February 24, 26, early childhood and education

HE301: Social Determinants of Health

Overview

  • Dates: February 24 & 26

  • Focus on the significance of education and early childhood experiences in health outcomes.

Inequalities in Early Childhood Development in Canada

Vulnerable Populations

  • Disadvantaged conditions increase vulnerability among children in early development.

  • Vulnerability assessed via Early Development Instrument; reflects deficiencies compared to peers.

  • Statistics: 1 in 4 Canadian children vulnerable in at least one developmental area.

  • Areas of Vulnerability:

    • Physical health and well-being

    • Social competence

    • Language and thinking skills

    • Communication skills and general knowledge

Long-term Effects

  • Developmental vulnerabilities can lead to:

  • Chronic diseases and conditions

  • Lower literacy and economic participation

  • Increased risks of violence, addictions, poor mental health, and crime

Gender Disparities

  • Boys exhibit higher levels of developmental vulnerability compared to girls.

Income Inequality

  • Children in low-income communities face the greatest developmental inequalities:

    • 2.2x higher vulnerability in materially and socially deprived areas.

    • 1.8x higher in lowest-income communities.

    • Indigenous children face twice the vulnerability rate compared to non-Indigenous counterparts.

Indigenous Challenges

  • Inequities linked to historical colonial policies, such as Residential Schools.

  • Have led to intergenerational trauma impacting health and social outcomes.

Supportive Conditions for Development

  • Higher household income and safe living conditions contribute positively to child development:

  • Income above the poverty line

  • Ability to afford nutritious food

  • Supportive parenting and higher parental education

Education and Health Pathways

Influences of Education

  • Higher family income is correlated with improved academic and social skills in early education.

  • Children facing disadvantages may lag behind academically, resulting in negative outcomes.

  • Recognized need for interventions to address educational disparities.

Social Mobility Across Countries

Comparative Analysis

  • 17 of the top 20 socially mobile countries are in Europe; Canada ranks lower on fair work opportunities despite good education and healthcare access.

  • The Nordic countries rank highest due to strong educational systems and social safety nets.

Definition of Social Mobility

  • Refers to the potential for children to improve their social status compared to their parents.

Education Defined

  • Education encompasses the years and levels of schooling attained by individuals (high school, college, university).

Education's Impact on Health

Correlation Between Education and Longevity

  • Increased education leads to longer lifespans and better health metrics across all demographics and countries.

Dropout Rates

  • Higher dropout rates observed in lower-income families, with high school completion steadily increasing.

  • In 2016, approximately 340,000 young Canadians (ages 25-34) lacked a high school diploma (Statistics Canada, 2017).

Disparities in Education

  • In Ontario, 65% of the non-Indigenous population has post-secondary education vs. 53% of Indigenous populations aged 24-65.

Systemic Racism in Education

  • Acknowledgment of racial segregation and inequities impacting Black students in Canadian schools.

Education's Influence on Health

Socioeconomic Factors

  • Economic factors significantly shape children's health from conception to age 5 through parental education and income levels.

Health Knowledge and Behaviours

  • Education leads to healthier decision-making and behaviours early in life and increases health literacy levels.

Employment and Income Connection

  • Education yields better job prospects, working conditions, and income, which promote better health outcomes.

Social and Psychological Resources

  • Education improves control beliefs, social standing, and access to social support networks.

Transgenerational Effects

  • Higher parental education leads to better child nutrition, physical activity, and cognitive development.

  • Improves overall investments of time and money in children.

Effects of Low Parental Education

  • Lower education correlates with deficits in finances, time, knowledge, and skills for child development.

  • Racial disparities result in “diminished returns” for people of color from higher SES.

Education and Mental Health

  • Individuals with lower educational attainment are more likely to face mental health disorders (Demange et al., 2024).

Life Course Perspective

Definition

  • Emphasizes that health outcomes are influenced by experiences throughout life stages, particularly childhood experiences.

Key Concepts of Benzeval's Model

  1. Cumulative Disadvantage: Early life experiences, like childhood poverty, have long-lasting health impacts that widen with age.

  2. Social Context: Family, education, and economic conditions are determinants of health outcomes.

  3. Critical Periods: Specific life stages have significant influences on health (e.g., stress during childhood).

  4. Life Events and Transitions: Major life changes can be turning points affecting health positively or negatively.

  5. Timing and Sequence: Order and timing of experiences shape their long-term effects on health.

  6. Agency and Control: Individuals can make choices affecting their trajectory despite societal constraints.

Implications of the Life Course Perspective

  • Health influenced by a range of factors over time; interventions should address the entire life trajectory rather than isolated events.

Effects in Life Course Theory

  1. Cumulative Effects: Study how repeated minor disadvantages accumulate impacting health significantly over time.

  2. Latent Effects: Early exposures that show long-term health impacts in adulthood, such as childhood stressors.

  3. Pathway Effects: Early experiences shape life paths and choices that subsequently affect health outcomes, such as career opportunities and quality of living conditions.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Overview

  • Refers to stressful or traumatic experiences occurring before 18 that can affect lifelong health. Examples include:

    • Physical and emotional abuse, neglect, household substance abuse, parental separation, and more.

Statistics

  • Notable impact of ACEs on health and social outcomes in adulthood, highlighting the urgent need for early interventions.

Health Risks Associated with ACEs

Key Findings

  • Individuals with multiple ACEs show significantly increased risks for various health issues including:

    • Drug injection, pregnancy issues, mental health disorders, and incarceration.

Conclusion

  • Addressing social determinants, especially in early childhood education and preventive health measures, can significantly improve long-term health outcomes.