Prevalence of low and high birthweight among the James Bay Cree of Northern Quebec

Infant birthweight is an important indicator of neonatal health. Aboriginal women tend to give birth to a greater percentage of high birthwright babies than non-Aboriginal women. However, the birthweight distribution among the Canadian native population and particularly among the Cree has not been well documented.

The aim of this study was to document the birthweight distribution, determine the prevalence of low and high birthweight, and examine the secular trends of these indicators among the northern Quebec James Bay Cree.