International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

The North place in geo planetary world. Urbanization traditions and problems

Objective: to collection and analysis biophysical and psychosocial indicator data for children and youth in eight Arctic countries: Russia, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Greenland/Denmark, Alaska/USA, Finland and Canada. to identifying areas for policy development that would improve the health and well-being of Arctic children and youth.

Study Design -voluntary participation by Arctic Member states

Method: An international expert group identified 16 biophysical and psychosocial indicators for children and youth. Canada organized the collection and led the analyses of the data with cooperation from member nations.

Results: Data availability and quality issues (variable definitions and reporting compliance) among countries for behavioural indicators led to major challenges in comparing data. Small Arctic population sample sizes made regional comparisons and gender and age stratification difficult. Large differences were observed between Arctic populations in Canada and Alaska versus other countries with respect to the proportion of youth, breastfeeding rates, incidence of low birth weight, preterm birth rates, suicides, and unintentional injuries.

Conclusion: Although it is not useful to over-emphasize the health status disparities between countries, nor should the differences be ignored, there is an urgent need to improve data quality so that future reports on circumpolar populations and policy options for addressing disparities are based on more complete data of high quality.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)