Aboriginal health

This report presents an overview of the data on gambling habits and problems in First Nations and Inuit communities of Québec. We will look at international research data on gambling and aboriginal populations, explore gambling opportunities available to First Nations and Inuit communities of Québec, and lastly examine prevalence data specific to Québec.

To our knowledge no data on cancer incidence and mortality among the Aboriginal population of Québec has been published. The only known reference was in a study examining the creation of a cancer registry during a specific period of the 1970s and 1980s. The study found that cancer was virtually non-existent within this population. Indeed, between 1969 and 1989 only 180 cases were reported in Nunavik, though the numbers tended to increase each year during that period. Studies in Canada and the United States suggest that the profile of Aboriginal populations is different from the general population. This small population group shows a low cancer incidence and a low cancer mortality rate.

Notwithstanding these low rates, an increase in cancer (incidence and mortality) has been observed. The change in lifestyle of these populations may prompt the emergence of chronic pathologies, including cancer, which has previously been present mainly in non- Aboriginal populations. This chan…

This section summarizes the information gathered from research participants as well as the documentation review.

• Mental health is identified as an intervention priority in the region for the past several years.
• Few statistics are available on the state of mental health of Nunavik Inuit. Most participants however agreed that mental health problems are on the rise.
• Several factors appear to affect or aggravate Inuit mental health problems, including the cultural discontinuity, lack of housing, drug and alcohol use, lack of population knowledge about mental health problems, chronic socio-economic difficulties and unemployment.
• Key targets identified for an eventual mental health program are youth and men. Individuals suffering from serious mental health problems would also benefit from better follow-up aimed at social reintegration. To this date, few initiatives have been undertaken in Nunavik to help individuals who suffer from common mental…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

• The population of Iiyiyiu Aschii is primarily young: only 6% are over age 65, compared to 15% in the rest of Quebec. Fully 91% of residents are of Aboriginal ancestry.
• More than a third (37%) of households in the region contain six or more people, while the majority (74%) have at least four.
• Most Cree residents speak Cree in the home (89%), and an even larger proportion is able to carry on a conversation in Cree (97%). In addition, 88% can converse in English, and 26% in French.
• Education levels have risen substantially since 1991. Nonetheless, 67% of the Cree population still has a high school degree or less, while only 5%* have a university education.
• Wages provide…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

• A proportion of current smokers (46%) higher than that for the rest of Quebec (27%).
• Daily smokers who smoke, on average, fewer cigarettes per day than the rest of Quebec (9.9 cigarettes vs. 16.4).
• An increase, between 1991 and 2003, in the proportion of the population aged 15 and over who have never smoked (9% vs. 14%).
• High proportions of current smokers among young people: 60% among the 12-19 age group and 73% among the 20-29 age group.
• Young people aged 12-19 who, when buying cigarettes, are less often asked their age (32%) than young people in the rest of Quebec (68%).
• The same pattern with respect to the smoking cessation process, quitting smoking and…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

• During a twelve-month period, 10% of the region's residents sustained an injury which limited their normal activities.
• Every year, more than 1,000 persons 12 years of age or older sustain at least one injury which limits their activities.
• Men and young persons constitute the groups reporting the greatest number of injuries.
• The region of Iiyiyiu Aschii does not differ from the rest of Quebec as to the prevalence of reported injuries.
• Sprains, wrenches, and fractures are the types of injury most often reported.
• Falls are the main cause of injuries (42%).
• 48% of all injuries occur in sports or leisure activities and 25%* occur in the home.
…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

• 87% of residents received some type of health care in the year prior to the survey. Use of health care was affected by factors such as age, sex, and education. It was also associated with need: people in poor health and those with chronic conditions were more likely to consult all types of health professionals (particularly specialists).
• Residents of inland communities were more likely than coastal residents to consult most types of health professionals, including dentists, and were also more likely to be hospitalized.
• 14% of respondents reported an unmet need for health care in the year prior to the survey. Women, younger adults, and people living in the inland communities were more li…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

Food habits

• There is a relatively low proportion (21%) of residents 12 and over who eat fruits and vegetables at least 5 times a day, compared to 51% for the rest of Quebec. Furthermore, the consumption of fruits and vegetables decreases with age, among both men and women.
• A rather high percentage of adults (18 and over) reported selecting or avoiding specific foods based on health concerns or nutritional value.
• Furthermore, as noted among other populations, dietary choices tend to be based primarily on health concerns as Iiyiyiu Aschii residents get older.
• A great many people were concerned with losing weight.
• Slightly more than a quarter of the Iiyiyiu Asch…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

Alcohol consumption

• Somewhat more than half (54%) of Iiyiyiu Aschii residents are current drinkers.
• Among these drinkers there are mostly men (61%) and young adults from 18 to 29 years of age (80%).
• A majority of separated, divorced, or widowed persons fall into the current drinkers group (64%), while persons in traditional or common-law marriages as well as those who have never been married are almost evenly divided between current drinkers and former drinkers.
• Between 1991 and 2003, the proportion of current drinkers rose from 49% to 53% in Iiyiyiu Aschii. The proportion of people who have never consumed alcohol, on the other hand, has fallen considerably over the sa…

The survey was conducted during the summer of 2003 using a representative sample of residents aged 12 and older from the nine communities in Iiyiyiu Aschii: Chisasibi, Eastmain, Mistissini, Nemaska, Oujé- Bougoumou, Waskaganish, Waswanipi, Wemindji, and Whapmagoostui.

• One out of six Iiyiyiu Aschii residents reports himself or herself to be in “fair or poor” health.
• Life expectancy at birth of Iiyiyiu Aschii residents is two years less than that of residents of the rest of Quebec (77.2 vs. 79.2 years). The difference is slightly more than 3 years between women of both regions (78.7 vs. 81.9 years).
• More than half (57 %) of Iiyiyiu Aschii residents reported a long-term health problem. The five main problems reported in 2003 were hypertension, non food-related allergies, diabetes, back problems and migraine headaches.
• The prevalence of some of the main chronic health problems reported increased between 1991 and 2003:
  • Asthma, bronchiti…