Risk factors for hospitalization and infection in Canadian Inuit infants over the first year of life--a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Inuit infants experience higher mortality and poorer health than other Canadian infants, and suffer disproportionately from bacterial and viral infections. A wide range of inter-related factors affect their health and susceptibility to infection. The objective of the study was to describe hospitalization and morbidity patterns in a cohort of 46 healthy Inuit infants from Iqaluit, Nunavut, over their first year of life. STUDY DESIGN: Risk factors for hospitalization and infections were assessed using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Infants experienced an average of four respiratory tract infections (RTIs) annually, which accounted for half of the hospitalizations in the cohort. Some interesting trends were evident from the assessment of risk factors using multiple linear regression. Adoption was associated with adverse health effects in addition to those that would be expected due to lack of breast-freeding alone; among infants who were not breast-fed, adopted infants had three more RTIs per year than non-adopted infants. CONCLUSION: The results of this pilot study provide support for undertaking larger epidemiological studies in order to clarify the role of these risk factors, so that future preventive efforts can be informed and effective.

An overview of factors influencing the health of Canadian Inuit infants.

BACKGROUND: Inuit infants throughout the Arctic experience higher mortality and poorer health than their non-Inuit counterparts, and suffer disproportionately from bacterial and viral infections. STUDY DESIGN: This review examines the health status of these infants, with a focus on Canadian Inuit communities and reference to other circumpolar regions, as appropriate. It is based on a Medline search (1965 to present), special analyses of the 1996 Canadian Census and various national surveys, and selected government reports and documents. RESULTS: A wide range of inter-related factors affect the health of Inuit infants: their demographic, social, economic and physical environment, as well as personal health practices and the availability of high quality, culturally appropriate health services. Some of these factors may influence the susceptibility of Inuit infants to infection. Smoking is highly prevalent in Inuit communities, and its indisputable negative effects on health, including increased risk of respiratory tract infection in infants, represent an urgent public health challenge. CONCLUSION: Locally driven, focused and methodologically sound epidemiological research that addresses key gaps in knowledge could lead to more appropriate and effective preventive strategies to improve health in northern communities.