Factors associated with the intake of traditional foods in the Eeyou Istchee (Cree) of northern Quebec include age, speaking the Cree language and food sovereignty indicators

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of 795 adults 18 years and older from 7 EeyouIstchee communities in northern Quebec (Canada), by gender, 2005–2009.

Characteristics	Women (n = 465)	Men (n = 330)	P^a
Diet quality
TF intake^b(times per week)	2.04 [1.83, 2.27]	3.34 [2.98, 3.74]	<0.001
Per cent energy as UPP^b^, ^c	38.9 [32.7, 46.1]	39.7 [32.8, 48.1]	0.871
Food sovereignty
Hunter (n (%))	99 (21.3)	307 (93.0)	<0.001
Hunter Income Security^d (n (%))	35 (7.53)	48 (14.6)	0.001
Sociodemographic
Age^b (years)	35.7 [34.5, 37.0]	36.7 [35.1, 38.2]	0.357
Coastal community^e (n (%))	318 (68.4)	225 (68.2)	0.951
Household size >4 (n (%))	288 (61.9)	207 (62.7)	0.820
Children <18 years in household (n (%))	340 (73.1)	211 (63.9)	0.006
Some high school education^f (n (%))	378 (81.3)	274 (83.0)	0.529
Income from wage employment^g (n (%))	274 (58.9)	188 (57.0))	0.582
Speak Cree at home^h (n (%))	295 (63.4)	223 (67.6)	0.228
Health
Walk ≥60 min/day^i (n (%))	229 (49.2)	178 (53.9)	0.192
Smoking^j (n (%))	136 (29.2)	110 (33.3)	0.219
Perceived good health^k (n (%))	342 (73.5)	246 (74.5)	0.752
Body mass index (kg·m^−2)^b	34.5 [33.9, 35.2]	31.3 [30.7, 31.9]	<0.001
Normal weight^l (n (%))	29 (6.24)	39 (11.8)	0.006
Overweight^l (n (%))	80 (17.2)	86 (26.1)	0.002
Obese^l (n (%))	356 (76.6)	205 (62.1)	<0.001
Waist circumference^b (cm)	111 [110, 113]	109 [107, 111]	0.066
Central adiposity^m (n (%))	454 (97.6)	303 (98.7)	0.295
Systolic blood pressure^b	118 [117, 119]	124 [123, 126]	<0.001
Diastolic blood pressure^b	71.2 [70.2, 72.2]	76.1 [75.0, 77.2]	<0.001
Hypertension^n (n (%))	110 (23.7)	124 (37.6)	<0.001
Triglycerides [39]^b (mmol/L)	1.38 [1.32, 1.44]	1.44 [1.36, 1.53]	0.260
Elevated TG^o (n (%))	143 (30.8)	114 (34.5)	0.260
HDL-C^b (mmol/L)	1.23 [1.20, 1.26]	1.16 [1.13, 1.19]	<0.001
Low HDL-C^p (n (%))	260 (55.9)	96 (29.1)	<0.001
Fasting blood glucose (FBG)^b (mmol/L)	6.02 [5.86, 6.19]	5.95 [5.78, 6.11]	0.539
Elevated FBG^q (n (%))	215 (46.2)	161 (48.8)	0.478
Metabolic syndrome^r (n (%))	235 (50.5)	158 (47.9)	0.460

TF: traditional food; UPP: ultra-processed products; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

^aContinuous variables compared with t-test and proportions with Chi-square. ^bAll such variables, geometric mean [95% confidence interval]. ^cPer cent energy as UPP was obtained from 24-h recalls. ^dA programme whereby members of the community are paid an annual income to spend time on the land hunting, trapping and fishing. ^eTwo of the communities were inland and the remainder on the coast of James Bay. ^fAttended some high school, not necessarily complete. ^gAnyone reporting working full- or part-time. ^hIndividuals that usually speak only Cree at home. ⁱSelf-report of average time walked per day for the past 7 days. ^jSmoked ≥5 cigarettes per day. ^kReported good, very good or excellent health. ^lBody mass index <25 = normal weight, 25≥ body mass index <30 = overweight and BMI ≥30 = obese. ^mCentral adiposity defined as WC ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women. ⁿHigh blood pressure defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 or diastolic blood pressure as ≥85. ^oTriglycerides are elevated when >1.7 mmol/L. ^pHDL-C is low when <1.03 mmol/L in men and <1.29 mmol/L in women. ^qFasting blood glucose is elevated when >5.6 mmol/L. ^rMetabolic syndrome defined as the presence of central adiposity plus any 2 of: HBP, elevated TG or FBG, low HDL-C.

