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Aboriginal infant mortality rate in Canada

2012; Elsevier BV; Volume: 380; Issue: 9851 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61797-8

1474-547X

Janet Smylie,

Global Maternal and Child Health

Paul Webster (June 9, p 2137)1Webster PC Canada curbs Aboriginal health leadership.Lancet. 2012; 379: 2137Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar reports that "For Aboriginal people as a whole, infant mortality is almost 20% higher than among inhabitants in the rest of Canada". This figure is substantially lower than the disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infant mortality in Canada that have been cited in recent reviews.2Smylie J Fell D Ohlsson A the Joint Working Group on First Nations, Indian, Inuit, and Métis Infant Mortality of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance SystemA review of Aboriginal infant mortality rates in Canada–striking and persistent Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal Inequities.Can J Public Health. 2010; 101: 143-148PubMed Google Scholar, 3Shah PS Zao J Al-Wassia H Shah V on behalf of Knowledge Synthesis Group on Determinants of Preterm/LBW BirthsPregnancy and neonatal outcomes of aboriginal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Women's Health Issues. 2011; 21: 28-39Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (49) Google ScholarInconsistent or absent identification of Aboriginal people in Canadian health information systems precludes the calculation of pan-Canadian Aboriginal infant mortality rates. However, peer-reviewed studies have revealed infant mortality rates that are 190% higher for First Nations compared with non-First-Nations4Luo ZC Wilkins R Heaman M et al.Neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics, birth outcomes and infant mortality among First Nations and non-First Nations in Manitoba, Canada.Open J Women's Health. 2010; 4: 55-61Crossref Google Scholar and 360% higher for Inuit-inhabited areas compared with non-Inuit-inhabited areas.5Luo ZC Senécal S Simonet F Guimond E Penney C Wilkins R Birth outcomes in the Inuit-inhabited areas of Canada.CMAJ. 2010; 182: 235-242PubMed Google ScholarWithin the context of the massive federal funding cuts to Aboriginal health programming and advocacy described in Webster's report, it is of particular importance to continue to highlight this severe inequity in infant mortality rate—which is quite shocking given Canada's relative affluence.I am supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award in Knowledge Translation. I declare that I have no conflicts of interest. Paul Webster (June 9, p 2137)1Webster PC Canada curbs Aboriginal health leadership.Lancet. 2012; 379: 2137Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (5) Google Scholar reports that "For Aboriginal people as a whole, infant mortality is almost 20% higher than among inhabitants in the rest of Canada". This figure is substantially lower than the disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal infant mortality in Canada that have been cited in recent reviews.2Smylie J Fell D Ohlsson A the Joint Working Group on First Nations, Indian, Inuit, and Métis Infant Mortality of the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance SystemA review of Aboriginal infant mortality rates in Canada–striking and persistent Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal Inequities.Can J Public Health. 2010; 101: 143-148PubMed Google Scholar, 3Shah PS Zao J Al-Wassia H Shah V on behalf of Knowledge Synthesis Group on Determinants of Preterm/LBW BirthsPregnancy and neonatal outcomes of aboriginal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Women's Health Issues. 2011; 21: 28-39Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (49) Google Scholar Inconsistent or absent identification of Aboriginal people in Canadian health information systems precludes the calculation of pan-Canadian Aboriginal infant mortality rates. However, peer-reviewed studies have revealed infant mortality rates that are 190% higher for First Nations compared with non-First-Nations4Luo ZC Wilkins R Heaman M et al.Neighbourhood socioeconomic characteristics, birth outcomes and infant mortality among First Nations and non-First Nations in Manitoba, Canada.Open J Women's Health. 2010; 4: 55-61Crossref Google Scholar and 360% higher for Inuit-inhabited areas compared with non-Inuit-inhabited areas.5Luo ZC Senécal S Simonet F Guimond E Penney C Wilkins R Birth outcomes in the Inuit-inhabited areas of Canada.CMAJ. 2010; 182: 235-242PubMed Google Scholar Within the context of the massive federal funding cuts to Aboriginal health programming and advocacy described in Webster's report, it is of particular importance to continue to highlight this severe inequity in infant mortality rate—which is quite shocking given Canada's relative affluence. I am supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research New Investigator Award in Knowledge Translation. I declare that I have no conflicts of interest.