Associations between Housing Factors and Respiratory Symptoms in Two Saskatchewan First Nations Communities

Naiela Anwar, Shelley Kirychuk, Chandima P. Karunanayake, Vivian Ramsden, Brooke Thompson, Eric Russell, Kathleen McMullin, Donna Rennie, Jeremy Seeseequasis, Mark Fenton, Sylvia Abonyi, Punam Pahwa and James Dosman
Additional contact information
Naiela Anwar: College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
Shelley Kirychuk: Department of Medicine, Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Chandima P. Karunanayake: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Vivian Ramsden: Department of Academic Family Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7M 3Y5, Canada
Brooke Thompson: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Eric Russell: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Kathleen McMullin: College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada
Donna Rennie: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Jeremy Seeseequasis: Community Member, PO Box 96, Duck Lake, SK S0K 1J0, Canada
Mark Fenton: Division of Respirology, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X8, Canada
Sylvia Abonyi: Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
Punam Pahwa: Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada
James Dosman: Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-10

Abstract: Inadequate housing is commonplace in First Nations in Canada, often leading to environmental impacts on housing such as dampness and mold. First Nations communities suffer from a higher prevalence of respiratory-related health conditions than the general Canadian population. There is limited Canadian literature evaluating the relationship between housing factors and the respiratory health of adults within First Nations communities. This study was undertaken with two Saskatchewan First Nations communities. The study population consisted of 293 individuals within 131 households. The individuals completed questionnaires on their general and respiratory health, and one member of each household completed a household questionnaire. The collection of environmental samples from within the house was undertaken. The respiratory outcomes of interest focused on the individuals with ever wheeze, reported by 77.8% of the individuals, and shortness of breath, reported by 52.6% of the individuals. Body mass index, the nontraditional use of tobacco (i.e., current and ex-smoking), the nontraditional use of tobacco in the house (i.e., smoking in the house), dampness in the house in the last 12 months, and always having a smell of mold in the house were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. The results reveal that respiratory symptom rates were high in the population and housing factors were significantly associated with respiratory symptoms. Addressing and redressing housing inadequacies in First Nations communities are important in preventing additional burdens to health.

Keywords: respiratory health; housing; First Nations; Canada; mold; dampness; smoking; passive smoking; wheeze (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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