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A Canadian peer-reviewed journal of population health and health services research

March 2012

Sexual behaviour and condom use of 15- to 24-year-olds in 2003 and 2009/2010

by Michelle Rotermann

Sexual behaviour is a major determinant of sexual and reproductive health. Early sexual intercourse, unprotected sex, and having multiple sexual partners put youth at risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and of unplanned pregnancy. Individuals aged 15 to 24 experience some of the highest rates of STIs.

Geozones: An area-based method for analysis of health outcomes

by Paul A. Peters, Lisa N. Oliver and Gisèle M. Carrière

Administrative datasets that contain information about health service use and events such as births and deaths are powerful tools in population health research. However, such datasets often lack information about health determinants (for example, income and education) and individual characteristics (for example, Aboriginal identity or country of birth), which can be important to understanding health disparities among and between certain groups. This article describes the Geozones methodology for calculating area-based thresholds of population characteristics derived from census results that can be applied to administrative data for use in the analysis of inequalities in health outcomes, health service use, or social characteristics.

February 2012

Assessment of validity of self-reported smoking status

by Suzy L. Wong, Margot Shields, Scott Leatherdale, Eric Malaison and David Hammond

The health risks associated with cigarette smoking are well-documented and widely recognized— cancer, respiratory illness, heart disease, and stroke. In Canada, smoking contributes to more than 37,000 deaths a year. Tobacco-related health care expenditures amount to billions of dollars annually, with additional indirect costs such as lost productivity, longer-term disability and premature death.

Health of First Nations children living off reserve and Métis children younger than age 6

by Leanne Findlay and Teresa Janz

Research has shown that Aboriginal children experience poorer health than do non- Aboriginal children. For example, a recent report revealed substantial Aboriginal/non-Aboriginal health differences, including higher rates of injury, accidental death, and sudden infant death syndrome. Aboriginal children are at higher risk of otitis media (chronic ear infection), respiratory tract infections, obesity, dental problems, and hospitalization due to asthma.

January 2012

Adopting leisure-time physical activity after diagnosis of a vascular condition

by Pamela L. Ramage-Morin, Julie Bernier, Jason T. Newsom, Nathalie Huguet, Bentson H. McFarland and Mark S. Kaplan

Inactive lifestyles have been recognized as a threat to good health and a contributor to higher health care costs and premature death. A lack of regular physical activity is associated with the development of chronic conditions including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. Physical activity may help prevent these conditions—directly, through improved vascular health, or indirectly, through mechanisms such as weight control, stress reduction and quality of sleep. The benefits extend to secondary prevention, whereby active lifestyles help those who have already developed chronic conditions limit the progress or complications of the disease.

Canadian trends in cancer prevalence

by Larry F. Ellison and Kathryn Wilkins

The measure of prevalence, which is used to study the burden of a disease in a population, is a cornerstone of cancer surveillance. Duration-specific prevalence estimates, which incorporate the time elapsed since diagnosis, can be used as a proxy for specific care needs. This is because the length of time since detection of the cancer closely relates to the phase reached along the care continuum. Cases diagnosed in the previous ten years represent the major demand for health care services. In the fi rst two years, services would likely include primary treatment and supportive care for recovery from its effects, followed over the next three years by close clinical assessment for recurrence, and then less intense follow-up over the next five years. Cancer-specific estimates are useful in health care planning, as cancer survivors' requirements for services vary according to the particular cancer involved.