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Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique logoLink to Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne de Santé Publique
. 2002 Nov 1;93(Suppl 2):S21–S26. doi: 10.1007/BF03403614

A Matter of life and Death for Manitoba’s Children

An Overview of Birth Rates and Mortality Rates

Patricia J Martens 1,✉, Shelley Derksen 1
PMCID: PMC6979587  PMID: 12580386

Abstract

Objective

To determine the fertility and child mortality rates for Manitoba.

Methods

Fertility and mortality rates were derived from the Population Health Research Data Repository and Vital Statistics, for 1994 through 1998. Data are presented by 12 Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), 12 Winnipeg Community Areas (CAs) and by income quintile. Each indicator is correlated with PMR (the age- and sex-adjusted premature mortality rate, i.e., death before age 75) and SEFI (Socioeconomic Factor Index, a standardized composite index), both considered proxies for overall health and socioeconomic well-being of populations.

Results

Manitoba’s total fertility rate was 1.77 children per woman, ranging from 1.62 to 3.15 by RHA, and 1.21 to 2.30 by Winnipeg CA. Manitoba’s infant mortality rate was 6.6/1000 (or 5.5/1000 excluding <500 g or <20 weeks gestation), ranging from 4.5 to 10.2 by RHA (4.2 to 9.8 exclusive), and 3.7 to 8.4 by Winnipeg CA (2.7 to 6.7). There was a gradient of infant mortality by income quintile (p<0.001), with double the rate comparing lowest to highest. Child mortality rates varied geographically and by gender, with northern children at greatest risk. Injury was the leading cause of death (52% for ages 1 through 9, 75% for ages 15 to 19).

Conclusion

Fertility rates, as well as infant and child mortality rates, were positively associated with PMR and SEFI, with substantial geographical variation.

Footnotes

The full report “Assessing the Health of Children in Manitoba: A Population-Based Study” on which this article is based is available from the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy at the above address or online at: https://doi.org/www.umanitoba.ca/centres/mchp/reports.htm

Sources of support: This work was supported as part of a project on child health in Manitoba, one of several projects undertaken each year by the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy under contract to Manitoba Health. The results and conclusions are those of the authors and no official endorsement by Manitoba Health was intended or should be inferred. Dr. Martens was also supported by a Community Alliances for Health Research Program grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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