Birth Rate: Manitoba and Infant Deaths

birth rate: However, if the success of a province can be captured by how well it prevents infant deaths, then statistics also tell us that we may be failing our children, according to Brandon Sun. For decades, Manitoba has consistently had the highest provincial infant mortality rate in Canada — 5.9 for every 1000 live births in Manitoba versus 4.8 for every 1000 live births, nationally. Fortunately, our relatively high birth rate — around 1.93 for every 1000 women — combined with favourable immigration trends means that Manitoba population will continue to grow. In public health, infant mortality is often viewed as a marker for a society development, and Manitoba consistently falls to the bottom.A report by the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy highlights that Manitoba also has one of the highest rates of children being taken into care in the world — an alarming statistic that should signal to all policy makers and politicos that something needs to be done differently. Clearly this is morally unacceptable — but what less often discussed is that failing our province children also puts Manitoba in economic jeopardy. Poverty, limited education, historical trauma and colonization, to name just a few factors, can be linked to both Manitoba high rates of infant mortality and kids in care and puts children at risk for other negative health and social outcomes. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.