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Infant Mortality Among Status Indians on Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Evidence of Variability Within the Status Indian Population

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Abstract

Following reports of high infant mortality in Central Vancouver Island, total and cause-specific infant death rates (IDR) for Status Indians and for Other Residents of Vancouver Island (VI) were compared to those for their counterparts in the rest of the province (RoP). Data for 1991–97, in which Status Indians had been identified through record linkage, were obtained from BC Vital Statistics. The IDR was higher on VI than in RoP for Status Indians (IR=1.84: 95%CI; 1.43, 3.37), but not for Other Residents (IR=0.91: 95%CI; 0.79, 1.05). SIDS and perinatal conditions were responsible for most of the increase, with SIDS accounting for about half. This study demonstrates that, in addition to the well-recognized difference in infant mortality between Status Indians and Other Residents, important regional differences exist within the Status Indian population itself. As these differences are relevant to effective health planning and evaluation, health information systems should enable calculation of separate rates for Status Indians.

Résumé

À la suite de rapports de mortalité infantile élevée au centre de l’île de Vancouver, nous avons comparé les taux de mortalité infantile (TMI) totaux et par cause chez les Indiens inscrits et les autres habitants de l’île de Vancouver à ceux du reste de la province. La consultation des statistiques de l’état civil de la Colombie-Britannique nous a permis d’obtenir les données de 1991 à 1997 et d’identifier les Indiens inscrits par couplage des données. Le TMI était plus élevé sur l’île de Vancouver que dans le reste de la province pour les Indiens inscrits (RI=1,84: 95 % IC; 1,43, 3,37), mais pas pour les autres habitants (RI=0,91: 95 % IC; 0,79, 1,05). La mort subite du nourrisson et les conditions périnatales étaient responsables de la plus grande partie de cette augmentation (la MSN y contribuant pour environ la moitié). L’étude montre qu’en plus des différences bien connues entre les Indiens inscrits et les autres habitants en ce qui a trait à la mortalité infantile, il existe d’importants écarts régionaux au sein même de la population des Indiens inscrits. Comme ces écarts importent pour une planification et une évaluation efficaces de la santé, les systèmes d’information sanitaire devraient permettre de calculer séparément les taux des Indiens inscrits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Health Officer, Central Vancouver Island Health Region, 610-495 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo, BC, V9R 6B9, Canada

    Fred S. Rockwell MD, FRCPC

Authors
  1. Fred S. Rockwell MD, FRCPC
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Correspondence to Fred S. Rockwell MD, FRCPC.

Additional information

This study was jointly funded by Central Vancouver Island Health Region, Capital Health Region and Upper Island Central Coast Community Health Service Society.

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Rockwell, F.S. Infant Mortality Among Status Indians on Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Evidence of Variability Within the Status Indian Population. Can J Public Health 92, 453–456 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404539

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404539

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