Faculty Collaboration Database

Environmental health literacy for Anishinaabe (Great Lakes Native American) fish consumers: A randomized control trial. Environ Res 2022 Sep;212(Pt B):113335

Date

04/22/2022

Pubmed ID

35447154

DOI

10.1016/j.envres.2022.113335

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85129809479 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   6 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fish consumption comprises an important part of what the Anishinaabe (Great Lakes Native Americans) call "minobimaadiziiwin" which translates roughly to "living in a good way". Industrial activity leading to the accumulation of persistent contaminants in fish disrupts minobimaadiziiwin. Our team of academic and Anishinaabe scientists co-developed a fish consumption advisory for the Anishinaabe using software that can be accessed via mobile phones and/or the internet.

OBJECTIVES: The software, Gigiigoo'inaan ("our fish") is designed to improve environmental health literacy using culturally congruent messaging and aesthetics. We tested the following hypotheses: 1) the Gigiigoo'inaan would encourage consumption of fish high in Polyunsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids (PFUA-3) whilst minimizing contaminant intake (methylmercury (MeHg) and Polychorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)); and 2) intervention participants will be more likely than controls to achieve a favorable n-3 PUFA/MeHg consumption ratios.

METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial with prospective self-reported fish consumption using automated email surveys. One-month pre and one month post, control and intervention outcome variables were calculated per participant as µg/kg/day of MeHg, µg/kg/day of PCB, g of fish, and mg/day of EPA+DHA. These were modeled using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with a-priori covariates: age, sex, and tribal affiliation.

RESULTS: Most participants in both trial arms reported eating relatively elevated amounts of fish yet remained within advisory guidelines for contaminants. EPA+DHA:MeHg ratios were also favorable in most participants. Advisory limits for contaminants were exceeded by relatively few participants in the study.

DISCUSSION: Gigiigoo'inaan was previously reported to increase confidence, the current user feedback confirms this. Most participants ate fish but did not exceed the advisory limits, which demonstrates Environmental Health Literacy progress in the region despite a lack of observed behavior change during the trial. A small number of participants exceeded contaminant intake guidelines which matches the pilot work for this study.

Author List

Dellinger MJ, Pingatore N, Chelius T, Visotcky A, Sparapani R, Ripley M

Authors

Thomas H. Chelius Biostatistician I in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Matthew J. Dellinger PhD Associate Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Rodney Sparapani PhD Associate Professor in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Alexis M. Visotcky Biostatistician III in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Animals
Environmental Health
Fishes
Food Contamination
Humans
Lakes
Literacy
Methylmercury Compounds
Prospective Studies