Culture

Some persons or groups may face additional health risks due to a socio-economic environment, which is largely determined by dominant cultural values that contribute to the perpetuation of conditions such as marginalization, stigmatization, loss or devaluation of language and culture and lack of access to culturally appropriate health care and services.

The Evidence

Despite major improvements since 1979, infant mortality rates among First Nations people in 1994 were still twice as high as among the Canadian population as a whole and the prevalence of major chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart problems, cancer hypertension and arthritis/rheumatism, is significantly higher in Aboriginal communities and appears to be increasing.