title: Embedding child health within a framework of regional health: population health status and sociodemographic indicators.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Department of Community Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB. Pat_Martens@cpe.umanitoba.ca
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frohlich
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Carriere
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Derksen
authors.forename: Marni
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brownell
mesh_terms: 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