title: Temporal trends in Inuit, First Nations and non-Aboriginal birth outcomes in rural and northern Quebec.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to assess trends in Inuit, First Nations and non-Aboriginal birth outcomes in the rural and northern regions of Quebec.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a birth cohort-based study of all births to residents of rural and northern Quebec from 1991 through 2000 (n = 177,193), we analyzed birth outcomes and infant mortality for births classified by maternal mother tongue (Inuit, First Nations or non-Aboriginal) and by community type (predominantly First Nations, Inuit or non-Aboriginal).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1991-1995 to 1996-2000, there was a trend of increasing rates of preterm birth for all 6 study groups. In all rural and northern areas, low birth weight rates increased significantly only for the Inuit mother tongue group [RR1.45 (95% CI 1.05-2.01)]. Stillbirth rates showed a non-significant increase for the Inuit mother tongue group [RR1.76 (0.64-4.83)]. Neonatal mortality rates decreased significantly in the predominantly non-Aboriginal communities and in the non-Aboriginal mother tongue group [RR0.78 (0.66-0.92)], and increased non-significantly for the First Nations mother tongue group [RR2.17 (0.71-6.62)]. Perinatal death rates increased for the First Nations mother tongue grouping in northern areas [RR2.19 (0.99-4.85)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a disconcerting rise of some mortality outcomes for births to First Nations and Inuit mother tongue women and to women in predominantly First Nations and Inuit communities, in contrast to some improvements for births to non-Aboriginal mother tongue women and to women in predominantly non-Aboriginal communities in rural or northern Quebec, indicating a need for improving perinatal and neonatal health for Aboriginal populations in rural and northern regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHU Sainte-Justine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Simonet
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.forename: Zhong-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054238:Perinatal Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000208:ethnology*; D047928:Premature Birth; D011792:Quebec; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*