Year: 2005
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Children's health, particularly in the early years, forms the basis of future health and development and plays a significant role in predicting individual life and opportunities.Thus, studies which enhance the understanding of the determinants of children's health status are needed.Previous research on children's health had focused on the family's and infant's characteristics and ignored the potential impact of macro-level influences.The objectives of this thesis were (i) to examine the independent effects of neighbourhood factors on childhood health outcomes, (ii) to explore neighbourhood moderating effects on the associations between some individual risk factors and childhood health outcomes, and (iii) to quantify the contribution of neighbourhood factors to childhood health outcomes. Method:The study population included 9,888 children born to women residing in Saskatoon during three years, 1992-1994.The data used in this study were extracted from three sources.The information related to birth outcomes and the mother's characteristics was extracted from the birth registration files maintained by Saskatchewan's Vital Statistics Branch.The health services utilization information was generated from Saskatchewan Health's computerized administrative databases.The information related to the neighbourhood characteristics was obtained from Statistics Canada's 1991 Census, from local sources such as the Planning Department of the City, and two specialized neighbourhood surveys.Six domains of neighbourhood were examined in this study: socio-economic disadvantage, social interaction, physical condition, population density, local programs and services, and unhealthy lifestyle norm.This study was divided into two focused topics Dr. Punam Pawha, and Dr. William Bingham for their invaluable advice, criticism and review of the thesis.I would like to especially extend my thanks to Dr. Leonard Tan for his care and support during
Author: Lan Vu
Language: English
Subfield: Health
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W42027022