According to the World Health Organization and Health Canada, early childhood development makes a lasting impact on health in adult life. Unlike any other time in a child’s life, the early years are an especially important stage to build healthy brains. Healthy development during this time sets the stage for people to lead flourishing lives – socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically.
To help every child develop to the best of his/her ability, we need to support and encourage all families in Niagara to think about the changes parenthood will bring. This starts with having a healthy pregnancy and thinking about our role as parents before children even arrive in our lives. We need to protect, promote, and support:
- breastfeeding as the cultural norm
- positive, balanced parenting and remove the embarrassment linked to seeking information or help on parenting
- reading and writing skills right from the start by encouraging parents to read to their young children and by securing high quality early childhood education for all children
As a society, we need to strive to provide the experiences necessary for all children to have the 40 developmental assets (e.g. family support, self-esteem, sense of purpose). Many of these factors are influenced by differences in family income, education, or employment. Targeted services to more disadvantaged families are only one way to try and reduce the effect of these differences.
There is room for improvement in Niagara. In 2006, 30.1% of Niagara children scored as vulnerable on one or more domains of readiness to learn at school. The following tables present data on different issues related to early childhood development in Niagara. However, we need more Niagara-specific information about issues such as readiness to parent, parenting styles, breastfeeding practices after bringing baby home and more. We need to work together to create an integrated policy framework where early years information is shared between us as community partners and stakeholders and where we work together to create early years programming that takes into account the whole child.
Niagara Region Public Health has several programs on the go to support children reaching their full potential:
- Niagara Baby-Friendly™ Initiative
- Don’t Play “Wait and See” With Your Child’s Development Campaign
- Enhanced 18 Month Strategy
- beagreatparent.ca website
Pregnancy Rates
Childbearing Pregnancy rate per 1000 females ages 15-49
| |
Year |
| |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| Niagara rate per 1000 females 15-49 |
48.8 |
50.0 |
49.9 |
48.1 |
50.1 |
| Ontario rate per 1000 females 15-49 |
53.4 |
53.2 |
52.4 |
52.1 |
52.0 |
Source: Pregnancy rate 2002-2006, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
Between 2002 and 2005, the Pregnancy rate in Niagara decreased from 48.8 to 48.1 births per 1000 females 15 to 49. A slight increase in Pregnancy rate occurred from 2005 to 2006. Across Ontario, Pregnancy rates decreased from 53.4 in 2002 to 52.0 births per 1000 females in 2006.
Low Birth Weight Rates
Low birth weight rate (infants under 2,500 grams) per 100 live births
| |
Year |
| |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
| Niagara rate per 100 live births |
4.4 |
3.9 |
4.0 |
4.4 |
4.3 |
| Ontario rate per 100 live births |
3.4 |
4.6 |
4.7 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
Source: Low birth weight rate 2002-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Data Last Refreshed March 2009.
Between 2002 and 2006, the Low birth weight rate in Niagara stayed relatively stable at approximately 4 Low birth weight babies out of every 100 live births in that given year. Ontario, on the other hand, experienced a steady increase in Low birth weight babies from 3.4 per 100 born babies in 2002 to 4.8 per 100 born babies in 2006.
Parkyn Summary
The Parkyn Postpartum Screening Tool is completed by a public health nurse shortly after a mother gives birth. It is meant to assess families with a new baby that may be at risk for developmental challenges for a range of reasons (e.g. smoking during pregnancy, low birth weight, no Prenatal class attendance and many other reasons) and may indicate a need for further assessment. A high Parkyn Score identifies families with a new baby that may be at risk for future health concerns.
Parkyn data summary
| |
Total Parkyn |
Mother under 20 years |
Smoking during pregnancy |
Preterm birth |
Low birth weight |
High-risk Parkyn Score |
Feeding Method |
| Breast milk only |
Both Breast milk and formula |
| |
Count |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
| Fort Erie |
257 |
6.2 |
19.1 |
6.2 |
2.9 |
22.2 |
73.9 |
5.1 |
| Grimsby |
243 |
2.1 |
3.3 |
7.0 |
* |
11.5 |
77.0 |
13.6 |
| Lincoln |
189 |
2.1 |
4.2 |
6.9 |
* |
12.2 |
74.1 |
15.9 |
| Niagara Falls |
742 |
6.1 |
16.3 |
6.7 |
4.6 |
17.8 |
76.0 |
3.4 |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake |
103 |
* |
* |
10.7 |
* |
10.7 |
79.6 |
8.7 |
| Pelham |
111 |
* |
* |
4.5 |
4.6 |
13.5 |
79.3 |
11.7 |
| Port Colborne |
149 |
7.4 |
18.1 |
6.7 |
* |
21.5 |
69.8 |
8.1 |
| St. Catharines |
1174 |
6.1 |
12.8 |
8.2 |
6.0 |
22.8 |
71.0 |
9.5 |
| Thorold |
161 |
5.6 |
11.8 |
6.2 |
* |
16.8 |
72.7 |
6.2 |
| Wainfleet |
28 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* |
78.6 |
* |
| Welland |
492 |
6.1 |
18.9 |
4.5 |
3.3 |
24.8 |
65.9 |
12.0 |
| West Lincoln |
146 |
* |
6.8 |
10.3 |
6.2 |
8.2 |
70.5 |
14.4 |
| Niagara region |
3,795 |
5.2 |
13.0 |
7.1 |
4.3 |
19.2 |
72.6 |
8.9 |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
Source: ISCIS Jan-Dec, 2007, Extracted: March 2009
Overall in Niagara, 19.2% of families with a baby were identified to be at high risk for developmental issues and required further assessment. Welland had the highest percentage of families at high-risk (24.8%), while, West Lincoln had the lowest percentage of families at high-risk (8.2%).