Table 2. Characteristics of 795 adults 18 years and older according quintiles of weekly frequency of traditional food intake for 7 Eeyou Istchee communities in northern Quebec (Canada), by gender, 2005–2009.

	Quintiles of frequency (per week) of traditional food intake
Characteristics	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5^a	P for trend^b
	Women
n	91	94	94	93	93
Per cent energy as UPP^c^, ^d	44.2 [29.6, 66.0]	54.8 [50.5, 59.76	31.3 [18.3, 53.3]	36.2 [24.5, 53.4]	32.3 [21.9, 47.6]	<0.001
Hunter (n (%))	9 (9.89)	7 (7.45)	22 (23.4)	23 (24.7)	38 (40.9)	<0.001
Hunter Income Security^e (n (%))	3 (3.30)	4 (4.25)	4 (4.25)	3 (3.23)	21 (22.6)	<0.001
Age^c (years)	28.8 [27.1, 30.7]	31.7 [29.7,33.9]	36.3 [33.7, 39.0]	39.0 [36.4, 41.7]	45.0 [41.5, 48.7]	<0.001
Coastal community^f (n (%))	56 (61.5)	70 (74.5)	72 (76.6)	66 (71.0)	54 (58.1)	0.450
Household size >4 (n (%))	52 (57.1)	59 (62.8)	66 (70.2)	56 (60.2)	55 (59.1)	0.938
Children <18 years in household	76 (83.5)	76 (80.9)	71 (75.5)	63 (67.7)	54 (58.1)	<0.001
Some high school education^g (n (%))	81 (89.0)	86 (91.5)	84 (89.3)	77 (82.8)	50 (53.8)	<0.001
Income from employment^h (n (%))	54 (59.3)	51 (54.3)	61 (64.9)	66 (71.0)	42 (45.2)	0.465
Speak only Cree at home^i (n (%))	49 (53.8)	65 (69.1)	54 (57.4)	63 (67.7)	64 (68.8)	0.074
Walk ≥60 min/day^j (n (%))	46 (50.5)	50 (53.2)	43 (45.7)	47 (50.5)	43 (46.2)	0.490
Smoking^k (n (%))	34 (37.4)	27 (28.7)	22 (23.4)	36 (38.7)	17 (18.3)	0.063
Perceived good health^l (n (%))	68 (74.7)	65 (69.1)	70 (74.5)	69 (74.2)	70 (75.3)	0.667
Body mass index^c (kg·m^−2)	32.9 [31.5, 34.4]	34.6 [33.2, 36.2]	34.8 [33.3, 36.3]	34.4 [33.0, 35.9]	35.8 [34.4, 37.2]	0.030
Metabolic sydrome^m (n (%))	37 (40.7)	53 (56.4)	44 (46.8)	43 (46.2)	58 (62.4)	0.046
	Men
n	65	67	66	66	66
Per cent energy as UPP^c^, ^d	56.6 [50.5, 63.3]	35.7 [20.7, 61.6]	41.5 [23.9, 71.8]	31.6 [18.2, 54.6]	37.6 [31.6, 44.7]	<0.001
Hunter (n (%))	56 (86.1)	62 (92.5)	65 (98.5)	62 (93.9)	62 (93.9)	0.050
Hunter Income Security^e (n (%))	2 (3.08)	6 (8.95)	12 (18.2)	10 (15.1)	18 (27.3)	<0.001
Age^c (y)	29.1 [26.8, 31.6)	35.8 [32.8, 39.0]	35.3 [32.3, 38.5]	40.7[37.1, 44.8]	44.0 [39.7, 48.7]	<0.001
Coastal community^f (n (%))	44 (67.7)	42 (62.7)	46 (69.7)	51 (77.3)	42 (63.6)	0.712
Household size >4 (n (%))	40 (61.5)	39 (58.2)	43 (65.1)	50 (75.8)	35 (53.0)	0.974
Children <18 years in household	39 (60.0)	39 (58.2)	52 (78.8)	41 (62.1)	40 (60.6)	0.778
Some high school^g (n (%))	61 (93.8)	61 (91.0)	60 (90.9)	50 (75.8)	42 (63.6)	<0.001
Income from employment^h (n (%))	44 (67.7)	44 (65.7)	33 (50.0)	39 (59.1)	28 (42.4)	0.003
Speak only Cree at home^i (n (%))	29 (44.6)	43 (64.2)	47 (71.2)	49 (74.2)	55 (83.3)	<0.001
Walk ≥60 min/day^j (n (%))	33 (50.8)	39 (58.2)	39 (59.1)	31 (47.0)	36 (54.5)	0.842
Smoking^k (n (%))	31 (47.7)	20 (29.9)	24 (36.4)	21 (31.8)	14 (21.2)	0.006
Perceived good health^l (n (%))	46 (70.8)	51 (76.1)	51 (77.3)	48 (72.7)	50 (75.8)	0.699
Body mass index^c (kg·m^−2)	30.9 [29.2, 32.7]	31.0 [29.9, 32.2]	30.7 [29.6, 31.8]	31.5 [30.1, 32.9]	32.4 [31.0, 33.9]	0.106
Metabolic sydrome^m (n (%))	25 (38.5)	33 (49.2)	25 (37.9)	34 (51.5)	41 (62.1)	0.011

