title: Hunger among Inuit children in Canada.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inuit populations may be at increased risk for experiencing poor nutrition or hunger due to limited access and availability to food. The prevalence and correlates of parental perceptions of hunger among a nationally representative sample of Inuit children in Canada have not yet been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data are from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey (ACS). Sociodemographic information, dietary behaviours and hunger status were parent-reported via a household interview for Inuit children aged 2-5 years (n=1,234). Prevalence of hunger was calculated among Inuit children by sociodemographic factors and by dietary behaviours. In addition, a multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to determine factors associated with parental perception of ever experiencing hunger.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of Inuit children in Canada aged 2-5 years ever experiencing hunger was 24.4%. Children who were reported to have experienced hunger consumed milk and milk products (p<0.001); fish, eggs and meat (p<0.05); fruits (p<0.001); and vegetables (p<0.001) significantly less often than never-hungry children. Fast food and processed foods, soft drinks and juice, and salty snacks, sweets and desserts were consumed as often as never-hungry children (all p>0.05). The majority (81%) of Inuit parents/guardians of ever-hungry children sought help from family or friends. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing hunger include sociodemographic characteristics (such as income and household size), living in an Inuit region and living in a community with cultural activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About 1 in 4 Inuit children were reported by their parents to have experienced hunger, and hunger was associated with region, sociodemographic and community factors. Future research could further examine the impact of ever experiencing hunger on the health status of Inuit children and their families in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Canada. leanne.findlay@statcan.gc.ca
authors.forename: Leanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.forename: Kellie A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Langlois
authors.forename: Dafna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Kohen
mesh_terms: D001110:Arctic Regions / Q000453:epidemiology; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003469:Culture; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D004930:Inuit; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Aboriginal Children's Survey; Inuit; children; hunger; social determinants