The Arctic regions are inhabited by diverse populations, both indigenous and non-indigenous. Health Transitions in Arctic Populations describes and explains changing health patterns in these areas, how particular patterns came about, and what can be done to improve the health of Arctic peoples.

This study correlates changes in health status with major environmental, social, economic, and political changes in the Arctic. T. Kue Young and Peter Bjerregaard seek commonalities in the experiences of different peoples while recognizing their considerable diversity. They focus on five Arctic regions - Greenland, Northern Canada, Alaska, Arctic Russia, and Northern Fennoscandia, offering a general overview of the geography, history, economy, population characteristics, health status, and health services of each. The discussion moves on to specific indigenous populations (Inuit, Dene, and Sami), major health determinants and outcomes, and, finally, an integrative examination of what can be done to improve the health of circumpolar peoples.

Health Transitions in Arctic Populations offers both an examination of key health issues in the north and a vision for the future of Arctic inhabitants.

In order to study the health status of Native Americans, the unique characteristics of this population must be fully considered. This book provides a comprehensive review of the health of Native Americans in the United States and Canada. Historical trends in population and health status from pre-European contact to the present are thoroughly examined within three categories: infectious diseases, chronic diseases, and injuries. The etiology and pathogenesis of different diseases are discussed, and genetic and environmental risk factors are considered. The book also compares the incidence of disease among Native Americans and non-Native Americans, examines variations among Native Americans belonging to different geographical, cultural and linguistic groups, and reviews control and prevention strategies. On a broader level, the purpose of this book is to integrate the approaches of anthropology and epidemiology in order to demonstrate the interaction of biology and culture on disease causation, distribution, and control. Attention to both perspectives offers a promising approach to understanding and improving the health status of Native Americans.