général, les troubles chroniques, la consommation d’alcool, ainsi que sur le recours aux services de santé.
Résultats: Pour les 23 communautés participantes (sur une possibilité de 30), le taux de réponse s’élevait à 86 % (n=1 094). La plupart des répondants ont indiqué être en bonne ou en très bonne santé. En comparant les répondants de l’OFNRHS aux répondants ontariens de l’ENSP, nous avons déterminé que certains problèmes chroniques, notamment le diabète et l’hypertension artérielle, sont plus fréquents chez les Autochtones. De plus, une plus grande proportion d’entre eux se déclarent fumeurs, alors qu’une proportion considérablement moindre indiquent avoir consommé de l’alcool au cours de la dernière année.
Conclusions: L’OFNRHS fournit d’importantes données qui pourront aider les Premières nations ontariennes à prendre des décisions qui leur permettront d’intervenir efficacement pour améliorer leur état de santé.
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: The Technical Advisory Committee and the Research Group would like to acknowledge the commitment and support of all the First Nations communities who participated in the Ontario First Nations Regional Health Survey. This study was supported with funding from the Tobacco Demand Reduction Strategy, Health Canada. Dr. MacMillan was supported by a William T. Grant Faculty Scholar Award, and by the Wyeth-Ayerst Canada Inc. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Clinical Research Chair in Women’s Mental Health. Dr. Offord was supported by a Career Scientist Award from Health Canada.
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