A Health Surveillance Update on Canadian Children and Youth

AUTHORS:
I.D. Rusen, MD, MSc, FRCPC
K. Trouton, MD, MPH

Infant Health

Health outcomes related to the perinatal, neonatal and infancy period are particularly important indicators of child health. In 1996, of 4,197 deaths among Canadians aged 0-19 years, 2,051 or 48.9% occurred among those less than one year of age. Of these 2,051 deaths, 948 or 46.2% were related to perinatal conditions and 575 or 28% were attributed to congenital anomalies. The first indicator presented, infant mortality, is an internationally recognized indicator of a country's state of health development. Canada's infant mortality rate has declined steadily during the last century. However, other countries have lower infant mortality rates, as well as fewer disparities between sub-populations, and the infant mortality rate remains an appropriate indicator for international comparisons. The second and third indicators presented, preterm birth and neural tube defects, are central components of the infant mortality picture. Preterm birth is an important, yet poorly understood, condition of the perinatal period, accounting for 75-85% of all perinatal mortality. Neural tube defects exemplify the challenges of congenital anomaly surveillance. Furthermore, the ongoing efforts to reduce the burden of neural tube defects heighten the need to track this indicator. Together, these three indicators characterize the importance of infant health to the overall well being of Canadian children.

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