West Lincoln's Health Story
West Lincoln is home to only 13,167 residents.
This township is the largest in land size of all the municipalities within the region of Niagara with an area of 387.72 km2and as such has a large rural area.
- Profile of West Lincoln
- Priority Populations
- Leading Cause of Death
- Leading Cause of Hospitalization
- Prenatal and Reproductive Summary
Profile of West Lincoln
|
West Lincoln | Niagara region | Ontario |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population density per square kilometre | 34.0 | 230.5 | 13.4 |
| Population of 2001 | 12,268 | 410,574 | 11,410,046 |
| Population of 2006 | 13,167 | 427,421 | 12,160,282 |
| Population change | 7.3% | 4.1% | 6.6% |
| Total private dwellings | 4,433 | 179,903 | 4,972,869 |
| Private dwellings occupied by usual residents | 4,296 | 169,425 | 4,554,251 |
| Land area (square km) | 387.7 | 1,854.2 | 907,573.8 |
| People ages 25-64 who have not completed high school | 19.5% | 14.0% | 13.6% |
| Lone female parent | 10.6% | 21.9% | 20.0% |
| Lone male parent | 4.5% | 5.4% | 4.5% |
| Knowledge of neither English nor French | 0.4% | 0.6% | 2.2% |
| Population who immigrated to Canada in the last 5 years | 4.2% | 10.4% | 17.1% |
| Aboriginal identity | 0.7% | 1.6% | 2.0% |
| Visible minority status | 1.4% | 6.3% | 22.8% |
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Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006.
Population density
West Lincoln has a relatively high rural area compared to the rest of Niagara. There are approximately 34.0 people in 1 square kilometre compared to 230.5 in Niagara and 13.4 in Ontario.
Population change
Between 2001 and 2006, the population of West Lincoln grew by 7.3%. This means that the population in West Lincoln grew more than the population of Niagara (4.1%) and the population of Ontario (6.6%).
Population who did not graduate from high school
19.5% of the population of West Lincoln, between the ages 25 and 64, have not completed their high school education, compared to 14.0% in Niagara and 13.6% in Ontario.
Lone parent families
West Lincoln has a lower percentage of single mothers (10.6%), among the families with children at home compared to Niagara (21.9%) and Ontario (20.0%). As for families with single fathers, West Lincoln has a lower percentage (4.5%) than Niagara (5.4%) and a similar percentage to Ontario (4.5%).
Language, immigration and Aboriginals
Almost all of West Lincoln residents are able to speak either English or French. Only a very small proportion, less than 1%, cannot. This pattern is also seen in Niagara, but in Ontario, the proportion is higher at 2.2%
1.4% of people in West Lincoln are of a Visible minority, which is much lower than the Visible minority populations of Niagara (6.3%), and Ontario (22.8%). In terms of immigration, West Lincoln has a smaller percentage of their population who immigrated in the last five years (4.2%) than Niagara (10.4%), and is even smaller in comparison to Ontario (17.1%).
In West Lincoln, there is a lower percentage of Aboriginals (0.7%) compared to Niagara (1.6%) and Ontario (2%). However, Aboriginals who live off reserve were surveyed by the census.
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low income before tax | 4.1% | 12.0% | 14.7% |
| Low income after tax | 3.0% | 8.4% | 11.1% |
| Low income families with children or youth less than 18 years old (before tax) | 4.1% | 15.0% | 18.0% |
| Low income families with children or youth less than 18 years old (after tax) | 3.3% | 10.5% | 13.7% |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census 2006.
Population with Low income
West Lincoln has a lower percentage of people considered as living in Low income (before tax) (4.1%) than both Niagara (12.0%) and Ontario (14.7%). The same goes for the ‘after tax Low income’ percentages. After taxes, the percentage of people living within the Low income bracket is as follows: 3.0% for West Lincoln, 8.4% for Niagara, and 11.1% for Ontario.
Low income familes
4.1% of West Lincoln families who are considered Low income (before tax) have a child/youth under the age of 18 living with them. After tax, this decreases to 3.3%, which is lower than in Niagara (10.5%) and Ontario (13.7%).
