Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is the first population based study exploring health service use and ethno-cultural factors in indigenous Sami and non-Sami youth in North Norway. The first aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of health service...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2009-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/378 |
| _version_ | 1818144242861604864 |
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| author | Skre Ingunn B Bals Margrethe Turi Anne Kvernmo Siv |
| author_facet | Skre Ingunn B Bals Margrethe Turi Anne Kvernmo Siv |
| author_sort | Skre Ingunn B |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is the first population based study exploring health service use and ethno-cultural factors in indigenous Sami and non-Sami youth in North Norway. The first aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of health service use between Sami adolescents and their non-indigenous peers. The second aim was to explore the relationships between health service use and ethno-cultural factors, such as ethnic context, Sami self-identification, perceived discrimination and Sami language competence. Finally, we wanted to explore the relationship between use of health services and emotional and behavioural problems.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The Norwegian Arctic Adolescent Health Study was conducted among 10th graders (15-16 years old) in junior high schools in North Norway. The sample consisted of 4,449 adolescents, of whom 450 (10.1%) were indigenous Sami and 3,999 (89.9%) were non-Sami.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sami and non-Sami youth used all health services with equal frequency. However, several ethno-cultural factors were found to influence health service use. Sami youth in more assimilated ethnic contexts used general practitioners more than non-Sami youth. Youth with Sami self-identification had a higher probability of using the school health service compared with other youth. Ethnic barriers to health service use were also identified. Sami speaking youth with a high degree of perceived discrimination had lower probability of using school health services than non-Sami speaking youth. Sami youth with conduct problems were less likely than non-Sami to use psychologist/psychiatrist. The present study demonstrated a relationship between health need and actual health service use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Culture-specific factors influenced the help-seeking process in indigenous youth; some factors acted as barriers against health service use and other factors increased the probability of health service use.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:44:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ed9dbb94edc148ce9bf53ae1016ad02e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T11:44:27Z |
| publishDate | 2009-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ed9dbb94edc148ce9bf53ae1016ad02e2022-12-22T01:08:31ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582009-10-019137810.1186/1471-2458-9-378Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based surveySkre Ingunn BBals MargretheTuri AnneKvernmo Siv<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This is the first population based study exploring health service use and ethno-cultural factors in indigenous Sami and non-Sami youth in North Norway. The first aim of the present study was to compare the frequency of health service use between Sami adolescents and their non-indigenous peers. The second aim was to explore the relationships between health service use and ethno-cultural factors, such as ethnic context, Sami self-identification, perceived discrimination and Sami language competence. Finally, we wanted to explore the relationship between use of health services and emotional and behavioural problems.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>The Norwegian Arctic Adolescent Health Study was conducted among 10th graders (15-16 years old) in junior high schools in North Norway. The sample consisted of 4,449 adolescents, of whom 450 (10.1%) were indigenous Sami and 3,999 (89.9%) were non-Sami.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sami and non-Sami youth used all health services with equal frequency. However, several ethno-cultural factors were found to influence health service use. Sami youth in more assimilated ethnic contexts used general practitioners more than non-Sami youth. Youth with Sami self-identification had a higher probability of using the school health service compared with other youth. Ethnic barriers to health service use were also identified. Sami speaking youth with a high degree of perceived discrimination had lower probability of using school health services than non-Sami speaking youth. Sami youth with conduct problems were less likely than non-Sami to use psychologist/psychiatrist. The present study demonstrated a relationship between health need and actual health service use.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Culture-specific factors influenced the help-seeking process in indigenous youth; some factors acted as barriers against health service use and other factors increased the probability of health service use.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/378 |
| spellingShingle | Skre Ingunn B Bals Margrethe Turi Anne Kvernmo Siv Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey BMC Public Health |
| title | Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey |
| title_full | Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey |
| title_fullStr | Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey |
| title_short | Health service use in indigenous Sami and non-indigenous youth in North Norway: A population based survey |
| title_sort | health service use in indigenous sami and non indigenous youth in north norway a population based survey |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/9/378 |
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