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

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Indigenous Health
• Respiratory Medicine

Background:

• Inadequate housing is prevalent in First Nations communities across Canada.
• This often results in environmental exposures like dampness and mold within homes.
• First Nations populations experience a disproportionately higher burden of respiratory diseases compared to the general Canadian population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between housing factors and respiratory health in adults from two First Nations communities in Saskatchewan.
• To address the gap in Canadian literature concerning housing conditions and respiratory well-being in First Nations populations.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 293 individuals across 131 households.
• Data collection included individual questionnaires on general and respiratory health, a household questionnaire, and environmental sampling within homes.
• Respiratory outcomes assessed included prevalence of wheezing and shortness of breath.

Main Results:

• High rates of respiratory symptoms were reported, with 77.8% experiencing wheeze and 52.6% experiencing shortness of breath.
• Significant associations were found between respiratory symptoms and factors including body mass index, tobacco use, smoking inside the home, dampness, and mold odor.
• Housing inadequacies, such as dampness and mold, were significantly linked to increased respiratory symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Respiratory symptom prevalence is high among the studied First Nations population.
• Housing quality is a significant determinant of respiratory health in these communities.
• Interventions to improve housing conditions are essential for mitigating respiratory health burdens in First Nations communities.