Diagnosis and treatment of food allergies in off‐reserve Aboriginal children in Canada

Food allergies have emerged as an important public health risk in many countries, Canada included, affecting children at a disproportionate rate. However, we know very little about food allergies among Aboriginal children in Canada, who are often characterized as representing a particularly vulnerable population with respect to health and life conditions more generally. Our objective was to address this gap by exploring the prevalence and management of food allergies in this population. Data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children's Survey were used for this analysis. Descriptive analyses were undertaken to determine the prevalence of diagnosed food allergies among off‐reserve Aboriginal children, and logistic regression was used to explore factors associated with diagnosis, and the determinants of receiving treatment. Estimates of prevalence (2.9%) appear lower than the general population in Canada. Controlling for demographic and socioeconomic factors, co‐morbidity of asthma and access to family physicians and specialists (e.g., allergists) most strongly predicted both prevalence and treatment. Lower prevalence rates suggest either truly lower rates or lower rates of detection in this population. Access to treatment appears most significant for diagnosis and treatment for this population, raising important directions for future research addressing disparities in the management of food allergies among Aboriginal children.

Diagnosis and treatment of food allergies in off‐reserve Aboriginal children in Canada Journal Articles