POLITICAL OFFICE:
109 Mission Road
Fort William First Nation, ON
P7J 1K7
(807) 626-9339
(807) 626 9404 fax
ADMINISTRATION OFFICE:
111 Peter Street, Suite 804
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2H1
(416) 597-1266
Fax (416) 597-8365
Website: www.chiefs-of-ontario.org
CHIEFS OF ONTARIO
First Nations
Regional Health Survey
RHS Phase 2 (2008/10)
CHRONIC HEALTH FACT SHEET
 Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians  Grand Council Treaty #3  Independent First Nations  Nishnawbe Aski Nation  Union of Ontario Indians 
Ontario First Nations ADULTS – High Blood Pressure
 The most prevalent health condition reported by Ontario First Nations adults was high
blood pressure (27.2%).
o 6.1% E of those 18-29 years of age, 27.8% of those 30-59 years of age and 58.9% of
those 60+ years of age reported having high blood pressure.
o There was no significant difference in the prevalence of high blood pressure
between men (25.9%) and women (28.5%).
o Those classified as normal weight (BMI 18.0-24.9) reported a lower prevalence of
high blood pressure (14.2%) than those classified as obese (BMI 30.0+) (37.7%) or
overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) (21.9%).
o Those having an inactive level of physical activity reported a higher prevalence of
high blood pressure (29.8%) than those having an active level of physical activity
(19.6%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Heart Disease
 Just under one-tenth (9.0%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having heart disease.
o 7.6% of those 30-59 years of age and 29.3% of those 60+ years of age reported having
heart disease.
o There was no significant difference in the prevalence of heart disease between
men (10.1%) and women (7.9%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Arthritis
 Approximately one-quarter (23.1%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having
arthritis.
o 5.5%E of those 18-29 years of age, 23.7% of those 30-59 years of age and 49.1% of
those 60+ years of age reported having arthritis.
o Women (28.5%) had a significantly higher prevalence of arthritis than men
(17.7%).
o Those classified as normal weight (BMI 18.0-24.9) reported a lower prevalence of
arthritis (13.5%) than those classified as obese (BMI 30.0+) (29.9%) or overweight
(BMI 25.0-29.9) (20.0%).
o Those having an inactive level of physical activity reported a higher prevalence of
arthritis (25.7%) than those having an active level of physical activity (17.0%).
E
High sampling variability. Use figure with caution.
2
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Allergies
 More than one-fifth (22.8%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having allergies.
o 17.5% of those 18-29 years of age, 24.7% of those 30-59 years of age and 24.0% of
those 60+ years of age reported having allergies.
o Women (29.3%) had a significantly higher prevalence of allergies than men
(16.5%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Chronic Back Pain (excluding Arthritis)
 Approximately one-sixth (16.9%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having
chronic back pain (excluding arthritis).
o 18.0% of those 30-59 years of age and 27.3% of those 60+ years of age reported
having chronic back pain (excluding arthritis).
o There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic back pain
(excluding arthritis) between men (18.5%) and women (15.3%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Asthma
 Approximately one-tenth (11.4%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having
asthma.
o 12.4% of those 18-29 years of age, 10.6% of those 30-59 years of age and 13.1% of
those 60+ years of age reported having asthma.
o Women (14.0%) had a significantly higher prevalence of allergies than men (8.9%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Stomach and Intestinal Problems
 Approximately one-tenth (10.3%) of Ontario First Nations adults reported having
stomach and intestinal problems.
o 6.0%E of those 18-29 years of age, 10.9% of those 30-59 years of age and 15.1% of
those 60+ years of age reported having stomach and intestinal problems.
o Women (13.0%) had a significantly higher prevalence of stomach and intestinal
problems than men (7.7%).
Ontario First Nation ADULTS – Barriers to Health Care Access
 Ontario First Nation adults reported that the most common barriers to health care access
they encountered were “waiting lists too long” (33.8%) and “not covered by Non-Insured
Health Benefits (NIHB)” (26.9%).
E
High sampling variability. Use figure with caution.
3

Adults encountered difficulty accessing NIHB services most often when trying to access
dental care (16.3%) and medication (12.5%).

Approximately three-quarters (71.4%) of adults reported that their primary healthcare
provider (family physician/RN/nurse practitioner) had not changed over the previous 12 months.
o 13.4% reported that their primary health care provider changed once, while 15.2%
reported that their primary health care provider changed two or more times.

Just under, one-half (45.9%) of adults reported using traditional medicines.
o Of those who reported using traditional medicines, approximately three-quarters
(73.4%) reported experiencing difficulties when trying to access traditional medicines.
Ontario First Nation YOUTH – Chronic Health Conditions
 Approximately one-sixth (17.5%) of Ontario First Nations youth reported having
allergies.
o Of those who youth reported having allergies, 53.4% also reported that they were
undergoing treatment for their allergies.

Approximately one-sixth (15.9%) of Ontario First Nations youth reported having
asthma.
o Of those youth who reported having asthma, 21.4% also reported that they had
had an asthma attack in the past 12 months.
o Of those youth who reported having asthma, 60.5% also reported that they were
undergoing treatment for their asthma.

Approximately one-tenth (10.6%) of Ontario First Nations youth reported having a
learning disability.
o Boys (14.4%) had a significantly higher prevalence of learning disability than girls
(6.7%).
Ontario First Nation CHILDREN – Chronic Health Conditions
 The most prevalent chronic health conditions among Ontario First Nations children
include asthma (15.1%), allergies (12.8%), dermatitis (atopic eczema) (10.4%), chronic ear
infections or ear problems (7.0%), speech/language difficulties (6.3%) and learning disability
(4.2%)E.
E
High sampling variability. Use figure with caution.
4