It is widely recognised that significant discrepancies exist between the health of indigenous and non-indigenous populations. Whilst the reasons are incompletely defined, one potential cause is that indigenous communities do not access healthcare to the same extent. We investigated healthcare utilisation rates in the Canadian Aboriginal population to elucidate the contribution of this fundamental social determinant for health to such disparities.
Healthcare utilisation data over a nine-year period were analysed for a cohort of nearly two million individuals to determine the rates at which Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations utilised two specialties (Cardiology and Ophthalmology) in Alberta, Canada. Unadjusted and adjusted healthcare utilisation rates obtained by mixed linear and Poisson regressions, respectively, were compared amongst three population groups - federally registered Aboriginals, individuals receiving welfare, and other Albertans.
Healthcare utilisation rates for Aboriginals were substantially lower than those of non-Aboriginals and welfare recipients at each time point and subspecialty studied [e.g. During 2005/06, unadjusted Cardiology utilisation rates were 0.28% (Aboriginal, n?=?97,080), 0.93% (non-Aboriginal, n?=?1,720,041) and 1.37% (Welfare, n?=?52,514), p?=?
Notes
Cites: Am J Public Health. 2006 Aug;96(8):1478-8416571711
Cites: Lancet. 2006 Jun 17;367(9527):2029-3116782494
Cites: J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Jul;22(7):1011-717415619
Cites: J Epidemiol Community Health. 2007 Nov;61(11):1010-317933961
Cites: Lancet. 2008 Jul 5;372(9632):1818613322
Cites: Aust J Rural Health. 2008 Oct;16(5):297-30118808488
Cites: CMAJ. 2008 Nov 4;179(10):985-618981431
Cites: Can Fam Physician. 2008 Nov;54(11):1511-3, 1518-2019005106
Cites: Health Policy. 2008 Dec;88(2-3):222-3518471923
Cites: Health Place. 2009 Jun;15(2):403-1118760954
Cites: Aust J Rural Health. 2009 Feb;17(1):2-919161493