The hidden costs: Identification of indirect costs associated with acute gastrointestinal illness in an Inuit community

Background: Acute gastrointestinal illness (AGI) incidence and per-capita healthcare expenditures are higher in some Inuit communities as compared to elsewhere in Canada. Consequently, there is a demand for strategies that will reduce the individual-level costs of AGI; this will require a comprehensive understanding of the economic costs of AGI. However, given Inuit communities’ unique cultural, economic, and geographic contexts, there is a knowledge gap regarding the context-specific indirect costs of AGI borne by Inuit community members. This study aimed to identify the major indirect costs of AGI, and explore factors associated with these indirect costs, in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Canada, in order to develop a case-based context-specific study framework that can be used to evaluate these costs. Methods: A mixed methods study design and community-based methods were used. Qualitative in-depth, group, and case interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to identify and describe indirect costs of AGI specific to Rigolet. Data from two quantitative cross-sectional retrospective surveys were analyzed using univariable regression models to examine potential associations between predictor variables and the indirect costs. Results/Significance: The most notable indirect costs of AGI that should be incorporated into cost-of-illness evaluations were the tangible costs related to missing paid employment and subsistence activities, as well as the intangible costs associated with missing community and cultural events. Seasonal cost variations should also be considered. This study was intended to inform cost-of-illness studies conducted in Rigolet and other similar research settings. These results contribute to a better understanding of the economic impacts of AGI on Rigolet residents, which could be used to help identify priority areas and resource allocation for public health policies and programs

Youth-Led Participatory Video as a Strategy to Enhance Inuit Youth Adaptive Capacities for Dealing with Climate Change

Rapid climatic and environmental changes experienced throughout the Canadian North are having significant impacts on the lives of Inuit, with implications for the future of the large Inuit youth population. Within the adaptation research and practitioner community, youth voices, perspectives, and involvement are essential in ensuring representative and sustainable adaptation strategies. This paper examines the potential of youth-led participatory video (PV) as a strategy to foster known protective factors that underpin the resilience of youth and their capacity to adapt to various stresses, including impacts of climate change. The work draws on a case study from the Inuit community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada, where a two-week PV workshop was conducted with seven youth and followed by in-depth interviews with participants and community members. The findings show that PV may be a pathway to greater adaptive capacities because the process connects to known protective factors that enhance resilience of circumpolar indigenous youth. PV also shows promise as a strategy to engage youth in sharing insights and knowledge, connect generations, and involve young Inuit in planning and decision making in general.  Les changements climatiques et environnementaux rapides qui surviennent dans le Nord canadien ont des répercussions importantes sur la vie des Inuits, avec des conséquences pour l’avenir de la grande population de jeunes Inuits. Au sein de la communauté de praticiens et de recherche sur l’adaptation, la voix des jeunes, leurs perspectives et leur participation sont essentielles pour assurer la mise en oeuvre de stratégies d’adaptation représentatives et durables. Cet article examine la possibilité de faire des vidéos participatives dirigées par les jeunes comme stratégie pour favoriser les facteurs de protection connus qui sous-tendent la résilience chez les jeunes et leur capacité d’adaptation face à divers agents stressants, notamment les conséquences du changement climatique. Le document s’inspire d’une étude de cas de la communauté des Inuits de Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, au Labrador, Canada, où un atelier sur la vidéo participative d’une durée de deux semaines a eu lieu avec sept jeunes, suivi d’entrevues approfondies avec des participants et des membres de la communauté. Les résultats démontrent que la vidéo participative pourrait être une façon d’améliorer les capacités d’adaptation parce que le processus est relié à des facteurs de protection connus qui améliorent la résilience des jeunes indigènes de la région circumpolaire. La vidéo participative s’avère également une stratégie prometteuse pour amener les jeunes à échanger leurs idées et connaissances, établir un lien entre les générations et faire participer les jeunes Inuits à la planification et à la prise de décisions en général

