National indicators of child health and well-being in Greenland

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to identify core indicators of children's health and well-being at the national level, adapt them to the needs of children in Greenland, and present empirical data about them. Methods: The indicators were based on the actual knowledge about the health of children in Greenland, on the goals identified in the National Public Health Strategy and in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, as well as on experiences from international studies. Criteria to determine quality and relevance were identified. Results: It is proposed that the 28 core indicators of child health that fulfilled the selected criteria be implemented immediately and that another 25 indicators be implemented later. Data showed that large subgroups of children are vulnerable because of their socioeconomic and demographic conditions, that morbidity associated with health behaviour and mortality was high, and that at-risk health behaviour was frequent compared to children in the other Nordic countries. Conclusions: The carefully selected indicators could be powerful tools in monitoring core issues in children's health and the factors influencing it. They are also a necessary starting point for determining the outcomes of the country's health and welfare policies. Although relevant indicators were identified, a lack of both validated data sources and routine data collections was obvious. Data on the proposed indicators showed many affected children in Greenland.