Priority Populations
To examine geographical patterns of socio-economic indicators (e.g. income, low education), a priority index was developed to explore characteristics of the Niagara region. A Priority Population is defined as those populations that are at risk and for whom public health interventions (e.g. the Health Bus program), may be reasonably considered to have a substantial impact at the population level.
The map shows an image of West Lincoln with areas of high versus low priority, based on six indicators included from the 2006 census:
- Median family income
- Proportion of people who have not graduated with a certificate, diploma or degree
- Unemployment rate
- Proportion of single parent families
- Proportion of people living alone
- Proportion of persons who are separated, divorced or widowed.
Leading Causes of Death
| Males (0-64 years) | Females (0-64 years) | |||||||
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | West Lincoln | Niagara region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ischaemic heart disease | 17.8% | Ischaemic heart disease | 15.3% | Breast Cancer | 17.1% | Lung Cancer | 10.9% |
| 2 | * | * | Lung Cancer | 8.5% | Ischaemic heart disease | 11.4% | Breast Cancer | 8.3% |
| 3 | * | * | Intentional self harm | 5.3% | * | * | Ischaemic heart disease | 7.4% |
| 4 | * | * | Transport accidents | 4.2% | * | * | Colorectal Cancer | 4.9% |
| 5 | * | * | Colorectal Cancer | 4.1% | * | * | Cerebrovascular diseases | 4.0% |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
Source: Causes of Death 2000-2004, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed March 2009.
Data on leading causes of death for West Lincoln residents aged 0-64 years are minimal.
Females
For females aged 0-64, breast cancer and Ischaemic heart disease are among the leading causes of death for both West Lincoln and Niagara.
Males
For males aged 0-64, ischaemic heart disease is listed at the top leading case of death in both West Lincoln and Niagara.
| Males (65+ years) | Females (65+ years) | |||||||
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | West Lincoln | Niagara region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ischaemic heart disease | 24.5% | Ischaemic heart disease | 26.2% | Ischaemic heart disease | 21.1% | Ischaemic heart disease | 26.4% |
| 2 | Lung Cancer | 9.6% | Lung Cancer | 7.7% | Cerebrovascular disease | 7.0% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 9.1% |
| 3 | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 6.4% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 6.1% | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 7.0% | Dementia and Alzheimer Disease | 5.3% |
| 4 | Diseases of urinary system | 6.4% | Chronic lower respiratory diseases | 5.4% | * | * | Lung Cancer | 5.2% |
| 5 | Colorectal cancer | 5.3% | Diabetes mellitus | 4.7% | * | * | Diabetes mellitus | 4.8% |
* Data are limited and cannot be reported.
Source: Causes of Death 2000-2004, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed March 2009.
In West Lincoln, the leading causes of death among males and females over the age of 65 are similar to those of Niagara region.
Females
For females over the age of 65, West Lincoln and Niagara list Ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease among the leading causes of death. The only differences between the two areas is that West Lincoln reports Chronic lower respiratory diseases
, whereas in Niagara dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, lung cancer and diabetes are reported.
Males
For males over the age of 65, West Lincoln and Niagara list Ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer and Chronic lower respiratory diseases
among the leading causes. The difference between West Lincoln and Niagara is that West Lincoln reports diseases of the urinary system and colorectal cancer, whereas, in Niagara Cerebrovascular diseases
and diabetes are reported.
Leading Causes of Hospitalization
| Males (0-64 years) | Females (0-64 years) | |||||||
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | West Lincoln | Niagara region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 8.4% | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 6.2% | Complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery) | 23.0% | Complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery) | 21.4% |
| 2 | Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight | 4.6% | Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight | 3.5% | Complications of pregnancy (Antenatal) | 15.4% | Complications of pregnancy (Antenatal) | 14.8% |
| 3 | Acute myocardial infarction | 3.3% | Acute myocardial infarction | 3.0% | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 4.7% | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 4.1% |
| 4 | Fracture of lower leg, including ankle | 2.5% | Complications of surgical and medical care | 2.9% | Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight | 2.1% | Mood, affective disorders | 2.1% |
| 5 | Complications of surgical and medical care | 2.1% | Diabetes mellitus | 2.1% | Complications of surgical and medical care | 2.0% | Disorders related to Short gestation and Low birth weight | 2.0% |
Source: Causes of Hospitalizations 2003-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed March 2009.