Exploring Elders’ and Seniors’ Perceptions of How Climate Change is Impacting Health and Well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut / ᕿᒥᕐᕈᓂᖅ ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ ᐃᓱᒪᔾᔪᓯᖏᓐᓂᒃ ᕆᒍᓚᑦ, ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒻᒥ ᓯᓚᐅᑉ ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ ᐊᑦᑐᐃᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ ᐃᓗᓯᕐᒥᒃ ᐊᒻᒪᓗ ᖃᓄᐃᓐᖏᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ

Climate changes are rapidly intensifying and can lead to adverse global health impacts. Indigenous populations are especially vulnerable to climate change because of their dependence on the environment for cultural activities and subsistence. The voices of Inuit Elders and seniors encompass deep wisdom and history; as such, the goal of this research was to examine the perceived impacts of climate and environmental changes on physical, mental, and emotional health, as observed by Elders and seniors in the Inuit community of Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Labrador, Canada. A mixed-methods approach was used to gather data capturing these local observations, as well as perceived impacts on community health. A community survey was administered in November 2009 (n = 75) and in-depth interviews were conducted with Elders and seniors from January to October 2010 (n = 22). Survey results indicated that Elders and seniors observing changes in weather patterns, water systems, and wildlife were more likely to perceive climate change impacts on health (p < 0.05). Emergent themes from the interviews included: recurring observations of climate change, including changes in temperature, ice, snow, and seasonal timing; impacts on physical health, including reduced physical activity levels and poorer nutrition; impacts on mental and emotional health, including feelings of isolation and depression; and an identified need for community-wide adaptation. This research emphasized the importance of understanding Elder-specific perspectives of climate-health relationships in the Canadian North to develop sustainable, culturally relevant adaptation strategies to mitigate health impacts related to climate change.ᓯᓚᐅᑉ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓ  ᓱᒃᑲᓕᔪᒃᑯᑦ  ᐱᕙᓪᓕᐊᕗᖅ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ  ᐊᑦᑕᓇᖅᑐᒃᑯᑦ  ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔪᓐᓇᖅᑯᖅ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ.  ᓯᓚᕐᔪᐊᕐᒥ  ᓄᓇᖃᖅᑳᖅᑑᔪᑦ  ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᖅᐹᖑᔪᓐᓇᖅᑯᑦ  ᐊᕙᑎᒥᓂᒃ  ᑕᑎᖃᕐᓂᕐᒥᓄᑦ,  ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖏᑎᒍᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐱᓇᓱᐊᖅᐸᓐᓂᖏᑎᒍᑦ.  