Urban Aboriginal Health Counts: Barriers to Access to Health Services and Their Relationship With Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension in an Urban First Nations Population

Background: Hypertension and cardiovascular disease (CVD) contribute to morbidity and mortality among First Nations peoples. Despite increased urbanization of this group, there is little data on the health of this community in an urban environment.

Objective: To examine the association between barriers to access to health services and the prevalence of hypertension and CVD in an urban First Nations population.

Methods: Data were obtained from the Our Health Counts survey, which used Respondent-Driven Sampling, a chain-referral sampling technique. Analysis was done using newly proposed, modified multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: The prevalence of hypertension in this urban First Nations population was associated with poor access to both traditional and conventional health services. CVD was associated with housing conditions and poor diet.

Conclusion: Given the importance of access to conventional and traditional care, and housing variables, a holistic, culturally appropriate perspective may be important for maintaining cardiac health in this community.