Health trends across Brantford, Brant, Haldimand, Norfolk

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A community health profile gives a snapshot of health trends and needs across the City of Brantford and counties of Brant, Haldimand and Norfolk.

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The regions officially formed Grand Erie Public Health in January. The report marks the first comprehensive health status assessment for the new unit, highlighting “similarities with provincial trends” and “distinct local patterns,” according to an abridged version the board of health saw last month.

The report cautioned that, in some cases, the most recent data goes back to 2021, and for some indicators there were small sample sizes or data was incomplete.

Still, it will help guide “evidence-informed decisions about program harmonization, service delivery, and strategic planning, ensuring that public health priorities and interventions are aligned with the needs of the communities we serve,” it said.

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Some areas where Grand Erie residents
are trending higher than the provincial average

Self-harm – Self-reported mental health is similar to provincial trends; however, more residents visit the hospital for self-harm — 87 versus 67 per 100,000 — “warranting further investigation into how mental health needs are being identified and addressed in the region,” the report said.

Injuries – According to data from 2017 to 2021, locals apparently are more likely to die from injuries than people in other provinces.

Higher rates of deaths from car accidents, falls and unintentional poisonings are thought to be driving this, however trends “may look different as newer data becomes available,” said Dr. Jason Malenfant, medical officer of health for GEPH.

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The category includes accidental drug or medication overdoses and exposure to harmful substances including chemicals or gases like carbon monoxide, said Malenfant.

Haldimand-Norfolk has a higher level of unintentional injuries, while Brantford-Brant has a higher proportion of intentional injuries.

Smoking – Smoking rates “far exceed” the provincial average of 14.2 per cent, both in Brantford-Brant (20.9 per cent) and Haldimand-Norfolk (23.7 per cent).

Chronic conditions – Residents have higher levels of COPD (389 versus 355 per 100,000)

Opioids – The area has seen “much higher” rates than the province when it comes to opioid-related emergency department visits and deaths. Fentanyl factored into 82 per cent of opioid deaths in 2023.

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Maternal health -There are higher pregnancy rates in the region, notably in 15- to 29-year-olds. More people in the area report having anxiety or depression during pregnancy. Smoking and cannabis use is higher in pregnancy than Ontario as a whole, however smoking has dropped from 13.5 per cent in 2018 to 7.9 per cent in 2022.

Oral health – There are fewer people in the GEPH region going to the emergency department for oral health conditions than previously, but the number — about 2,135 visits a year — is still “significantly higher” than the Ontario average. This is higher in Haldimand-Norfolk than Brantford-Brant.

Invasive group A streptococcal – It is on the rise in the region. The bacterial infection can cause serious illness like pneumonia, or blood poisoning.

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Some areas where Grand Erie residents are on par with
or lower than the provincial average

Sexually transmitted infections – Lower than provincial rates, with chlamydia, gonorrhea and hepatitis C as the most common in the area.

Chronic conditions – The region reports fewer cases of hypertension, diabetes and asthma.

Vaccinations – Although Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) coverage falls below provincial levels for 17-year-olds, more seven-year-olds in the GEPH region have their vaccines compared with the rest of the province.

Nutrition and activity – While “low,” the number of residents eating five or more daily servings of fruit and vegetables is comparable to the provincial average of 21.3 per cent. Physical activity rates are on par with the provincial average.

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Other insights from the report

Lyme disease – Cases jumped from 3.7 per 100,000 in 2020 to 16 in 2024, “reflecting environmental change and expanding tick habitats.”

Child development – Nearly one-third of kids are vulnerable in at least one domain of early development — such as physical health and well-being, language and cognitive development, and communication skills. This is slightly higher in Brantford-Brant than Haldimand-Norfolk.

Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter based at the Hamilton Spectator. The initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.

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