Because Data Drives Policy: The importance of defining Health Indicators
Measuring progress on First Nation individual, family and community health and well-being enables service providers the ability to develop and deliver services appropriately constructed for specific needs. The Transformative Change Accord: First Nation Health Plan lists 7 health indicators.
» Life expectancy at birth;
» Mortality rates (deaths due to all causes);
» Status Indian youth suicide rates;
» Infant mortality rates;
» Diabetes rates;
» Childhood obesity; and,
» Practising, certified First Nations health care professionals.
The presence of these indicators in the Health Plan does not limit the First Nation Health Council and First Nation communities/service providers from developing additional indicators that reflect the overall well-being in communities. Indicators do not need to only measure illness, death and suicide rates. They can also measure positive outcomes such as traditional practices at the community level, education levels, and sport/recreation participation levels.
The First Nations Health Authority is pleased to release the British Columbia results of the 2008-2010 First Nations Regional Health Survey and Summary Finding documents ‘Healthy Children, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities’. Information found here comes directly from 36 of 203 BC First Nation communities and gives us a greater understanding of the progress we have made since the last Regional Health Survey in 2002-03.
It is an opportunity for BC First Nations, health professionals, policy makers, government, partners, scholars and citizens to get an important updated insight into how our communities feel about their wellness, while exploring causal factors that relate to the Social Determinants of Health. The information in this report will support the planning, policy and strategic efforts of many organizations in moving forward to bring to life our vision of healthy, self-determining and vibrant BC First Nations children, families and communities.
Read it online:
Download it here: 2008-10 RHS Summary Report PDF (1.74 mb) | 2008-10 RHS Report PDF (6.93 mb)
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