Inuit housing and homelessness: results from the International Polar Year Inuit Health Survey 2007-2008.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluate housing characteristics across Inuit regions in Canada that participated in the 2007-2008 International Polar Year (IPY) Inuit Health Survey. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional Inuit Health Survey. METHODS: Housing characteristics were ascertained as part of the IPY Inuit Health Survey through interviews conducted in 33 coastal and 3 inland communities, representing all communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region (ISR) of NWT, Nunavut and Nunatsiavut of northern Labrador. Variable descriptive statistics were weighted and presented by region and by whether children were present or not in each household. RESULTS: A total of 2,796 Inuit households were approached, of which 68% participated (n=1,901 households). In ISR and Nunavut, approximately 20% of homes provided shelter to the homeless compared to 12% in Nunatsiavut (p≤0.05). The prevalence of public housing and household crowding also varied by region, with Nunavut having a statistically significantly higher prevalence of crowding (30%) than Nunatsiavut (12%) and ISR (12%). Household crowding was more prevalent among homes with children. Overall, 40% of homes were in need of major repairs and problems with mould were reported in 20% of households. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate shelter is a basic human need and an essential foundation for thriving population health. The results indicate that improvements in housing indicators are needed. Of utmost concern is the high prevalence of overcrowding in Inuit homes with children, which poses potential consequences for children's health and well-being. Further, the high percentage of homes providing shelter to the homeless suggests that hidden homelessness needs to be addressed by further research and program implementation.

Traditional food and monetary access to market-food: correlates of food insecurity among Inuit preschoolers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate correlates of food insecurity among Inuit preschoolers. Study design. Cross-sectional health survey. METHODS: Correlates of food insecurity were assessed in 3-5 year old children (n=388) residing in 16 Nunavut communities (2007-2008) in whom a high prevalence of child food insecurity (56%) has been documented. A bilingual team conducted interviews, including 24-hour dietary recalls and past-year food security assessment involving monetary access to market foods. RESULTS: Children residing in child food insecure homes were more likely to have consumed traditional food (TF) (51.7% vs. 39.9%, p ≤ 0.01), and less likely to have consumed any milk (52.2% vs. 73.2%, p ≤ 0.001) compared to children in child food secure homes. Median healthy eating index scores were significantly lower (77.1 vs. 79.9, p ≤ 0.01) and sugar drink intake higher (429 vs. 377 g/day, p ≤ 0.05) in children from child food insecure than food secure households. Children that consumed TF had higher protein and lower carbohydrate intake (p ≤ 0.05) and tendencies for a lower prevalence of iron deficiency (plasma ferritin <12 µg/l; p ≤ 0.10) regardless of food security status. A borderline significant interaction of TF by food security status (p ≤ 0.10) was observed where the percent of anemia (hemoglobin <110 and <115 g/l for 3-4 and 5 yr. olds, respectively) was highest among children from child food insecure homes who consumed no TF. CONCLUSIONS: TF and market food contribute to food security and both need to be considered in food security assessments. Support systems and dietary interventions for families with young children are needed.