UPP: ultra-processed products.

^aQ5 represents the highest quintile of intake. ^bLogistic regression used to test for trend. ^cAll such variables, geometric mean [95% confidence interval]. ^dPer cent energy as UPP was obtained from 24-h recalls. ^eA programme whereby members of the community are paid an annual income to spend time on the land hunting, trapping and fishing. ^fTwo of the communities were inland and the remainder on the coast of James Bay. ^gAtttended some high school, not necessarily complete. ^hAnyone reporting working full- or part-time plus those who reported obtaining income from hunting. ⁱIndividuals that usually speak only Cree at home. ^jSelf-report of average time walked per day for the past 7 days. ^kSmoked ≥5 cigarettes per day. ^lReported good, very good or excellent health. ^mMetabolic syndrome defined as the presence of central adiposity (defined as WC ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women) plus any 2 of: HBP (defined as systolic blood pressure ≥130 or diastolic blood pressure as ≥85), elevated TG (>1.7 mmol/L) or FBG (>5.6 mmol/L), low HDL-C (<1.03 mmol/L in men and <1.29 mmol/L in women).

Table 3. Odds ratio of being in the highest quintiles (Q5) of the weekly traditional food intake according to food sovereignty proxy and sociodemographic, lifestyle and health characteristics for adults 18 years and older from 7 Eeyou Istchee communities in northern Quebec (Canada), by gender, 2005–2009.

	Women (n=465)				Men (n=330)
Gender	Unadjusted		Adjusted^a		Unadjusted		Adjusted^a
Characteristics	Odds ratio [95% confidence limits]	p	Odds ratio [95% confidence limits]	p	Odds ratio [95% confidence limits]	p	Odds ratio [95% confidence limits]	p
Diet quality
Per cent energy as UPP^b	0.979 [0.969, 0.990]	<0.001			0.982 [0.970, 0.994]	0.003
Food sovereignty
Hunter	3.523 [2.145, 5.786]	<0.001	2.773 [1.586, 4.851]	<0.001	1.202 [0.398, 3.661]	0.746	1.145 [0.337, 3.886]	0.828
Hunter Income Security^c	7.458 [3.623, 15.355]	<0.001	2.719 [1.144, 6.461]	0.023	2.925 [1.509, 5.669]	0.001	1.420 [0.653, 3.086]	0.377
Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health
Age^d	1.757 [1.492, 2.069]	<0.001	1.338 [1.089, 1.645]	0.006	1.499 [1.258, 1.784]	<0.001	1.407 [1.161, 1.705]	<0.001
Coastal community^e	0.566 [0.354, 0.905]	0.018			0.775 [0.440, 1.634]	0.376	0.576 [0.307, 1.082]	0.086
Household size >4	0.863 [0.543, 1.373]	0.535	1.731 [0.939, 3.190]	0.079	0.604 [0.350, 1.042]	0.070
Children <18 years in household	0.416 [0.258, 0.671]	<0.001	0.589 [0.314, 1.105]	0.099	0.837 [0.481, 1.457]	0.529
Some high school education^f	0.156 [0.093, 0.261]	<0.001	0.378 [0.191, 0.746]	0.005	0.241 [0.129, 0.450]	<0.001
Income from employment^g	0.497 [0.314, 0.787]	0.003			0.479 [0.277, 0.828]	0.008
Speak Cree at home^h	1.347 [0.828, 2.190]	0.230			2.857 [1.427, 5.720]	0.003	2.790 [1.307, 3.886]	0.008
Walk ≥60 min^i	0.860 [0.545, 1.356]	0.516			1.031 [0.600, 1.772]	0.912
Smoking^j	0.476 [0.269, 0.840]	0.010			0.471 [0.248, 0.895]	0.021
Perceived good health^k	1.119 [0.663, 1.889]	0.674			1.084 [0.579, 2.029]	0.800
Body mass index	1.028 [0.997, 1.060]	0.075	1.038 [1.003, 1.075]	0.032	1.044 [0.998, 1.092]	0.063

