Public Health Trends in Lethbridge County, Alberta Canada
Jeffrey Steed

I was able to speak with a public health nurse who works at the Lethbridge Community Health Centre. She was able to tell me about several trends that she has noticed while working in Public Health.

A current trend in public health in Lethbridge County is Whooping Cough in infants.  Several infants in the area that have been diagnosed with whooping cough have died.  Infants usually don’t receive the vaccination till they are 2 months old, so they are especially vulnerable during this period.  The dTap vaccination, which covers diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertusis is now being given to some infants at 6 weeks, and is being given to adults who haven’t received it in ten years.  Hopefully by vaccinated as many people as possible, especially those in contact with children, there will be less risk for infants to contract whooping cough.

Another trend that relates to the first is that lack of vaccinations in infants and children.  Many parents believe it important for children to develop immunity on their own, and believe that there could be negative side effects associated with vaccinations.  Because of this there is an increase in illnesses like whooping cough that could be preventable.  Parents are now being educated on the research associated with immunizations to show that there is in fact much less risk if kids are immunized.  If this trend continues is could result in a resurgence of preventable diseases among children, so it important to address this issue and educate those people who are unsure about whether or not to immunize.

Another trend in public health is tuberculosis in immigrants.  Canada has a fairly open policy regarding immigration and as well as care for refugees and a common medical issue that they bring with them is tuberculosis.  Because of this immigrants and refugees are now mandated to take a tuberculosis test upon arrival in Canada, and if tested positive they are to receive immediate treatment.  It is important to monitor incoming people because they could possible bring with them health problems like tuberculosis that aren’t even an issue any more.  Hopefully by treating immigrants immediately they, and the people they associate with will not be in any danger of contracting or developing this very preventable disease.

Another trend is education for new mothers.  I can’t imagine the overwhelming experience it would be to have a child and the new responsibilities that come with it. Since infants are an at risk group it is important that new mothers be taught in an effective way to ensure proper health.  It is now common to have a nurse come to the home after mother and child return home from the hospital and the mother receive an education on how to properly care for her new child.  It is also important for the nurse to be able to see the living conditions and ensure that standards for health are being met.  Education is a great way to improve health, and to receive it in the home is very beneficial for the new mother.

Finally, the last trend I’ll mention is one that applies to certain demographics.  Because of the varying degrees of income and education some areas of the city have a higher incidence of medical and dental problems.  It has been observed that on the north side of town, which is traditionally a lower income area, many children have higher incidence of cavities and other dental problems.  These are almost completely preventable, and so instead of finding a way to pay for these problems to be fixed after they occur, efforts are being made to educate and prevent.  The use of fluoride is being implemented in elementary schools to help prevent cavities, and children are being educated on proper oral hygiene. 

It was neat to see what trends were occurring in my home town, and I certainly have a greater degree of appreciation for public health professionals who do so much to keep our communities safe and healthy.