Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Naoyo Mori

Abstract

The focus of this study was on potential social determinants of health factors that influence the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the general population of Canada, with emphasis on the disproportion in rates of the disease between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations of Canada. This study also examined the risk factors that are peculiar to the general, Aboriginal, and non-Aboriginal population of Canada. A total number of 101,080 individuals who were 18 years and above provided data for this study. The data and information obtained from these participants were used to answer the major research questions regarding if there was any association between the social determinants of health and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations of Canada. Multiple logistic regression technique was the main statistical method adopted for this study. Results showed that smoking was peculiar to the prevalence of the disease in the Aboriginal population. It was also revealed that, while the same risk factors could be responsible for both Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals, the odds of having this disease was higher among Aboriginals in Canada. The results also indicated that risk factors such as sleep apnea, scoliosis, migraine, asthma, and osteoporosis to be significantly associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Canada. While scoliosis reduces the odds of type 2 diabetes in the non-Aboriginal population, it increased the odds in the Aboriginal population. The adverse and disproportionate impact of these risks factors on Aboriginals in Canada means governments at all levels in Canada and other stakeholders need to pay attention to the problem of smoking, sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle, lack of quality education, and income opportunities.

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