Health Children

The Health of Canada's Children

In 1992, Canada ranked #1 among all countries in the world along a composite Human Development Index (UNDP) which combined life expectancy, educational attainment and standard of living. The following highlights from the 1996 edition of The Progress of Nations reveal that when measured beyond the traditional indicators of basic health and well-being, the state of health of Canada's children is cause for concern.

Absent fathers: 13.4% of children in Canada live in solo mother families, 1990-1992

Rank: Average: 6th out of 10 nations

Issue: A primary health risk facing children living in solo-mother families is poverty. In Canada, 50% of children living in solo-mother families live below the poverty line (as defined by the Luxembourg Income Study), compared to 7.4% of children living in two parent families.

Action: Delivery of policies and programs which mitigate the negative effects of family and child poverty (i.e. child directed benefits, income support, child care, pay equity).

Child Poverty: 23% of children in Canada under 18 live in poverty before government intervention, 1991

14% of children in Canada under 18 live in poverty after government intervention, 1991

Rank: Before Intervention - Below Average: 11th out of 17 nations

After Intervention - Very Low: 15th out of 18 nations

Issue: Despite federal government tax and transfer policies, and a commitment to ending child poverty by the year 2,000, Canada is 1 of 5 industrialized nations with child poverty rates of more than 1O%.

Action: Promote a system of wealth redistribution which narrows the gap between rich and poor children and their families.

Suicide: 24.7 deaths by suicide and self-inflicted injury per 100,000 males in Canada aged 15-24, 1991-1993

6.0 deaths by suicide and self-inflicted injury per 100,000 females in Canada aged 15-24, 1991-1993

Rank: Male - Below Average: 22nd out of 32 nations

Female - Below Average: 24th out of 32 nations

Issue: Suicide rates among adolescent males and females have increased dramatically over the past 30 years in Canada. The rate of suicide for young men is six times greater than for young women: twice as many adolescent women than men are hospitalized for attempted suicide.

Action: Support delivery of mental health promotion and suicide prevention programming. Emphasis should be placed on vulnerable groups such as Aboriginal youth.

Tobacco Smoking: 16% of male adolescents in Canada aged 15 smoke every day, 1993-1994
21% of female adolescents in Canada aged 15 smoke every day, 1993-1994

Rank: Male - Average: 10th out of 22 nations

Female - Very Low: 20th out of 22 nations

Issue: A higher percentage of adolescent women smoke daily than do their male counterparts. The number of young women smoking increased from 18 to 21 % between 1989 and 1994.

Action: Support delivery of health promotion and prevention programming and legislation. Develop competence in youth by delivering health education that instills the belief that they can alter their health habits.

Injury Death Rate: 10.3 injury deaths per 100,000 male children in Canada aged 5-14 years, 1991-1994

5.3 injury deaths pure 100,00 female children in Canada aged 15-14 years, 1991-1993

Rank: Male - Average: 16th out of 32 nations

Female - Average: 15th out of 32 nations

Issue: Injury is a leading cause of death among children and youth in industrialized countries. Injuries also often result in long term disability, hospitalization and trips to the emergency department.

Action: Promote awareness and community-based injury prevention programs focusing on approaches that alter the environments in which children live and play.

Literacy: 31% of youth in Canada aged 16-25 score at the highest 'document' literacy level, 1994

Rank: High: 2nd out of 7 nations

Issue: Employment is positively related to literacy: those who are employed (or who are in school) are more likely to be at higher literacy levels than those who are unemployed or who are outside the work force.

Action: Support the delivery of literacy programs for Canadians of all ages.

Teen Birth Rate - 27 births per 1,000 women in Canada aged 15-19, 1990-1995

Rank: Average: 22nd out of 44 nations

Issue: Since 1983, the pregnancy rate among young Canadian women aged 15-19 has remained unchanged.

Action: Adolescents should learn about issues of reproduction, healthy sexuality and family planning before becoming sexually active. Education should focus on healthy relationships, examining power and negotiation, and media literacy. Ensure accessible, community sexual health clinical services.

This article was published by the Canadian Institute of Child Health.

Posted by: the Canadian Institute of Child Health, September 1996.

Rank:	Average: 6th out of 10 nations
Issue:	A primary health risk facing children living in solo-mother families is poverty. In Canada, 50% of children living in solo-mother families live below the poverty line (as defined by the Luxembourg Income Study), compared to 7.4% of children living in two parent families.
Action:	Delivery of policies and programs which mitigate the negative effects of family and child poverty (i.e. child directed benefits, income support, child care, pay equity).

Child Poverty:	23% of children in Canada under 18 live in poverty before government intervention, 1991
	14% of children in Canada under 18 live in poverty after government intervention, 1991

Rank:	Before Intervention - Below Average: 11th out of 17 nations
	After Intervention - Very Low: 15th out of 18 nations
Issue:	Despite federal government tax and transfer policies, and a commitment to ending child poverty by the year 2,000, Canada is 1 of 5 industrialized nations with child poverty rates of more than 1O%.
Action:	Promote a system of wealth redistribution which narrows the gap between rich and poor children and their families.

Suicide:	24.7 deaths by suicide and self-inflicted injury per 100,000 males in Canada aged 15-24, 1991-1993
	6.0 deaths by suicide and self-inflicted injury per 100,000 females in Canada aged 15-24, 1991-1993

Rank:	Male - Below Average: 22nd out of 32 nations
	Female - Below Average: 24th out of 32 nations
Issue:	Suicide rates among adolescent males and females have increased dramatically over the past 30 years in Canada. The rate of suicide for young men is six times greater than for young women: twice as many adolescent women than men are hospitalized for attempted suicide.
Action:	Support delivery of mental health promotion and suicide prevention programming. Emphasis should be placed on vulnerable groups such as Aboriginal youth.

Tobacco Smoking:	16% of male adolescents in Canada aged 15 smoke every day, 1993-1994
	21% of female adolescents in Canada aged 15 smoke every day, 1993-1994

Rank:	Male - Average: 10th out of 22 nations
	Female - Very Low: 20th out of 22 nations
Issue:	A higher percentage of adolescent women smoke daily than do their male counterparts. The number of young women smoking increased from 18 to 21 % between 1989 and 1994.
Action:	Support delivery of health promotion and prevention programming and legislation. Develop competence in youth by delivering health education that instills the belief that they can alter their health habits.

Injury Death Rate:	10.3 injury deaths per 100,000 male children in Canada aged 5-14 years, 1991-1994
	5.3 injury deaths pure 100,00 female children in Canada aged 15-14 years, 1991-1993

Rank:	Male - Average: 16th out of 32 nations
	Female - Average: 15th out of 32 nations
Issue:	Injury is a leading cause of death among children and youth in industrialized countries. Injuries also often result in long term disability, hospitalization and trips to the emergency department.
Action:	Promote awareness and community-based injury prevention programs focusing on approaches that alter the environments in which children live and play.


Rank:	High: 2nd out of 7 nations
Issue:	Employment is positively related to literacy: those who are employed (or who are in school) are more likely to be at higher literacy levels than those who are unemployed or who are outside the work force.
Action:	Support the delivery of literacy programs for Canadians of all ages.


Rank:	Average: 22nd out of 44 nations
Issue:	Since 1983, the pregnancy rate among young Canadian women aged 15-19 has remained unchanged.
Action:	Adolescents should learn about issues of reproduction, healthy sexuality and family planning before becoming sexually active. Education should focus on healthy relationships, examining power and negotiation, and media literacy. Ensure accessible, community sexual health clinical services.