Embedding child health within a framework of regional health: population health status and sociodemographic indicators.
OBJECTIVE
The description of regional variation in children's health requires regional population-based context. But what is the best way to measure the health of a region's population?


METHODS
The use of two indicators is described--one a health status measure and the other a measure of socioeconomic wellbeing. It is well known that the population's premature mortality rate (PMR), the age/sex-adjusted rate of death before age 75 years, is highly related to overall health status of an area's residents. Socioeconomic characteristics of an area's residents are also indicative (and likely causative) of health status differences.


RESULTS
The Socioeconomic Factor Index (SEFI) was developed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, using a Principal Components Analysis of census data. PMR and SEFI are highly correlated (Spearman's correlation coefficient r = 0.85, p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
PMR can be used as a surrogate measure for both the health status and socioeconomic well-being of regional populations in Manitoba.
Martens
Patricia J
PJ
Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. Pat_Martens@cpe.umanitoba.ca
Frohlich
Norman
N
Carriere
K C
KC
Derksen
Shelley
S
Brownell
Marni
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019352:Censuses; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors