The confidence in health care and social services in northern Sweden – a comparison between reindeer-herding Sami and the non-Sami majority population

Daerga, Laila; Sjölander, Per; Jacobsson, Lars; Edin-Liljegren, Anette

doi:10.1177/1403494812453971

Cited by 23 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Also, the close-knit Sami world has been previously proposed as a possible factor behind suicide clusters and contagion effects among Sami ( 6 – 8 ). Furthermore, low confidence in (Swedish) health care among Sami reindeer herders is documented and has been interpreted as a hindrance for full enjoyment of such services ( 23 ). Also, at least some of the elements in the “We're like lemmings” narrative can fit rather well within mainstream models of suicidality, as can be illustrated through examining the narrative in light of the “Interpersonal–Psychological Theory of Attempted and Completed Suicide” (IPT-ACS) and it's key features; thwarted belongingness , perceived burdensomeness and acquired capability , as proposed by Joiner ( 24 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We are like lemmings”: making sense of the cultural meaning(s) of suicide among the indigenous Sami in Sweden

Stoor¹,

Kaiser

Jacobsson

et al. 2015

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundSuicide is a widespread problem among indigenous people residing in the circumpolar Arctic. Though the situation among the indigenous Sami in northern Scandinavia is better than among some other indigenous people, suicide is still regarded as a major public health issue. To adapt prevention strategies that are culturally attuned one must understand how suicide is understood within context. That is, the cultural meaning(s) of suicide.ObjectiveTo explore and make sense of the cultural meaning(s) of suicide among Sami in Sweden.DesignOpen-ended focus group discussions (FGDs) on the topic “suicide among Sami” were carried out in 5 Sami communities in Sweden, with in total 22 strategically selected Sami participants. FGDs were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed through employing content analysis.ResultsFrom the FGDs 4 themes emerged including “The Sami are fighting for their culture and the herders are in the middle of the fight,” “Suicide as a consequence of Sami losing (or having lost) their identity,” “A wildfire in the Sami world” and “Difficult to get help as a Sami.”ConclusionsFindings indicate that Sami in Sweden make sense of suicide in relation to power and identity within a threatened Sami cultural context. Suicide is then understood as an act that takes place and makes sense to others when a Sami no longer has the power to maintain a Sami identity, resulting in being disconnected from the Sami world and placed in an existential void where suicide is a solution. The findings are useful in development of culturally attuned suicide prevention among Sami in Sweden.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“We are like lemmings”: making sense of the cultural meaning(s) of suicide among the indigenous Sami in Sweden

Stoor¹,

Kaiser

Jacobsson

et al. 2015

International Journal of Circumpolar Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For men, the symptoms are most likely related to physical risk factors, with high exposure to snowmobile and motorcycle driving, while the women's symptoms are more influenced by psychosocial risk factors such as poor social support, high effort, low reward, and a feeling of being disconnected from the daily reindeer-managing activities (32, 45, 49). Reindeer herders are also heavily exposed to vibration when driving snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and motorcycles (46).…”

Section: Risk Factors and Health In The Reindeer Husbandrymentioning

confidence: 99%

What is known about the health and living conditions of the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, the Sami?

Sjölander¹

2011

Global Health Action

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundThe Sami are the indigenous ethnic population of northern Scandinavia. Their health condition is poorly known, although the knowledge has improved over the last decade.ObjectivesThe aim was to review the current information on mortality, diseases, and risk factor exposure in the Swedish Sami population.DesignHealth-related research on Sami cohorts published in scientific journals and anthologies was used to compare the health condition among the Sami and the majority non-Sami population. When relevant, data from the Sami populations in Swedish were compared with corresponding data from Norwegian and Finnish Sami populations.ResultsLife expectancy and mortality patterns of the Sami are similar to those of the majority population. Small differences in incidences of cancer and cardiovascular diseases have been reported. The traditional Sami lifestyle seems to contain elements that reduce the risk to develop cancer and cardiovascular diseases, e.g. physical activity, diet rich in antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids, and a strong cultural identity. Reindeer herding is an important cultural activity among the Sami and is associated with high risks for accidents. Pain in the lower back, neck, shoulders, elbows, and hands are frequent among both men and women in reindeer-herding families. For men, these symptoms are related to high exposure to terrain vehicles, particularly snowmobile, whereas for women psychosocial risk factors seem to more important, e.g. poor social support, high effort, low reward, and high economical responsibilities.ConclusionsAlthough the health condition of the Sami population appears to be rather similar to that of the general Swedish population, a number of specific health problems have been identified, especially among the reindeer-herding Sami. Most of these problems have their origin in marginalization and poor knowledge of the reindeer husbandry and the Sami culture in the majority population. It is suggested that the most sustainable measure to improve the health among the reindeer-herding Sami would be to improve the conditions of the reindeer husbandry and the Sami culture.

show abstract

“…These challenges include those related to environmental and contextual issues, e.g. geographical remoteness; dissatisfaction with general practitioners' language skills (Nystad, Melhus, & Lund, 2008); institutional barriers which in the case of Sámi are exacerbated by mobile pastoralism; and interpersonal dynamics which limit trusting relationships (Daerga et al, 2012). Based on our findings and the literature, we join Blix and colleagues (Blix & Hamran, 2015, 2017 in their call for language and culture-dependent health and care services for the Sámi at the EoL.…”

Section: Discussion Of Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One possible explanation for the lack of research on death-related issues among the Sámi may be understood in relation to Dagsvold's (2006) description of it as a 'silent culture', relying on indirect language or silence in communication about lifethreatening disease. Daerga, Sjolander, Jacobsson, and Edin-Liljegren (2012) point to another hinderance in the often problematic encounters between the Swedish health and social care systems and the Sámi, as the Sámi report a need for them to explain, and often defend their lifestyle to the authorities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The past is present: Death systems among the Indigenous Sámi in Northern Scandinavia today

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite growing interest in Indigenous health, the lack of end-of-life (EOL) research about the Sámi people led us to explore experiencebased knowledge about EoL issues among the Sámi. We aim here to describe Sámi death systems and the extent to which Kastenbaum's conceptualisation of death systems is appropriate to Sámi culture. Transcribed conversational interviews with 15 individuals, chosen for their varied experiences with EoL issues among Sámi, were first inductively analysed. Kastenbaum's model of death systems, with functions along a time trajectory from prevention to social consolidation after death, and the components of people, times, places, and symbols/ objects, was applied thereafter in an effort to understand the data. The model provides a framework for understanding aspects of the death system that were Sámi-specific, Sámi-relevant as well as what has changed over time. Whereas Kastenbaum differentiated among the components of the death system, our analysis indicated these were often so interrelated as to be nearly inseparable among the Sámi. Seasonal changes and relationships to nature instead of calendar time dominated death systems, linking people, places and times. The extended family's role in enculturation across generations and EoL support was salient. Numerous markers of Sámi culture, both deathspecific and those recruited into the death system, strengthened community identity in the EoL.

show abstract

The confidence in health care and social services in northern Sweden – a comparison between reindeer-herding Sami and the non-Sami majority population

Cited by 23 publications

References 20 publications

“We are like lemmings”: making sense of the cultural meaning(s) of suicide among the indigenous Sami in Sweden

“We are like lemmings”: making sense of the cultural meaning(s) of suicide among the indigenous Sami in Sweden

What is known about the health and living conditions of the indigenous people of northern Scandinavia, the Sami?

The past is present: Death systems among the Indigenous Sámi in Northern Scandinavia today

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About