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

Ethnic peculiarities of the North native inhabitants health

Objectives. To relate the cultural beliefs and environmental issues surrounding pregnancy and childbirth among the Canadian Inuit to the critical issues facing maternal and child health in the Inuit population.

Study Design. This is a literature based comparative historical study.

Methods. Anthropological, historical, biomedical and first person narratives were analyzed to determine Inuit beliefs concerning pregnancy and childbirth. These were compared with the risk factors for Inuit maternal and child health identified in the biomedical literature.

Results. Inuit beliefs concerning pregnancy and childbirth are rooted in an epistemological framework that differs in important ways from Southern/biomedical theoretical norms. Evacuation to Southern hospitals for childbirth and the environmental contaminants discourse have both clashed in signficant ways with Inuit beliefs, to the detriment of Inuit physical and social health.

Conclusions. Inuit beliefs concerning pregnancy and childbirth are incompatible with biomedical theory, but are not incompatible with biomedical practice. As long as researchers and practicioners become aware of Inuit concerns and adapt biomedical practices to accomodate Inuit cultural and social priorities satisfactory clinical outcomes may be expected.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

© 1996-2005, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk
Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)