Integrating health and social care for children in Canada

[摘要] Evidence shows an ongoing close relationshipbetween poverty and health.1 Children livingin poverty are at increased risk of mortality andpoor health, including increased rates of unintentionalinjury, homicide, poor vision, and iron deficiency anemia.2 One in 5 children in Canada lived in poverty beforethe COVID-19 pandemic and this number is projected torise over at least the next 5 years.1 Between February andAugust 2020, the unemployment rate rose from 5.6% to10.2%, with the lowest income groups the most severelyimpacted.3 In the early stages of the pandemic, the rate offood insecurity among families with children was 19.2%,almost double the rate in 2018.4 Closing schools to inperson learning is expected to have widened pre-existingdisparities in education and to have disproportionatelyimpacted children and families who were already experiencing inequities in access to Internet and computers andwho have abusive or unstable home environments.

[学科分类] 卫生学