title: Population based study of health and living conditions in areas with both Sámi and Norwegian populations--the SAMINOR study.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sámi Health Research, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tromsø, Norway. Eiliv.Lund@ism.uit.no
authors.forename: Eiliv
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lund
authors.forename: Marita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Melhus
authors.forename: Ketil Lenert
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Tove
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nystad
authors.forename: Ann Ragnhild
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Broderstad
authors.forename: Randi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selmer
authors.forename: Per G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Lund-Larsen
mesh_terms: 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