Reproductive Health in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph

Reproductive Health is an important Public Health issue and an upstream investment (Ministry of Health Promotion, 2010). Health before and during pregnancy contribute to healthy birth outcomes. Healthy birth outcomes and preparation for parenthood contribute to healthy children and families (Ministry of Health Promotion, 2010).

 

This report provides data on many reproductive health indicators. While it is not exhaustive, its intention is to aid Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and community partners in their work with expectant mothers and babies. Some data highlights in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph area include:

In Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph, the average age of mothers giving birth to their first child was 28.2 years while the average age of all mothers giving birth was 29.9 years.

In 2009, for every 1000 women aged 15-49 living in WDG, there were 44 live births. This was comparable with Ontario rates. In the same year, women in WDG were expected to have an average of 1.7 children over the course of their childbearing years. The fertility rate among the 30-34 year old population in WDG increased slightly over time. In 2005, the fertility rate for this group was 109 live births per 100 women in this age group. The rate in 2009 for the same population was 118 live births.

From 2005-2009, the pregnancy rate in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph was below the provincial rate. The pregnancy rate takes into account live births, still births, and induced abortions. One trend that was observed was a rise in the teen pregnancy rate in Dufferin County over time. In 2005, the Dufferin teen pregnancy rate of 10.2 pregnancies per 1000 women 10-19 was below the provincial rate of 14.2 pregnancies per 1000 women 10-19 years old. However, in 2009, the Dufferin teen pregnancy rate was 15.4 pregnancies per 1000 women aged 10-19 which was above the provincial rate of 14.8 pregnancies per 1000 teens. At the same time the teen pregnancy rate in Dufferin County was rising, the teen induced adjusted abortion rate was also rising. This increase in the teen induced adjusted abortion rate in Dufferin County was determined to be statistically significant.

The preterm birth rate in WDG was below the provincial rate from 2005-2008 but rose in 2009 due to an increase in the preterm birth rate in Wellington County, in 2009.

The low birth weight rates for all births and for singleton births in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph were below the provincial rate from 2005-2009. Additionally, the small for gestational age calculation from 2006-2011 showed that WDG had a lower percentage of babies born below the 10th percentile for their gestational age and sex than the province. Interestingly, this trend was reversed for the 2006-2011 high for gestational age calculation. In all years except 2010, WDG had a higher percentage of babies born above the 90th percentile for their gestational age and sex.