Health and income are linked: Study; Statistics help VIHA target resources in specific areas
The Daily News (Nanaimo)
November 25, 2008
By: Paul Walton

It's not a new notion that the health of those who are poor can be expected to be worse than those who are better-off.

But after a study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information was released last week, the Vancouver Island Health Authority is looking at using detailed information about health and poverty to target health problems in areas of lower socio-economic status.

"No city in Canada is immune to these issues," said Dr. Richard Stanwick, VIHA's chief medical officer of health.

Stanwick said the CIHI study looked at those in hospital for certain conditions and surveyed for both their economic and social status.

"What you have is a measure of social advantages and disadvantages as the case may be," said Stanwick….

Nanaimo's social planner, John Horn, said that mapping out how income effects health is crucial. He noted how certain American cites have identified what are called "food deserts," poorer areas where the only retail outlets selling food are convenience stores, stocking high-priced food products that are highly refined, high in sugar and sodium and low in nutrition….

He also said that it is well-documented that education also has an effect on health, with those with less education usually having greater health problems. Identifying areas with the lowest education rates, said Horn, could allow agencies to focus on health issues such as nutrition or prevention….

He said he is also concerned about a report issued last week by Campaign 2000, which found no progress in alleviating child poverty in Canada. Stanwick said changes are required at the national level to complement local efforts.

"We just can't say it's a community or provincial issue, we need over-arching policies put in place," said Stanwick.

Horn said that governments at all levels need to recognize that as the cost of food and rent have gone up, families in poverty need help to cut costs in other areas so they can maintain those essentials. He mentioned subsidies, possibly in areas of transportation or recreation, that would ease the burden and keep children fed and allow for a full education….

"If we really want to keep our competitive advantage as a nation, we need to have a healthy workforce."