Healthy Growth and Development Program Standard 

This page summarizes how the Core Indicator Project supports the Ontario Public Health Standards' (OPHS) Healthy Growth and Development Program Standard.  The page captures both currently available indicators as well as identified gaps with the intention of improving OPHS topic coverage over time.   

The Core Indicators Project OPHS Alignment framework has four stages:

  1. Each OPHS program standard has a webpage to outline the availability of relevant Core Indicators products.  
  2. Each topic area named within the program standard has an alignment table to list current indicator availability and to identify where more work is needed. 
  3. Within each topic area table, the rows represent the four categories of population health information identified in the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance (PHAS) protocol, namely: Population, Health Status, Behavioural Factors and Environmental Factors. 
  4. Within each topic area table, the columns represent the possible Core Indicators Products along a spectrum of indicator availability, from Core Indicators, to Model Indicators, to Indicator Gaps, to Data Gaps.  
 

Core Indicators Topic Alignment Tables

Click on the topic headings below to expand the table. 
 
Preconception Health

 

Population

Core Indicators

Crude Birth Rate

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

Percentage of women, by age group, trying to get pregnant LGBTQ Population
 

Health Status

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Add preconception piece to existing core indicators for ages 15-49: Smoking Status; Drinking in Excess of LRDG; Leisure-time Physical Activity; Adult Body Mass Index; Vegetable and Fruit Consumption; Number of Sexual Contacts; Depression Prevalence; Self-perceived Work Stress; Self-perceived Life Stress; Infectious Disease Incidence; and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Morbidity

 

Data Gaps

Infertility RateOral Health Status
 

Behavioural Factors

Core Indicators

Folic Acid Supplementation

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

Use of Assistive Reproductive Therapies
 

Environmental Factors

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

Awareness of Community Health ServicesExperience of (Domestic) Violence




Healthy Pregnancies

 

Population

Core Indicators

Age of Parent at Infant’s Birth Pregnancy Rate Multiple Birth Rate

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Pregnant Women: Ethnicity; Immigration; Income; Education; Food Security; Social Support; Violence; etc.
 

Health Status

Core Indicators

Maternal Mental Health Gestational Weight Gain

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Gestational Diabetes Pre-eclampsia/High Blood Pressure Maternal Mortality (VS or DAD) STIs in Pregnant Women Other Infections in Pregnant Women (e.g. Influenza, Enterics)

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Behavioural Factors

Core Indicators

Smoking during Pregnancy Alcohol and Substance Exposures during Pregnancy Folic Acid Supplementation

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Prenatal Visit Prenatal Class Attendance

 

Data Gaps

Immunization / Vaccination Status in Pregnant Women (e.g. Influenze, Rubella) Physical Activity during Pregnancy Nutrition during Pregnancy
 

Environmental Factors

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Availability of Physical Activity Programs for Pregnant Women Residing with a Smoker during Pregnancy

 

Data Gaps

Lead Exposure in Pregnancy




Reproductive Outcomes

 

Population

Core Indicators

Crude Birth Rate Fertility Rates Total Fertility Rate Pregnancy Rate Multiple Birth Rate Age of Parent at Infant’s Birth

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Parity Gravidity Infant's Mother is a Single Parent

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Health Status

Core Indicators

Preterm Birth Rate Birth Weights Congenital Anomalies Perinatal Mortality and Stillbirth Rates Neonatal and Infant Mortality Rates

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Maternal Mortality (VS or DAD) C-section Rate Assisted Delivery Rate

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Behavioural Factors

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Environmental Factors

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Home Birth Rate Hospital of Birth No Designated Primary-Care Provider No OHIP number for the Mother Infants with Families in Need of Newcomer Support Infants with Families who have Concerns about Money   Parent or Partner with Mental Illness Parent or Partner with Disabilities Involvement with Child Protection Services

 

Data Gaps

None identified.




Breastfeeding

 

Population

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Breastfeeding by Age of Mother

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Health Status

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

None identified.
 

