(SASKATOON) June 14, 2001 -- The majority of Saskatoon
District Health residents enjoy a high standard of health and quality
of life. However for a growing minority of the population, the conditions
and opportunities that promote and contribute to good health have
been getting worse over the past decade. And in order to reverse
this trend, a collaborative response involving public institutions
of health, education, and social services, various levels of government,
the private sector and the community is needed, according to the
District's 2000 Health Status Report.
The 200+ page health status report provides an in-depth examination
on how physical and social conditions such as education, employment,
housing and income, impact on residents' lives and their health.
The report also looks at the causes of death and injury, infectious
diseases and health behaviour in our community.
"Saskatoon and area residents can take great pride in their
overall health status, which is one of the best in Canada,"
says Dr. Cory Neudorf, Chief Medical Health Officer for the District.
"However, disparities exist in our community among certain
groups -- children, youth, aboriginal peoples and single parents."
Key report findings, based on the most recent information available,
include:
- Overall average life expectancy 78.9 years -- women, 81.8 years;
men, 76.0 years;
- 86% of adults perceive their health to be excellent, very good
or good;
- On average, one death per day in the District can be attributed
to smoking;
- 13 neighbourhoods had 30% or more of families living below the
Statistics Canada "Low Income Cut Off" levels;
- 29% of children, 34% of youth, 16.4% of seniors and 65% of Aboriginal
people live in poverty;
- Injuries and poisonings are the leading cause of death among
children;
- Teen birth rates in the District are almost double that of the
national average; and
- Infant mortality rates are higher than the national average.
The report presents trends, not fate, said Neudorf. He added that
the trends can be reversed as a result of individuals and agencies
working together to address the issues raised in the report.
"What is needed is a truly coordinated, collaborative broad-based
approach to develop strategies that build on the strengths of communities
and families to create and bolster supportive environments and opportunities,"
said Neudorf.
Key findings in the report support the need:
- to reconfigure and redistribute services, resources and supports
to fit with the specific socio-demographic characteristics of
neighborhoods such as family resource centres, affordable suitable
housing, green space and recreational activities, and local food
stores;
- to continue to increase efforts in injury and disease prevention;
- to ensure that protection of the physical environment continues
to be a priority; and
- to ensure full immunization coverage of inner city preschool
children and to expand programs to immunize seniors against diseases
such as influenza.
The report makes more than 40 recommendations, including:
- the need to continue monitoring the demographic shift towards
an aging population, and plan a corresponding shift in health
care resources towards programs that maintain seniors' health
and independence;
- the need to advocate, along with other organizations and community
groups, measures to retain and increase the size of the young
adult working population in the District;
- the need to work in partnership with provincial and municipal
governments and local communities to develop neighbourhood resource
centres;
- the need to work with SaskHealth to make a more detailed study
of infant mortality in neighborhoods and sub-populations within
the District and;
- the need to enhance individual disease prevention and health
promotion activities.
During the coming months, the Health District will review the report
and its recommendations and develop appropriate responses to address
the issues identified in the document.
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For more information, please contact:
Lorna Bratvold
Communication Counsellor
Saskatoon District Health
(306) 655-6744
Saskatoon Health Region
"Healthiest people, healthiest communities, exceptional service."
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