Aboriginal birth cohort (ABC): a prospective cohort study of early life determinants of adiposity and associated risk factors among Aboriginal people in Canada

Abstract

BackgroundAboriginal people living in Canada have a high prevalence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). To better understand the pre and postnatal influences on the development of adiposity and related cardio-metabolic factors in adult Aboriginal people, we will recruit and follow prospectively Aboriginal pregnant mothers and their children – the Aboriginal Birth Cohort (ABC) study.Methods/designWe aim to recruit 300 Aboriginal pregnant mothers and their newborns from the Six Nations Reserve, and follow them prospectively to age 3 years. Key details of environment and health including maternal nutrition, glucose tolerance, physical activity, and weight gain will be collected. At birth, cord blood and placenta samples will be collected, as well as newborn anthropometric measurements. Mothers and offspring will be followed annually with serial measurements of diet and physical activity, growth trajectory, and adiposity.DiscussionThere is an urgent need to understand maternal and child factors that underlie the early development of adiposity and type 2 diabetes in Aboriginal people. The information generated from this cohort will assist the Six Nations community in developing interventions to prevent early adiposity in Aboriginal children.

Price-Minimizing Behaviors in a Cohort of Smokers before and after a Cigarette Tax Increase

“…This dynamic sometimes resulted in increased stress and conflict over smoking. The relationship between addiction and price-minimizing behaviors has been suggested in other research [ 3 , 6 ], but remains an area requiring further investigation [ 19 ]. Similarly, White et al [ 4 ] also suggest the role of brand loyalty in price-minimizing behaviors, but this is an area where more research is needed.…”

“…Raising tobacco taxes is considered the single most important step governments can take to reduce the consumption of tobacco products [ 1 ]. Higher tobacco taxes are an important public health policy goal because higher prices lead to multiple positive effects including less initiation of smoking by young people [ 2 ], less participation in smoking as some smokers stop smoking [ 2 , 3 ], and lower consumption as some smokers reduce how much and how often they smoke [ 2 , 4 ].…”

“…Although higher prices motivate some to quit, it is common for other smokers to find ways to reduce their cost of smoking and thus minimize the effect of a cigarette price increase [ 5 ]. There is an established body of literature that has detailed the price-minimizing behaviors of smokers including buying cheaper brands [ 3 , 6 , 7 ], buying cigarettes from low-tax or untaxed sources [ 7 , 8 ], using loose tobacco to roll their own cigarettes [ 7 , 9 , 10 ], using coupons and other discounts [ 4 , 11 ], buying different quantities to save money [ 5 , 7 , 10 , 12 ], and finding less expensive places to buy cigarettes [ 3 , 12 ]. A much smaller body of literature explores reducing the number of cigarettes smoked to save money [ 4 , 9 ].…”

The Xavante Longitudinal Health Study in Brazil: Objectives, design, and key results

“…In Brazil, an ongoing prospective birth cohort study addresses social determinants of child respiratory health among the Guarani Mbya (Cardoso et al, ). Most other longitudinal health studies of indigenous peoples have been carried out in North America, Australia, and New Zealand (Jolly et al, ; Mitrou et al, ; Thurber, Banks, & Banwell, ; Wahi et al, ).…”

Psychiatric research in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986 – a systematic review

“…the Finnish nationwide register-based birth cohorts (children born 1987 and 1997) [91], the Uppsala Birth Cohort Multigeneration Study (UBCoS, 1915(UBCoS, -1929 [92], and the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa, 1999(MoBa, -2009 [93]. The first aboriginal birth cohort has started in Canada with a focus on causes of fat gain [94]; however there are no birth [84] Abbreviations: CRP = C-reactive protein, OR = odds ratio, HR = Hazard ratio, RR = Risk ratio, PROD-screen = a screen for prodromal symptoms of psychosis. cohorts in the area yet focusing also on mental health issues.…”