ᐃᓄᐃᑦ  ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ  ᐃᓐᓇᑐᖃᐃᓪᓗ  ᓂᐱᖏᑦ  ᓯᓚᑐᓂᕐᒥᒃ  ᑐᓐᖓᕕᖃᖅᑯᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐊᑐᖅᓯᒪᔭᖃᖅᑯᑦ;  ᓲᕐᓗ  ᐆᒧᖓ  ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᑐᕌᒐᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒍ  ᓯᓚᐅᑉ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓂᒃ  ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓂᒃ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᖃᓄᖅ  ᐊᕙᑎᐅᑉ  ᑕᐅᑦᑐᖓ,  ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑎᒍᑦ,  ᐃᓐᓇᐃᑦ  ᑕᑯᓐᓇᖅᑕᖃᖅᑯᑦ  ᐃᓄᐃᑦ  ᓄᓇᓕᖓᓂ  ᕆᒍᓚᑦ,  ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊᕗᒻᒥ,  ᓛᐸᑐᐊᒥ,  ᑲᓇᑕᒥ.  ᑲᑎᑕᐹᓂᑦ  ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᐊᖅᑯᑏᑦ  ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ  ᑕᑯᓐᓇᒐᐅᕗᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᑕᑯᓐᓇᑕᒃᑯᑦ  ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ  ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᐅᔪᑦ.  ᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ  ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎ  ᓄᕕᐱᕆ  2009−ᒥ  ᐃᖏᕐᕋᓂᖃᔪᕗᖅ  (n = 75)  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐃᓗᑐᔪᓂᑦ  ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎᖃᔪᕗᑦ  ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ  ᐃᓄᑐᖃᕐᓄᓪᓗ  ᔮᓐᓄᐊᓕᒻᒥᑦ  ᐅᑐᐱᕆᒧᑦ  2010−ᒥ (n = 22). ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑎᒧᑦ  ᑭᒡᒍᓯᐅᔪᔪᑦ  ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᔪᕗᑦ  ᐃᓄᑐᖃᐃᑦ  ᑕᑯᔭᖃᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ  ᓯᓚᐅᑉ  ᖃᓄᐃᓐᓂᖓᑕ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖏᓐᓂᑦ,  ᐃᒪᐅᓪᓗ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐆᒪᔪᐃᑦ  ᑕᒪᒃᑯᐊ  ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔪᑦ  ᐃᓄᐃᑦ  ᐃᓗᓯᕆᔭᖏᓐᓂᒃ  (p < 0.05).  ᓲᔪᕐᓇᑐᓪᓗ  ᐊᓚᒃᑲᔪᔪᑦ  ᐊᐱᖅᓲᑕᐅᔪᔪᓂᑦ  ᐃᓗᓕᖃᐅᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ  ᒪᑯᓂᖓ:  ᓲᔪᕆᔭᐅᕙᑦᑐᑦ  ᓯᓚᐅᑉ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᕐᓂᖓᓄᑦ;  ᓂᓪᓚᓱᓐᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᐆᖅᑰᓇᕐᓂᒧᓪᓗ;  ᓂᓚᐅᑉ,  ᐊᐳᑎᐅᑉ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐅᐱᕐᖔᑉ,  ᐅᑭᐅᑉ  ᐊᓰᓐᓇᓕᓂᖏᓐᓂᒃ; ᐊᑦᑐᐃᔾᔪᑕᐅᔪᓪᓗᑎ  ᑎᒥᒧᑦ   ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ;  ᐃᓱᒪᒧᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᐃᓱᒪᒃᑯᑦ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒨᖓᔪᑦ,  ᐃᓚᓕᐅᑦᑐᒋᑦ  ᐃᑉᐱᓐᓂᐊᔾᔪᑎᑦ  ᐃᓄᑑᓕᐅᑎᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ  ᓄᒫᓱᓐᓂᒃᑯᑦ  ᐊᒻᒪᓗ;  ᑭᓐᖒᒪᑦᑎᓂᖅᓄᓇᓕᒻᒥ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᖃᓄᖅᑑᕈᑎᓂᒃ.  ᐅᓇ  ᖃᐅᔨᓴᕐᓂᖅ  ᓇᓗᓇᐃᖅᓯᓚᐅᖅᑯᖅ  ᐱᓪᓗᕆᑦᑐᓂᒃ  ᑐᑭᓯᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᓂᒃ  ᐃᓐᓇᕐᓄᑦ  ᐃᓱᒪᒋᔾᔪᑕᐅᓯᒪᔪᓂᒃ  ᓯᓚᐅᑉ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᓂᖓᓄᑦ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᕐᒧᑦ  ᐊᑦᑐᐊᓂᖃᖅᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ  ᑲᓇᑕᐅᑉ  ᐅᑭᐅᖅᑕᖅᑐᖓᓂ  ᑐᕌᒐᖃᕐᓂᐊᑎᓪᓗᒋᑦ  ᑲᔪᓯᐅᒪᔾᔪᑎᔅᓴᓂᒃ,  ᐱᖅᑯᓯᖅᑎᒍᑦ  ᐊᑲᕐᕆᔪᓂᒃ  ᐅᐸᓗᖓᐃᔭᕈᑎᓂᒃ  ᐊᑦᑐᖅᑕᐅᓂᑭᓐᓂᖅᓴᐅᖁᓪᓗᒋᑦ  ᐃᓗᓯᓕᕆᓂᒃᑯᑦ  ᐃᑉᐱᓐᓂᕈᑎᓂᒃ  ᓯᓚ  ᐊᓯᔾᔨᐸᓪᓕᐊᑎᓪᓗᒍ