The virtual classroom: a summary of child health indicators.
OBJECTIVE
To provide an overview of child health indicators and health care utilization patterns in Manitoba by comparing child health outcomes for different income groups: a) children from two different community areas of Winnipeg (Fort Garry and Point Douglas), and b) adolescents from two different parts of Manitoba (the North, and Winnipeg).


METHODS
Various child health indicators derived from population-based administrative data and national surveys are reported in the articles within this supplement. Childhood morbidity and mortality, health care utilization patterns, pharmaceutical use, and regional demographic information discussed in the research articles in this supplement are summarized here using comparisons of outcomes in "virtual classrooms" of 100 children.


RESULTS
Large gradients were observed in the comparison of the virtual classrooms of 100 high school students, including the following numbers of adolescents: females on birth control pills (Winnipeg 11, North 18); injury hospitalization annually (Winnipeg 1; North 4). Gradients are observed for some child outcomes of the virtual classroom of 100, but not for others. Examples include the following numbers of children: preterm at birth (FG 7, PD 7); breastfed at birth (FG 90, PD 66); hospitalized for lower respiratory tract infection in first year (FG 3, PD 8); parents having no high school (FG 11; PD 41).


CONCLUSIONS
Throughout Manitoba, child and adolescent health indicators and determinants of health show gradients by income as well as by geographical regions.
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
Brownel
Marni D
MD
Kozyrskyj
Anita
A
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors