Arctic childhoods: A need for better data to understand the longterm effects of childhood conditions on health in Greenland

Since 1993 the National Institute of Public Health has conducted population based health surveys among adults in Greenland for the Department of Health (Government of Greenland). The overall focus has been public health and... [ view full abstract ]

Since 1993 the National Institute of Public Health has conducted population based health surveys among adults in Greenland for the Department of Health (Government of Greenland). The overall focus has been public health and the topics range from diet, smoking, diabetes, and physical activity to alcohol use and mental health. At this point, a total of four surveys have been successfully completed; B93 (n=1,728) , B99 (n=1,961), The Inuit Health in Transition Study (2005-2010) (n=3,253) and recently B2014 (n=2,102). The first three surveys were cross-sectional while the fourth and latest survey was a follow-up of participants from the previous surveys.

A specific focus of the surveys and the research based on our data is the association between childhood conditions and health later in life. Although our studies only include adult participants we have been able to document a significant association between traumatic childhood events such as growing up in a home with alcohol problems and/or being a victim of sexual abuse and both suicide attempts and harmful use of alcohol.

These results point to a need for more comprehensive data regarding child welfare in Greenland. There is a need for more cohort studies with children from birth to adulthood in order for us to fully understand the causal relationship between childhood conditions and mental as well as physical health later in life.