Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) evaluation program

Aboriginal Nurse, The,  Apr 2000  

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On July 26, 1994, Federal Health Minister Diane Marleau announced the CPNP. The CPNP is a comprehensive program designed to address specific needs of at-risk pregnant women who are most likely to have unhealthy babies. The CPNP is comprised of two components: one component for mainstream Canadian participants and a second component for First Nations and Inuit participants. For First Nations and Inuit women, this program was designed as a universal program which took into account various factors including social, economic and environmental factors which inevitably place all pregnant First Nations and Inuit women in a higher risk category. The design of the CPNP was based on the conclusion that nutrition is a key factor in determining pregnancy outcomes. The CPNP was designed to improve the health of pregnant women, improve birth outcomes and to support the initiation and duration of breast-feeding among newborn First Nations infants.

At the inception of the CPNP, a Health Canada, Medical Services Branch (MSB) First Nations working group was established to plan the design of the CPNP First Nations component. Health Canada, Health Promotion and Programs Branch (HPPB) has taken the lead in carrying out the CPNP evaluation. In response to the First Nations' request the Assembly of First Nations Health Secretariat and Health Canada, MSB have entered into an agreement resulting in a transition of the CPNP Evaluation (First Nations Component) to First Nations control. This will ensure that the CPNP First Nations component will truly meet the needs of First Nations.

The evaluation objective is to conduct the evaluation of the CPNP, First Nations component within the context of First Nations ownership, control and access. The community level will also be a part of the evaluation team. The evaluation activities will be completed in stages which will include developing a framework, developing a culturally appropriate evaluation tool, development of a data sharing agreement and development of an evaluation implementation plan. Once these activities are completed, the new First Nations evaluation process may begin by first piloting the process and tools and later with full staged irr plementation.

Facts - Maternal and Child Issues

First Nations and Inuit people have a birth rate that is double the Canadian average

Infant mortality among First Nations is twice as high as the Canadian rate

First Nations infants (age 1-12 months) have a mortality rate three times the national average

Fifty-five (55%) of Aboriginal babies are born to mothers under the age of 25

First Nations babies are at risk of poor nutrition and unhealthy birth outcomes, which includes both low birth weight and high birth weight.

Low birth-weight infants are at increased risk of serious and life-long disabilities.

Low birth-weight is a determining factor in two-thirds of all newborns that die in Canada.

High birth-weight is linked to birth complications and diabetes.

High birth-weight among First Nations is 18% compared to high birth weight among mainstream Canadians at 12%.

Over 6% of Aboriginal women develop gestational diabetes during their pregnancies.

Maternal smoking has a negative impact on development of the unborn child.

Approximately 56% of First Nations women smoke tobacco.

Breast-feeding rates among First Nations is significantly lower at 54% than the over-all Canadian population at 75%.

Particularly in remote First Nations' communities, lack of food security is a serious issue.

The Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) has been established to address concerns about nutrition during pregnancy.

The First Nations component of the CPNP is available to all First Nations women who are pregnant.

Sources - First Nations and Inuit Regional Health Survey, National Report 1999

Government of Canada data (Health Canada, and Indian and Northern Affairs)

Government of the Northwest Territories data

Government of Nunavut data

Reprinted from "Communication Strategy, AFN Evaluation of the CPNP, First Nations Componet - Assembly of First Nations, Chiefs Committee on Health, Prenatal Health and Nutrition Sub-Committee, February 17, 2000" and Community Care Team-- Planning Resource Kit

Copyright Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada Apr 2000
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