In the works

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September

Health Reports – September 15, 2010

An update on cancer survival
by Larry F. Ellison and Kathryn Wilkins

Statistics Canada routinely produces cohort-based estimates for cancer survival; the most recent were based on cases diagnosed from 1992-2000. This report provides predicted survival estimates for cases diagnosed more recently. Using records from the Canadian Cancer Registry linked to the Canadian Vital Statistics Death Data Base, cancer- and age-specific estimates of relative survival have been calculated for 2004-2006.

Regional patterns of risk for sexually transmitted infections in British Columbia
by Kathleen N. Deering, Mark W. Tyndall and Mieke Koehoorn

Although rates of sexually transmitted infection (STI) tend to be higher in urban Canada, the province of British Columbia has recently seen above-average rates in the northern health regions. This study uses data from Statistics Canada’s 2005 Canadian Community Health Survey to investigate the relationship between age, geographic region and risk factors for STIs in British Columbia.

Health Reports – September 30, 2010

H1N1 Vaccination
by Heather Gilmour and Nancy Hofmann

Using data from the 2010 Canadian Community Health Survey, this study presents the self-reported percentage of the population that received the H1N1 vaccine. In addition, socio-demographic, vaccination priority group and health service characteristics of those who received the H1N1 shot are examined.  Reasons given for not getting vaccinated are also presented.

October

Health Reports – October 20, 2010

Combining nutrient intake from food/beverages and vitamin/mineral supplements
by Didier Garriguet

To calculate total intake of a nutrient and estimate inadequate intake for a population, the amounts derived from food/beverages and from vitamin/mineral supplements must be combined. The analysis in this study proposes two methods, based on partitioning the data between supplement users and non-users.

Socio-economic status and vitamin/mineral supplement use in Canada
by Hassanali Vatanparast, Jennifer L. Adolphe and Susan J. Whiting

The link between diet quality and socio-economic status may extend to the use of vitamin/ mineral supplements. This article examines factors related to Canadians’ use of such supplements, with emphasis on associations with household income and education. The data are from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey―Nutrition.

Neighbourhood variation in hospitalization for unintentional injury among children and teenagers
by Lisa N. Oliver and Dafna E. Kohen

Research suggests that living in more affluent neighbourhoods positively influences child health. Relationships with injury are less clear. This study examines variations in rates of unintentional injury hospitalization by neighbourhood income among children and teenagers in urban Canada. Acute-care inpatient hospitalization discharge records from 2001/2002 through 2004/2005 for 0- to 19-year-olds were examined.

Other HAD Releases

Neighbourhood characteristics, individual attributes and self-rated health among older Canadians
by D. Walter Rasugu Omariba

This study drew on three cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey and the 2001 census to examine variation between neighbourhoods in self-rated health and the relative effect of individual and neighbourhood characteristics on self-rated health among Canadian adults aged 65 or older. Neighbourhood factors including income, education, age, and visible minority status accounted for about 50% and 30% of the neighbourhood variation in negative and positive self-rated health, respectively. Relative to neighbourhood-level characteristics, individual characteristics had a stronger effect on self-rated health, with physical activity, alcohol consumption, sense of community belonging, income, and education being the most important.

This article was published in the September 2010 issue of Health & Place16(5) and is available online at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13538292. For more information contact Walter Omariba at Walter.Omariba@statcan.gc.ca or 1-613-951-6528.

Health literacy and immigrants in Canada: Determinants and effects on health outcomes
by Edward Ng and D. Walter Rasugu Omariba

Although low levels of health literacy in Canada are partly due to the aging population and the shrinking youth cohort, an important contributor is the growing immigrant population. This study examines the determinants of health literacy among immigrants and non-immigrants; sub-groups of immigrants defined by their country of origin and recency of arrival in Canada; and sub-groups of non-immigrants defined by generation. Using data from the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey (IALSS), the authors also examine the relationship between health literacy and health outcomes among these comparison groups.  They found that although 60% of Canadians do not have the requisite literacy skills to maintain health, immigrants fair much more poorly; 75% of immigrants compared to 55% of non-immigrants lack these skills. The results also showed that a high level of health literacy was significantly associated with all the selected health outcomes with the exception of mental health. Further, the effect of health literacy on health was largely explained by education level and literacy practices at home.  Despite their surprisingly low health literacy, recent immigrants from countries other than Europe or USA rated their health as good and were disability-free.

This article was published online by the Canadian Council on Learning in summer 2010 and is available at http://www.ccl-cca.ca/CCL/Reports/OtherReports/reportsforCCL.html. For more information contact Edward Ng at Edward.Ng@statcan.gc.ca or 1-613-951-5308.

Seminar Series

October

Lead and bisphenol A concentrations in the Canadian population: Findings from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey
Tracey Bushnik
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada

October 21, 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Jean Talon Conference Room 
170 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Ottawa

For information on the seminar and access by phone or internet contact Janice Felman at Janice.Felman@statcan.gc.ca or 613-951-6446.

The Postal Code Conversion File Plus (PCCF+) Version 5G is now available

The Postal Code Conversion File Plus (PCCF+) (Catalogue no. 82F0086XDB), Version 5G with postal codes through December 2009, complements the Postal code conversion file (PCCF). When the association between the postal code and census geography is not unique, the PCCF+ allows for a proportional allocation based on the population count.

The PCCF+ is free, and only available to purchasers of the PCCF. Users also need SAS to run this application.
For more information contact Russell Wilkins, (1-613-951-5305; Russell.Wilkins@statcan.gc.ca) or Saeeda Khan (1-613-951-4765; Saeeda.Khan@statcan.gc.ca), Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada.