Research + Health Professional

Canada's rural health crisis

South West Ontario Rural Health General Info:

  • Huron, Perth, Grey and Bruce Counties fall within the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).
     
  • Approximately 69% of the population is classified as urban
    and 31% is classified as rural.
  • 944,852 people (2007 Ontario Ministry of Finance)
    The population is distributed across the South West LHIN as follows:

16.6% North (Grey and Bruce counties)

14.7% Central (Huron and Perth counties)

68.7% South (Middlesex/London, Elgin, Oxford and part of Norfolk counties) 

Southwestern Ontario Rates of Disease:

Percentage of people with high blood pressure

(StatsCan, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2005)

Canadian average15.2%
Grey-Bruce Counties20.3%
Huron County19.9%
Perth County15.7%

Percentage of people with diabetes

(StatsCan, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2005)

Canadian average4.8%
Grey-Bruce Counties8%
Huron County6.3%
Perth County3.8%

Percentage of obese adults (18+, BMI>30)

(StatsCan, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2005)

Canadian average15.1%
Grey-Bruce Counties18.6%
Huron County22.7%
Perth County21.1%

Ischemic heart disease death rates

(StatsCan, Canadian Community Health Survey, 2001)

Canadian average112 incidents per 100,000 deaths
Grey-Bruce Counties125 incidents per 100,000 deaths
Huron County130 incidents per 100,000 deaths
Perth County133 incidents per 100,000 deaths

 

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