UBCO finds Indigenous women have worst health outcomes in Canada

This is the first study to investigate the difference in gender health of Canada’s Indigenous people. The UBC Okanagan indicates that Indigenous people have the worst health outcomes of any residents in the country and confirms Indigenous women living off-reserve deal with a large gap in health equity. The research found the situation is getting worse as the gap increased from 1.5% to 5.3% in 2012 and by a further 2.7% in 2017. The lead researcher says educational and career opportunities for women that could improve their employment prospects and household incomes are ways to indirectly close the health gap between genders. These main socioeconomic factors, he says, will determine a person’s health.