Behavioural Factors

Core Indicators

Infant Feeding (RENAME?) - Intention, Initiation and Breastfeeding upon entry to service i.e. public health Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration (DISCUSS - RETIRE?)

 

Model Indicators

POTENTIAL: Indicators from Infant Feeding LDCP

 

Indicator Gaps

None identified.

 

Data Gaps

Smoking during Breastfeeding Alcohol and Substance Use during Breastfeeding
 

Environmental Factors

Core Indicators

None identified.

 

Model Indicators

None identified.

 

Indicator Gaps

Public Support for Breastfeeding (RRFSS)

 

Data Gaps

Environmental Contaminants in Breastmilk




Growth and Development

   Coming soon... 

   ... the Core Indicators Project alignment table for Growth and Development has yet to be developed.    



Preparation for Parenting

   Coming soon... 

   ... the Core Indicators Project alignment table for Preparation for Parenting has yet to be developed.    



Positive Parenting

   Coming soon... 

   ... the Core Indicators Project alignment table for Positive Parenting has yet to be developed.    



Healthy Sexuality

   Coming soon...

   ... This topic area will be outlined under the Chronic Disease Prevention and Well-Being Program Standard.



Mental Health Promotion

   Coming soon...

   ... This topic area will be outlined under the Chronic Disease Prevention and Well-Being Program Standard.



Oral Health

   Coming soon...

   ... This topic area will be outlined under the School Health Program Standard.



Visual Health

   Coming soon...

   ... This topic area will be outlined under the School Health Program Standard.



 
 

Key Data Sources 

 

Relevant OPHS Requirements

Program Outcomes

    Healthy Growth and Development Program Standard

  • Goal: To achieve optimal preconception, pregnancy, newborn, child, youth, parental, and family health.
  • The board of health is aware of and uses data to influence and inform the development of local healthy public policy and its programs and services related to achieving optimal preconception, pregnancy, newborn, child, youth, parental, and family health.
  • Board of health programs and services are designed to address the identified needs of the community, including priority populations, associated with healthy growth and development.
  • There is a decrease in health inequities related to healthy growth and development.
Requirements

    Healthy Growth and Development Program Standard

  • Requirement #1:  The board of health shall collect and analyze relevant data to monitor trends over time, emerging trends, priorities, and health inequities related to healthy growth and development and report and disseminate the data and information in accordance with the Population Health Assessment and Surveillance Protocol, 2018 (or as current).
  • Requirement #2:  The board of health shall develop and implement a program of public health interventions using a comprehensive health promotion approach to support healthy growth and development in the health unit population. 
    a) The program of public health interventions shall be informed by:
    • i.    An assessment of risk and protective factors that influence healthy growth and development.
    • iv.  An assessment of local needs.
    • v.   Evidence of the effectiveness of the interventions.  
Required Approaches

    Healthy Growth and Development Guideline

  • Item 6.2. Public Health Program Planning Cycle Boards of health shall use a public health program planning cycle to support evidence informed decision-making related to the development and implementation of a program of public health interventions to support healthy growth and development in the health unit population. 
  • Item 6.2 sub-bullet: Consideration of Key public health and content-specific frameworks and related concepts: 
    • The Population Health Promotion Model
    • Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
    • Social-Ecological Model of Health
    • Key Public Health Concepts, including: upstream approach; proportionate universality; strength-based approach; life course approach; intersectional approach; and population health impact pyramid.
    • Harvard’s Early Childhood Policies and Programs Framework
    • Key Content-Specific Concepts, including: developmental assets; and person-and-family-centred care.
  • Item 6.2 sub-bullet: Identification of key settings, partners and priority populations, which may vary by healthy growth and development topic and local context. 
  • Item 6.2 sub-bullet: Identification of key healthy growth and development topics, based on an assessment of local need.



APHEO's Core Indicators Project has been developed through collaboration across the field of public health in Ontario, 
to provide standardized methodology for population health assessment, to measure complex concepts of individual and community health.
Please contact core.indicators@apheo.ca for further information.