Self-reported Effects of Water on Health in First Nations Communities in Saskatchewan, Canada: Results From Community-Based Participatory Research

Abstract

Water-related health challenges on First Nations reserves in Canada have been previously documented. Our objective was to describe factors associated with self-reported health effects from tap water in 8 First Nations reserve communities in Saskatchewan, Canada. Community-based participatory approaches were used in designing and implementing cross-sectional household surveys. Individual, household, community, and contextual effects were considered in multilevel analysis. Negative health effects from tap water were reported by 28% of households (n = 579). Concerns about environmental factors affecting water quality (odds ratio [OR] = 3.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-6.7), rarely or never drinking tap water (OR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.3-6.6), insufficient tap water (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.4-6.3), paying for bottled water (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.2-8.7), and dissatisfaction with tap water were associated with self-reported health effects (n = 393); however, the effect of dissatisfaction was modified by respondent age (P = .03). Quality and availability were associated with perceptions of health effects from drinking water, providing additional information on how ongoing concerns about drinking water influence self-reported health in some First Nations.

Factors associated with drinking and being satisfied with tap water in Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan, Canada

“…Partnerships between 8 Indigenous communities and the researchers formed the starting point for this study and are documented in a report examining self-reported health status [11]. …”

“…Participating communities varied in size from ≤500 to >7,000 persons (median = 823 people). Most communities (6/8) were affiliated with a tribal council, and 5 of 8 communities were closer than 70 km to an urban centre and had an independent source of revenue [11]. …”

“…The final community had 2 water treatment systems with manganese greensand and reverse osmosis [11]. Manganese greensand water treatment was used in 5 of 8 communities.…”

“…Manganese greensand water treatment was used in 5 of 8 communities. In 4 communities, the water system output was ≤400 m 3 /day and water plants were ≥20 years old [11]. …”

“…Gastrointestinal and skin problems have also been described in association with poor drinking water quality in Indigenous communities in Canada [10]. A recent study in western Canada identified that Indigenous community members who reported rarely or never drinking their tap water and who were dissatisfied with their tap water were also more likely to self-report health effects from drinking water [11]. …”