The Children Are Fine

UNICEF's verdict on the state of children's well-being and health and education has been made public again for this year in their report titled Child Well-being In Rich Countries: A comparative Over-view. Canada's standing, much to our chagrin, appears to be middling. In the sense that, out of 29 developed countries of the world with the focus on child welfare, Canada's standing is placed at 17th. Glum faces on cue.

But then, there's the matter of perspective, and how data are taken from various countries whose data collection is anything but set to a general standard. UNICEF uses the figures it is given. That aside, on close scrutiny it seems that Canada's position on the list has remained stable, it has not been reduced, but has been steady and on the uptrack, as it happens; just behind Switzerland, just ahead of the U.S, Italy and Austria.

In some major ways, Canada's children are doing very well indeed. The percentage of Canadian children aged fifteen to nineteen who choose to remain within the education system has increased from 74% to 81%; representing the fourth largest acceleration in the entire OECD. Canadian students' average score on standardized tests comes in second only to Finland's.

More Canadian children consume their daily share of fruit than in any other nation examined with the exception of Denmark. Teenage pregnancies have dropped in Canada from 20 live births per one thousand a decade earlier to about 13 in 2009. All to the good. Teen smokers in Canada are among the lowest in the world. But while only 4% of teens  report having smoked, half the rate of a decade ago, Canada also has the highest reported use of marijuana, at 28%.

Youth smoking and its descent in use is good news for the health of Canadian children who will become adults with far fewer health problems caused by the effects of tobacco use. Less call upon the universal health care system; fewer people dying of cancers, heart attacks, strokes as a result of smoking, so that's an excellent turn for the better for all involved.

Surprising, really so, is the relatively low rate of immunization among Canadian children. And this is surprising, since the medical establishment and the education system both promote, advocate for and even demand that children be inoculated against measles, polio, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. With some of these diseases, the herd effect will aid in ensuring that there are few outbreaks, but it is truly puzzling that there is not the total uptake that this health-protective situation demands.

And, it's just as well that there isn't a section in the report devoted specifically to the health of First Nations children living on reserves. That situation is a national disgrace. General growth in obesity that will impact on children's future in the general Canadian population is a concern enough. The state of First Nations children's health, education and future opportunities is dismal, at present.

We can, and should hope for far better for this growing demographic, so vital to the future and the future health of Canada itself.