Indeed, childhood poverty is common in Canada: in 1987   1,114,000
children under 16 years of age lived below the poverty line. The
incidence is highest among children of single mothers, unemployed
parents, Canadian native peoples and recent immigrants, particularly
refugees. Compared with the national average, the infant mortality rate
is twice as high, deaths from infectious diseases are 2.5 times more
common, and accidental deaths are twice as common among children of
low-income families. Other problems associated with poverty are iron
deficiency anemia, dental caries, chronic ear infections, mental
retardation, learning disabilities, poor physical and mental health
associated with poverty in children by promoting a broad range of public
policies.

These numbers come from The Canadian Medical Association Journal,1987.
Sep 15;137(6):485-90.

I've been looking for Canadian statistics about infections among young
children related to low-income, and presently it is hard to find. We
want to study the decision and duration of breastfeeding among
low-income women in the province in Quebec. We know that breastfeeding
can reduce respiratory and gastrointestinal infections and also otitis
and can permit to decrease the additional costs associated to health.
Otitis can cost up to 660 millions $ per year in the United States.

It is now important to prove that infections and diseases appear more
often in low-income families children. The results of the study will
help us find a strategy to enhance breastfeeding amon low-income
families. It will also help improve child health among poor families.


Isabel Simard
Université Laval
Département des sciences des aliments et de nutrition
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

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