Population based study of health and living conditions in areas with both Sámi and Norwegian populations--the SAMINOR study.
OBJECTIVE
The overall aim of the SAMINOR project was to study health and diseases in relation to living conditions among the Sámi population and to compare these with the Norwegian population in the same area. This article provides an overview of the background of the study and a description of the methods employed for the data collection. We give sample characteristics and elaborate on different definitions of ethnicity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional, population-based study, including questionnaires, a clinical examination and analyses of blood samples.


METHODS
All individuals 30 or 36 to 79 years of age who were living in defined municipalities or specified local areas with a known Sámi population were invited to a cardiovascular screening program. The data were collected during 2003-2004. The questionnaires focused on living conditions, health, Sámi traditions and ethnicity. The eligible population consisted of 27,987 individuals and 16,865 (60.6%) participated by answering at least one questionnaire. Analyses were restricted to the 36 to 79 year-old age group which had 16,538 participants. The screening program comprised a blood sample, measurements of blood pressure, height, weight, and waist and hip ratio. Different definitions of Sámi ethnicity were explored.


RESULTS
Of the sample, 35.6% reported Sámi background, and 13.2% reported that they, their parents and their grandparents had Sámi as their domestic language. This stringent definition of Sámi produced clearer differences between Sámi and Norwegians, as shown for some measures of socioeconomic status.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings that are related to more strict definitions of Sámi ethnicity have important implications for the interpretation of earlier works and for future studies.
Lund
Eiliv
E
Centre for Sámi Health Research, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway. Eiliv.Lund@ism.uit.no
Melhus
Marita
M
Hansen
Ketil Lenert
KL
Nystad
Tove
T
Broderstad
Ann Ragnhild
AR
Selmer
Randi
R
Lund-Larsen
Per G
PG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D001110:Arctic Regions; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000235:genetics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007802:Language; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D010808:Physical Examination; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires