By Brian O’Connor
A recent survey released by the Conference Board of Canada reveals that many Canadians are not well informed about the social determinants of health especially the impact of poverty on health. The survey by EKOS research showed that 85% of respondents indicated that of greatest importance to the health of Canadians are a publicly-funded health care system, lifestyle factors and environmental factors. Interestingly the Conference Board concludes that this may be one reason why prevention receives such a small portion of the health care budget.
The evidence tells us otherwise and that is one reason the Health Officers Council of BC (HOC), whose members are public health physicians from around BC, has actively been calling for a poverty reduction plan like that advocated by PHABC. A comprehensive study conduced by the Canadian Institute Health Information in partnership with urban public health physicians from across Canada showed that hospital utilization is clearly related to one’s socio-economic status.
HOC is partnering with PHABC in efforts to draw attention to the urgent need for a poverty reduction plan for British Columbia. The glaring gap which we have in health status can be largely attributed to the children and families that live in a cycle of poverty and disadvantage. Leadership must come from the Provincial government and because strategies will of necessity come from Ministry’s across government a ‘whole of government’ commitment and approach is needed. Clearly more must be done to help the public understand the determinants of the health of Canadians – but governments know this and need to show leadership to address the upstream factors that can make us a healthier society.
Learn more:
Canadians see their own Behaviour and Lifestyle as the Key to their Health, not Socio-Economic Factors | Conference Board of Canada, News Release | Ottawa, October 16, 2012
Reducing Gaps in Health: A Focus on Socio-Economic Status in Urban Canada | Canadian Institute for Health Information |Ottawa, Ont: CIHI, 2008.
Health Inequities and Poverty Reduction Backgrounder | Public Health Association of BC | 2012
Brian O’Connor is the Co-Chair of the Population Health Committee, Health Officers Council of BC