Child health and development

Reasons for provision of liquids other than breast milk in the Health Unit region (November 2018)

This report summarizes mother’s reasons for providing liquids other than breast milk to their infants at different stages of their infants' lives.

Breast milk provision in the Health Unit region (October 2018)

This report shows the percentage of infants provided any breast milk or only breast milk between 2009 and 2015, at discharge from hospital, two weeks of age, as well as 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months of age.

Confidence and breast milk provision in the Health Unit region (October 2018)

This report summarizes mother’s confidence in providing breast milk in public places, as well as confidence that their infant was getting enough milk at birth and two weeks of age.

Intended duration of breast milk provision in the Health Unit region (October 2018)

This report shows mothers' intended duration of breast milk provision to their infants.

Solid food provision to infants in the Health Unit region (October 2018)

This report summarizes the age in months when infants are first introduced to solid foods, for infants born in 2009/10, 2014/15, and 2017.

Breast milk provision by sociodemographic group in the NBPSDHU region (July 2017).

A summary showing how breast milk provision varies by sociodemographic group (maternal age, education, area of residence, & household income) within the NBPSDHU region between 2009 and 2015.

See our Injury page for information on mortalities and injury-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality among children, including infants.

Positive Parenting in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Region (October 2014)

This report is a situational assessment of positive parenting in the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit region, for parents of children 0 to 18 years of age. The purpose was to determine if a comprehensive approach to positive parenting is being achieved and to inform future planning. The report explores data from four different stakeholder groups, including public health units, community organizations, parents, and community partners. Recommendations for achieving a comprehensive approach are discussed.

Parenting Campaign Evaluation Report (November 2024)

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit collaborated with community partners to plan and implement a Parenting Campaign based on key messages for parents of children 0-6 years old living in the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts. The four key messages are:

• Listen, respond, and connect with your child.
• Help your child recognize their emotions.
• Let your child play. Help them grow. Keep them safe.
• It’s okay to take care of yourself. It’s part of parenting.

The report provides an overview of the Parenting Campaign, the evaluation methods, and results from the data collection (campaign awareness, campaign reach, effect of campaign and more). Recommendations for future parenting campaigns are also discussed.

• In 2021, 5.9% of mothers (and/or their infants) did not have a primary care provider in the Health Unit region, significantly higher compared to the Ontario percentage (3.7%).
• More than a third of infants (37.6%) in the Health Unit region had a parent or parenting partner with a history of depression, anxiety, or other mental illness; almost double the percentage of infants in Ontario (19.3%).
• About 7.4% infants in the Health Unit region had parents or parenting partners who had been involved with Child Protection Services as a parent, significantly higher (more than two times higher) than the Ontario percentage (2.4%).
• The percentage of infants whose families had concerns about money to pay for housing/rent, family's food, clothing, utilities, and other basic necessities was 4.0%; about 1.5 times the percentage in Ontario (2.7%).
• About 1.6% of infants had a parent with a disability, compared to 0.9% of infants in Ontario.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Risk Factors for Healthy Child Development page for more detail.

Comprehensive eye exams in children aged six years or younger in the Health Unit region (January 2019)

This report presents trends on the percentage of children within the Health Unit region who have received a comprehensive eye exam, and describes trends by the following dimensions: Geography (Health Unit region and Ontario); Year (2012 to 2016); Age (<1 and 1 to 6 years); Age group (0 to 3 years, 4 to 5 years); and Sex (Male and Female).

Enhanced 18 month well-baby visits (July 2018).

This report presents trends on well-baby visits within the Health Unit region from 2011 to 2015, and describes well-baby visits by the following dimensions: Geography (West & North Nipissing; City of North Bay; East Nipissing & North East Parry Sound; Town of Parry Sound; Central, West, and South East Parry Sound; North East LHIN; and, Ontario); and, Sex (Male and Female).