Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution
BackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health and potential modifier of the effects of environmental contaminants. There has been a lack of comprehensive indices for measuring overall SES in Canada. Here, a more comprehensive SES index is developed aiming to support futu...
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ftcdlib:oai:escholarship.org:ark:/13030/qt5cc5742p 2023-10-01T03:57:39+02:00 Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution Chan, Emily Serrano, Jesus Chen, Li Stieb, David M Jerrett, Michael Osornio-Vargas, Alvaro 714 2015-12-01 application/pdf https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc5742p unknown eScholarship, University of California qt5cc5742p https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc5742p public BMC Public Health, vol 15, iss 1 Preterm Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn Basic Behavioral and Social Science Prevention Clinical Research Pediatric Infant Mortality Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period Behavioral and Social Science Good Health and Well Being Air Pollutants Air Pollution Canada Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Female Health Status Disparities Humans Infant Newborn Pregnancy Pregnancy Outcome Premature Birth Risk Assessment Socioeconomic Factors Socioeconomic status Environment Health Public Health and Health Services Public Health article 2015 ftcdlib 2023-09-04T18:04:49Z BackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health and potential modifier of the effects of environmental contaminants. There has been a lack of comprehensive indices for measuring overall SES in Canada. Here, a more comprehensive SES index is developed aiming to support future studies exploring health outcomes related to environmental pollution in Canada.MethodsSES variables (n = 22, Census Canada 2006) were selected based on: cultural identities, housing characteristics, variables identified in Canadian environmental injustice studies and a previous deprivation index (Pampalon index). Principal component analysis with a single varimax rotation (factor loadings ≥ │60│) was performed on SES variables for 52974 census dissemination areas (DA). The final index was created by averaging the factor scores per DA according to the three components retained. The index was validated by examining its association with preterm birth (gestational age < 37 weeks), term low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g), small for gestational age (SGA, <10 percentile of birth weight for gestational age) and PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm) exposures in Edmonton, Alberta (1999-2008).ResultsIndex values exhibited a relatively normal distribution (median = 0.11, mean = 0.0, SD = 0.58) across Canada. Values in Alberta tended to be higher than in Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut (Pearson chi-square p < 0.001 across provinces). Lower quintiles of our index and the Pampalon's index confirmed know associations with a higher prevalence of LBW, SGA, preterm birth and PM2.5 exposure. Results with our index exhibited greater statistical significance and a more consistent gradient of PM2.5 levels and prevalence of pregnancy outcomes.ConclusionsOur index reflects more dimensions of SES than an earlier index and it performed superiorly in capturing gradients in prevalence of pregnancy outcomes. It can be used for future research involving environmental pollution and health in Canada. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nunavut University of California: eScholarship Newfoundland Nunavut Northwest Territories Canada |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of California: eScholarship |
op_collection_id |
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language |
unknown |
topic |
Preterm Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn Basic Behavioral and Social Science Prevention Clinical Research Pediatric Infant Mortality Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period Behavioral and Social Science Good Health and Well Being Air Pollutants Air Pollution Canada Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Female Health Status Disparities Humans Infant Newborn Pregnancy Pregnancy Outcome Premature Birth Risk Assessment Socioeconomic Factors Socioeconomic status Environment Health Public Health and Health Services Public Health |
spellingShingle |
Preterm Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn Basic Behavioral and Social Science Prevention Clinical Research Pediatric Infant Mortality Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period Behavioral and Social Science Good Health and Well Being Air Pollutants Air Pollution Canada Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Female Health Status Disparities Humans Infant Newborn Pregnancy Pregnancy Outcome Premature Birth Risk Assessment Socioeconomic Factors Socioeconomic status Environment Health Public Health and Health Services Public Health Chan, Emily Serrano, Jesus Chen, Li Stieb, David M Jerrett, Michael Osornio-Vargas, Alvaro Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
topic_facet |
Preterm Low Birth Weight and Health of the Newborn Basic Behavioral and Social Science Prevention Clinical Research Pediatric Infant Mortality Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period Behavioral and Social Science Good Health and Well Being Air Pollutants Air Pollution Canada Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Female Health Status Disparities Humans Infant Newborn Pregnancy Pregnancy Outcome Premature Birth Risk Assessment Socioeconomic Factors Socioeconomic status Environment Health Public Health and Health Services Public Health |
description |
BackgroundSocioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of health and potential modifier of the effects of environmental contaminants. There has been a lack of comprehensive indices for measuring overall SES in Canada. Here, a more comprehensive SES index is developed aiming to support future studies exploring health outcomes related to environmental pollution in Canada.MethodsSES variables (n = 22, Census Canada 2006) were selected based on: cultural identities, housing characteristics, variables identified in Canadian environmental injustice studies and a previous deprivation index (Pampalon index). Principal component analysis with a single varimax rotation (factor loadings ≥ │60│) was performed on SES variables for 52974 census dissemination areas (DA). The final index was created by averaging the factor scores per DA according to the three components retained. The index was validated by examining its association with preterm birth (gestational age < 37 weeks), term low birth weight (LBW, <2500 g), small for gestational age (SGA, <10 percentile of birth weight for gestational age) and PM2.5 (particulate matter ≤ 2.5 μm) exposures in Edmonton, Alberta (1999-2008).ResultsIndex values exhibited a relatively normal distribution (median = 0.11, mean = 0.0, SD = 0.58) across Canada. Values in Alberta tended to be higher than in Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories and Nunavut (Pearson chi-square p < 0.001 across provinces). Lower quintiles of our index and the Pampalon's index confirmed know associations with a higher prevalence of LBW, SGA, preterm birth and PM2.5 exposure. Results with our index exhibited greater statistical significance and a more consistent gradient of PM2.5 levels and prevalence of pregnancy outcomes.ConclusionsOur index reflects more dimensions of SES than an earlier index and it performed superiorly in capturing gradients in prevalence of pregnancy outcomes. It can be used for future research involving environmental pollution and health in Canada. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Chan, Emily Serrano, Jesus Chen, Li Stieb, David M Jerrett, Michael Osornio-Vargas, Alvaro |
author_facet |
Chan, Emily Serrano, Jesus Chen, Li Stieb, David M Jerrett, Michael Osornio-Vargas, Alvaro |
author_sort |
Chan, Emily |
title |
Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
title_short |
Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
title_full |
Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
title_fullStr |
Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Development of a Canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
title_sort |
development of a canadian socioeconomic status index for the study of health outcomes related to environmental pollution |
publisher |
eScholarship, University of California |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc5742p |
op_coverage |
714 |
geographic |
Newfoundland Nunavut Northwest Territories Canada |
geographic_facet |
Newfoundland Nunavut Northwest Territories Canada |
genre |
Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nunavut |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland Northwest Territories Nunavut |
op_source |
BMC Public Health, vol 15, iss 1 |
op_relation |
qt5cc5742p https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5cc5742p |
op_rights |
public |
_version_ |
1778529617192157184 |