UPP: ultra-processed products.

^aBackward multiple logistic regression with odds ratio for model containing only variables with p<0.1. ^bPer cent energy as UPP was obtained from 24-h recalls. ^cA programme whereby members of the community are paid an annual income to spend time on the land hunting, trapping and fishing. ^dAge was divided in 10-year increments. ^eTwo of the communities were inland and the remainder on the coast of James Bay. ^fAttended some high school, not necessarily complete. ^gAnyone reporting working full- or part-time plus those who reported obtaining income from hunting. ^hIndividuals that usually speak only Cree at home. ⁱSelf-report of average time walked per day for the past 7 days. ^jSmoked ≥5 cigarettes per day. ^kReported good, very good or excellent health.

Table 4. Linear regression of the average weekly traditional food intake over 1 year according to sociodemographic, lifestyle and health characteristics for 795 adults 18 years and older from 7 Eeyou Istchee communities in northern Quebec (Canada), by gender, 2005–2009.

	Women						Men
Gender	Unadjusted			Adjusted^a			Unadjusted			Adjusted^a
Characteristics	Beta coefficient	SE	p	Beta coefficient	SE	p	Beta coefficient	SE	p	Beta coefficient	SE	p
Diet quality
Per cent energy as UPP^b	−0.060	0.013	<0.001				−0.054	0.026	0.043
Food sovereignty
Hunter	4.574	0.711	<0.001	3.149	0.657	<0.001	2.395	2.416	0.322	1.904	2.341	0.417
Hunter Income Security^c	8.149	1.087	<0.001	4.448	1.076	<0.001	5.942	1.717	<0.001	3.193	1.838	0.083
Sociodemographic, lifestyle and health
Age^d	0.174	0.019	<0.001	0.951	0.220	<0.001	0.171	0.039	<0.001	1.445	0.042	<0.001
Coastal community^e	−1.71	0.648	0.009				0.495	1.323	0.709
Household size >4	−1.125	0.623	0.072				0.115	1.274	0.928
Children <18 years in household	−0.648	0.145	<0.001				−0.090	1.283	0.944
Some high school^f	−6.170	0.724	<0.001	−2.727	0.830	0.001	−6.057	1.607	<0.001
Income from employment^g	−2.051	0.610	<0.001				−2.314	1.240	0.062
Speak only Cree at home^h	1.442	0.627	0.022				3.470	1.302	0.008	2.335	1.304	0.074
Walk ≥60 min/day^i	−0.638	0.607	0.293				1.263	1.234	0.307	2.103	1.199	0.080
Smoking^j	−1.729	0.663	0.009				−2.638	1.299	0.043
Perceived good health^k	−0.162	0.688	0.813				0.646	1.414	0.648
Body mass index	0.040	0.042	0.333				0.113	0.106	0.283

UPP: ultra-processed products.

^aBackward multiple regression beta coefficients for model containing only variables with p<0.1. ^bPer cent energy as UPP was obtained from 24-h recalls. ^cA programme whereby members of the community are paid an annual income to spend time on the land hunting, trapping and fishing. ^dAge was divided in 10-year increments. ^eTwo of the communities were inland and the remainder on the coast of James Bay. ^fAttended some high school, not necessarily complete. ^gAnyone reporting working full- or part-time plus those who reported obtaining income from hunting. ^hIndividuals that usually speak only Cree at home. ⁱSelf-report of average time walked per day for the past 7 days. ^jSmoked ≥5 cigarettes per day. ^kReported good, very good or excellent health.

Gesink D, Rink E, Montgomery-Andersen R, et al. Developing a culturally competent and socially relevant sexual health survey with an urban Arctic community. Int J Circumpolar Health. 2010 Feb;69(1):25–37. PubMed PMID: 20167154; eng.

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