Contents | Executive Summary | Health Promotion Defined | Health Promotion Strategy | Healthy Choices, Healthy Children | Establishing our Health Promotion Priorities | Selected Facts and Figures

 

Health Promotion Strategy

Selected Facts and Figures

Strategic Direction #10: "Prevent illness and disease in infants and children through greater emphasis on health promotion, disease prevention and early intervention programs..." DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan

Healthy Pregnancies

Children deserve the best possible start in life. Many health problems can be prevented by encouraging expectant mothers and parents with young children to make healthy choices (Department of Health & Social Services Strategic Plan). Health promotion activities foster healthy pregnancies and the impact of this early intervention is beneficial for a life-time. Promotion of a healthy lifestyle includes a tobacco and alcohol-free pregnancy, proper nutrition, exercise, smoke-free homes and mental well-being. The promotion of healthy pregnancies and healthy children includes collaborative efforts with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, as well as other government departments and agencies. A focus on healthy pregnancies can have a significant impact:

It is well-known that the effect of prenatal and early childhood experiences is powerful and long-lasting

DHSS Strategic Plan
  • The birthrate in the Western Arctic is 1.5 times the national average, while in Nunavut it is 2.5 times the Canadian rate. There will be increasing pressure on the government systems that will have difficulties meeting the needs of our rapidly growing population.
  • The cost for children born too small, too early or with other problems is high. The cost of care for low birth weight babies is estimated to be from $500 to $1,000 per day in Canada. The incidence of low birth weight in the NWT is 6.2% of births (7.4% in Nunavut). The incidence in Canada is 5.8%.
  • Prenatal nutrition programs have demonstrated considerable success in addressing the needs of high-risk pregnant women, as well as clearly showing cost effectiveness. The Montreal Diet Dispensary has shown that every dollar spent on food and counseling for at-risk pregnant women saves nine dollars in subsequent treatment costs.
  • Research done in 1994-95 by Kaiser Permanente, a health maintenance organization, stated that for each infant who was breastfed for a minimum of 6 months saved $1,435 (US funds) in health costs during the first year of life. Artificially fed infants averaged $448 in additional visits to doctors, $84 in additional prescription drugs and $903 in hospitalizations, primarily for the respiratory tract, urinary/gastrointestinal and other infections.
  • The incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is higher in the NWT than in the rest of Canada. An association exists between smoking and the incidence of SIDS. Over consumption of caffeine by women during their pregnancy also plays a role in SIDS.
  • Up to 30% of NWT women drink during pregnancy. Alcohol consumed during pregnancy may result in Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) or Fetal Alcohol Effects (FAE). One BC physician and leading Canadian FAS/FAE activist states: "Preventing a single case of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is equivalent to the salary of a health professional earned during a lifetime."
  • It is estimated that each child born with FAS will require at least $1 million dollars for medical assessments and treatment and other special needs throughout a lifetime.
  • A 1991 Saskatchewan survey identified that 43% of foster children were exposed to alcohol before birth. Supporting the development of good parenting skills and an addiction free life-style are important components of an overall focus on healthy families. Addressing root causes for addiction, such as past abuse and violence issues, must ve encouraged and supported.
  • Good prenatal care includes testing for HIV. If the pregnant woman is HIV positive, medical treatment provided during pregnancy will benefit the mother and will ensure the newborn is HIV free. Dr. S. King, Toronto’s Sick Children’s Hospital, states: "By treating the HIV-positive pregnant woman, we can now prevent all cases of HIV infection in newborns".

Strategic Direction #13: "Promote healthy lifestyle choices in youth and young adults though health promotion programs..." DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan

Active Living

The active living initiative involves collaboration with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and other government departments and agencies. The increased focus on active living, as part of healthy lifestyle choices, will improve the physical and mental health, not only of youth and young adults, but of all residents. Research shows that even a modest investment in physical activity programs make a significant difference in savings to health care:

Programs to promote healthy lifestyle choices and good personal health care should be improved for this age group

DHSS Strategic Plan
  • The Heart and Stroke Foundation Children’s quiz (1998) barely gave Canadian children a passing grade for physical activity. Since 1981, children have become less fit in almost every category.
  • Regular activity prevents disease, especially adult-onset diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis and colon cancer. The earlier one starts to exercise the better.
  • Regular physical activity has a significant positive impact on mental health and general well-being: it relieves symptoms of depression and anxiety and improves moos, self-esteem and self-efficacy. Exercise induces changes in the brain to favorably alter mood. Health promotion activities can positively impact on mental and spiritual well-being.
  • A 16% increase in Canadians who were physically active between 1981-1985 translated into savings of $9 billion in reduced costs of health care, health insurance, sick leave, disability coverage, group life insurance and lost revenue from taxes.

Strategic Direction #14: "Reduce the high risk behaviors in youth and young adults through effective early intervention programs . . ." DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan DHSS Strategic Plan

Tobacco Reduction and Cessation

Many people in the NWT smoke. In a 1996 survey, 59% of women reported they smoke during pregnancy. In the 1993 School Tobacco Survey, 33% of children and youth aged 10-19 were smokers. Smoking can affect the development of the unborn child and doubles the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Exposure of young children to second-hand smoke increases the frequency and severity of middle ear and lung infections and can lead to long term health problems. This third priority will also involve interdepartmental and interagency collaboration. By increasing counseling in schools and developing programs that reach out to high risk youth and young adults through the health promotion strategy, tobacco use will be reduced: (Department of Health and Social Services Strategic Plan).

  • A pregnant smoker has about twice the risk of a non-smoker of delivering a low birth weight baby.
  • NWT tobacco addiction rates are 2.3 times higher than the national average.
  • In Canada, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is responsible for approximately 400,000 episodes of childhood sickness each year. ETS significantly affects: pneumonia, bronchitis, tonsillectomies, adenoidectomies, typanostomy tube insertions, asthma, ear infections and clinic visits for cough.
  • In the NWT, 73% of cancer deaths are due to lung cancer (40% in males and 33% in females).
  • It is estimated that one dollar invested in smoking cessation results in a $15 saving in health care costs.

 

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