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Community Health Status Report
Issue Number 6 - February 1999
Summary
This report is the latest in a series which began in August
1993. Earlier reports in the series presented a demographic profile of the
community, information about employment, income, education, social support,
health behaviours and a variety of health outcomes including mortality,
morbidity, reproductive outcomes and self-perceived health status. A number of
significant differences were noted between Renfrew County and District residents
and our provincial counterparts. For instance, overall mortality was found
to be higher here, in particular premature deaths; income and education levels
were found to be lower, and levels of perceived health and social support were
higher.
The current report begins the process of updating
material presented in issues one to five. Information on demographics and
determinants of health from the 1996 census is summarized below. Summary
points related to reproduction outcomes from 1995, and all-cause mortality rates
and potential years of life lost for 1992 to 1995 are presented under
"health outcomes".
Demographics
- The population pyramid reflects the expected aging of the
baby boom portion of our population (ages 30 - 49).
- Overall, the population of Renfrew County and District has
increased by 10% over the past 15 years, from 88,870 in 1981 to 97,635 in
1996.
- The greatest changes in population have occurred in the
Arnprior region (20% increase) and Eganville region (13% increase).
Determinants of Health
- Renfrew County and District households continue to have
lower annual incomes than Ontario households.
- There are areas within the county where the proportion of
families classified as low income approaches 20%; these include Barry's Bay,
Pembroke and Renfrew.
- With the exception of a slight decrease in the proportion
of people who have achieved less than Grade 9, in 1996 Renfrew County and
District residents had levels of education similar to those in 1991.
Compared to the province as a whole, fewer people in Renfrew County have
completed post-secondary education.
- There was a slight increase in the unemployment rate in
Renfrew County and District, from 8.4% in 1991 to 9.7% in 1996. This was
slightly higher than the provincial unemployment rate of 9.1 %. Unemployment
is considerably higher in some parts of our community , such as Pembroke
(City), Stafford Township and the Barry's Bay region.
- While overall unemployment has increased slightly, youth
unemployment has increased 5% since 1991, consistent with the provincial
trend-
- Female participation in the workplace is lower than female
participation in Ontario as a whole. (55% vs. 60%)
- There have been significant job losses in the government
service sector and primary industries (e.g. agriculture), which have been
partly offset by an increase of jobs in the manufacturing sector .
Health Outcomes
- In Renfrew County and District, the average age of mothers
giving birth has been rising, similar to the Ontario pattern. As compared to
1991 data, in 1995 a greater proportion of babies were born to mothers 30
-44 years of age, and a smaller proportion to women 25- 29.
- The proportion of births to teenage mothers in Renfrew
County and District has increased slightly, although the total number of
births to teens decreased.
- Since 1991, the percentage of infants born to single women
has increased.
- Premature births (i.e. infants born under 36 weeks of
gestation) have declined from 5.6% to 2.6%.
- The percentage of low birth weight babies (infants weighing
less than 2500 gm, 5.5 lb at birth) also declined and is consistent with the
provincial trend. Prematurity, smoking, low pre-pregnant weight, poor
nutrition, lack of prenatal care and very young ( < 19 yrs.) or older
(> 35 yrs.) maternal age are all known risk factors for low birth weight.
- The rate of therapeutic abortions declined from 10.8 per
100 live births in 1991 to 9.6 and remains lower than the provincial rate.
- Mortality , as indicated by overall rates and potential
years of life lost, continued to be higher in Renfrew County and District
than in the province of Ontario as a whole. There are higher death rates
here and more premature deaths than expected taking into account differences
in age structure of the population.
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