5.4 Quantitative analyses of Indigenous vs. Non-Indigenous persons in the MHDCD cohort: Results and Discussion
As detailed above, we conducted a range of comparative analyses on the MHDCD Dataset to investigate the differences between the Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the cohort. Presented below are key selected results that highlight significant findings and differences between those groups by Indigenous status. For each of the selected key metrics, two comparative analyses have been performed and reported separately:
- Overall: Comparing the Indigenous and non-Indigenous sub-cohort in all diagnostic groups; and
- Complex Needs Specific: Comparing the Indigenous and non-Indigenous sub-cohort within the complex needs diagnostic group.
We refer to these analyses as ‘overall’ (1 above) and ‘complex needs specific’ (2 above) in relation to key metrics in the data that were identified as indicating levels of vulnerability and likelihood of early and frequent contact with the criminal justice system. Adjusted odds ratio tests are used to reveal the likelihood that a particular outcome will occur for any group given a particular exposure, compared to the odds of the outcome occurring in the absence of that exposure. T-tests are used to compare the differences in the averages of events or occurrences in each group.