In West Lincoln, the leading causes for hospitalization among males and females aged 0-64 are quite similar to those of the Niagara region, although there are some differences.
Females
For West Lincoln and Niagara females aged 0-64, the only difference is that in West Lincoln complications of surgical and medical care is a leading cause of hospitalizations, whereas, mood, affective disorders is reported for Niagara.
Males
For males aged 0-64, the difference is that West Lincoln reports fractures of the lower leg (including the ankle) as one of the leading causes of hospitalization, whereas, Niagara reports diabetes.
| Males (65+ years) | Females (65+ years) | |||||||
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | West Lincoln | Niagara region | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heart failure | 6.2% | Heart failure | 5.3% | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis | 5.0% | Heart failure | 5.7% |
| 2 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis | 6.0% | Acute myocardial infarction | 4.9% | Heart failure | 4.5% | Fracture of femur | 4.8% |
| 3 | Complications of surgical and medical care | 4.6% | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis | 4.7% | Acute myocardial infarction | 4.5% | Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, bronchiectasis | 4.3% |
| 4 | Cerebrovascular diseases | 4.3% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 3.5% | Fracture of femur | 3.7% | Acute myocardial infarction | 4.2% |
| 5 | Acute myocardial infarction | 3.1% | Pneumonia | 3.1% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 3.2% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 3.9% |
Source: Causes of Hospitalization 2003-2007, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed March 2009.
In West Lincoln, the leading causes of hospitalizations among males and females aged 65+ are similar to Niagara region.
Females
For females aged 65+, West Lincoln and Niagara report identical leading causes of hospitalization as indicated in the table above.
Males
For males aged 65+, the difference is that West Lincoln reports complications of surgical and medical care among the leading causes, whereas, Niagara lists Pneumonia.
Prenatal and Reproductive Summary
| West Lincoln | Niagara region | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Parkyn (N) | 146 | 3795 | |
| Mothers who attended a Prenatal class at Public Health† | 4.1% | ||
| Mothers under 20 years | * | 5.2% | |
| Mothers who smoked during pregnancy | 6.8% | 13.0% | |
| Preterm birth | 10.3% | 7.1% | |
| Low birthweight | 4.3% | 4.3% | |
| High-risk Parkyn Score | 8.2% | 19.2% | |
| Feeding Method | Breastmilk only | 70.5% | 72.6% |
| Both breastmilk and formula | 14.4% | 8.9% | |
*Data are limited and cannot be reported.
†Source: Prenatal class Data, Niagara Region, 2008. Source: ISCIS Jan-Dec, 2007. Extracted: March 2009.
Overall, 4.1% of pregnant women in West Lincoln attended Prenatal classes offered by Niagara Region Public Health last year.
The Parkyn Postpartum Screening Tool is an instrument designed to indicate families with a new baby who may be at an increased risk of developmental challenges based on health, physical and social drawbacks. Using this tool, 8.2% of newborns in West Lincoln were considered high risk in comparison to 19.2% in Niagara region. In 2007, there were 146 live births to mothers from West Lincoln; representing 3.8% of the total newborns throughout Niagara.
In West Lincoln 10.3% of births were preterm and 4.3% were Low birth weight babies; the former is higher and the latter is similar when compared to Niagara. When mothers were asked about their smoking habits, 6.8% self-reported smoking during pregnancy which is lower than Niagara region (13%).
In West Lincoln, 70.5% of mothers breastfed while in the hospital; a further 14.4% both breastfed and used a bottle. The rate for only breastfeeding was lower than Niagara (72.6%) while the rate for both breastfeeding and formula was higher than Niagara (8.9%).
