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

Public health

Purpose of the study Provide First Nations a community-specific report on communicable disease surveillance, immunization coverage; environmental health and other health protection activities to inform community planning, support community awareness of successes and/or assessment of needs, and identify priorities for action.

Theoretical background Annual Health Protection community-specific reporting contribute to dissemination/communication of public health surveillance information gathered by communities and health departments for public health action. The areas included in the report include:

1. Communicable Disease Control [CDC]: vaccine coverage rates for age-specific groups in comparison with national targets; vaccine management, including cold chain breaks and vaccine wastage; incidence of notifiable diseases; regional sexually transmitted infections [STI] rates; HIV prevention activities; tuberculosis [TB] incidence rates, screening activities, preventative drug therapy recommendation and completion rates ; reported animal bites;

2. Environmental health services[EHS]: drinking water safety program including sampling/testing frequency of community public and private (cistern and well) water ; water advisories; other environmental health inspections and activities.

Study Design/Methods Information contained in this report is collected, analyzed and reported back through the joint efforts of First Nations community-based staff , the Alberta Region Health Protection and Health Assessment and Surveillance staff of the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, and the Alberta Health and Wellness Disease Control and Prevention and Health Surveillance Branches.

Results and conclusion Although improving vaccination coverage is reported, a wide range [ <50 % to 100%] of immunization rates by community are observed in First Nations children [2 mo - 16 yr] in Alberta. Enteric diseases constitute the largest proportion [36%] of notifiable communicable diseases. STI incidence rates exceed those in the non-Aboriginal population in Alberta, particularly for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV, although decline is noted in theHIV rate among the Aboriginal population. Significant decline was found in TB rates among First Nations living on reserve. Water testing frequency varied greatly between communities [5% - 123%]. One 'do not drink' and 53 boil water advisories were issued over a 12-month period in 21 communities in Alberta.

This report indicates improvements in immunization rates, TB and HIV incidence rates and water testing frequencies over previous years. The report also provides community and regional CDC and EHS valuable information for planning and implementing evidence-based public health interventions toward a stronger First Nations community health protection.

Communities will utilize the information for future planning of their health protection activities.

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)