According to the Parkyn summary for 2007/2008, 13.0% of mothers in Niagara smoked cigarettes during their pregnancy. Some municipalities have a higher percentage of smoking during pregnancy, including: Fort Erie (19.1%), Welland (18.9%), and Port Colborne (18.1%).
In Niagara, 7.1% of babies were born preterm and 4.3% were born weighing less than 2,500 grams (which indicates a Low birth weight). Niagara Falls and West Lincoln had the highest percentage of mothers delivering babies preterm; 10.7% and 10.3% respectively. Due to limitations in small sample size, data are limited for Low birth weight and thus not all municipalities have data to report. Despite this, West Lincoln and St. Catharines had the highest percentage of Low birth weight babies born (6.2% and 6.0%) during 2007/2008.
In Niagara, the 72.6% of mothers breastfed while in the hospital; a further 8.9% both breastfed and used a bottle. Among the municipalities, Pelham, Grimsby and Lincoln had the highest overall breastfeeding percentage when considering both the exclusively breastfed and breastfed along with a bottle categories.
Prenatal Class Summary
Prenatal class attendance by municipality
| |
% |
| Fort Erie |
4.0 |
| Grimsby |
5.0 |
| Lincoln |
4.7 |
| Niagara Falls |
17.3 |
| Niagara-on-the-Lake |
2.9 |
| Pelham |
2.5 |
| Port Colborne |
3.6 |
| St. Catharines |
32.3 |
| Thorold |
5.6 |
| Wainfleet |
1.3 |
| Welland |
15.0 |
| West Lincoln |
4.1 |
| Out of region |
1.8 |
| Niagara region |
14.1% |
Source: Prenatal class Data, Niagara Region, 2008.
Overall, 14.1% of pregnant women in Niagara region attended Prenatal classes offered by Niagara Region Public Health in 2008. Among all Prenatal class attendees, residents from St. Catharines and Niagara Falls had the highest attendance percentage at 32.3% and 17.3%.
Prenatal class data summary for Niagara region
| |
Niagara region |
| Took Folic acid supplementation prior to pregnancy |
Yes |
57.9% |
| No |
42.1% |
| Smoked cigarettes during pregnancy |
Yes |
9.5% |
| No |
90.5% |
| Feeding method of choice |
Breastfeed only |
83.6% |
| Bottle feed only |
5.3% |
| Breast and bottle feed |
3.0% |
| Undecided |
8.1% |
| Feel prepared to parent |
Yes |
42.9% |
| Somewhat |
54.6% |
| No |
2.5% |
Source: Prenatal class Data, Niagara Region, 2008.
57.9% of mothers who attended prenatal class at Public Health in 2008, reported that they took folic acid supplementation before becoming pregnant.
9.5% of expecting mothers reported smoking during their pregnancy, which is lower than previous data based on the Parkyn screening tool. Mothers who attend Prenatal classes tend to be healthier.
Almost all of the expecting mothers who attended Prenatal classes indicated that they intend to solely breastfeed their baby (83.6%); 5.3% intended to bottle feed, 3.0% intended to breast and bottle and 8.1% were undecided. Again, this is slightly higher than the data reported from the Parkyn screening tool.
Almost half of parents (42.9%) who attended Prenatal classes reported that they are prepared to parent. The remaining 54.6% are somewhat prepared to parent, and 2.5% reported that they were not prepared at all.
Dental Summary
Mean deft /DMFT scores, % of children who are cavities free and % of children who are CINOT eligible for the 2007/2008 school year
| Age |
Count |
Mean deft |
Caries
free |
% CINOT eligible |
| 3 |
12 |
0.8 |
75.0% |
0.0% |
| 4 |
465 |
0.9 |
76.6% |
0.7% |
| 5 |
514 |
1.3 |
68.1% |
4.1% |
| 6 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| 7 |
526 |
1.8 |
51.1% |
3.8% |
| 8 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
| 9 |
593 |
1.5 |
44.0% |
3.0% |
| 11 |
632 |
0.6 |
59.3% |
1.9% |
| 13 |
641 |
0.1 |
65.8% |
1.0% |
| 14 |
* |
* |
* |
* |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
Source: Dental Indices Survey, 2007/2008.
In Niagara 1 in 7 children are screened using the Dental Indices Survey (DIS). The above table shows that approximately 3400 students were entered into the database, broken down by age.
The deft index (d-decayed, e-extracted due to cavities, f-filled and t-teeth) is used to assess oral health status of young children. By determining the dental caries status of primary (i.e. baby) teeth. The lower the deft score, the better the oral health status. For older children with permanent teeth, the DMFT index (D-Decayed, M-Missing, F-Filled and T-Teeth) is used assess dental health. A deft/DMFT score of 0 means that there are no cavities in the child’s mouth. In the Niagara region, 60% of the students screened are considered to have no cavities (caries free)
Children in Need of Treatment is a program offered by Public Health for elementary school children who need urgent care and have no access to dental insurance. 2.8% of the students seen were eligible.
Readiness to Learn Summary
Source: Early Development Instrument, 2006.
In the second-half of the kindergarten year, a checklist or instrument is completed by a teacher which measures children’s readiness to learn at school in five domains: physical health and wellbeing; social knowledge and competencies; emotional health and maturity; language and cognitive development; and general knowledge and communication skills. This is instrument is called the Early Development Instrument (EDI). EDI is designed to predict how children will do in elementary school.
According to the results for the EDI in Niagara, almost one-quarter (23.0%) of kindergarten children are not ready for learning in school.
Links
