Grant: Healthcare Renewal Policy Analysis

Immediately after birth, the weight of an infant is plotted on a birthweight chart. Newborns who are small for gestational age (SGA) may be at higher risk of short stature, and lower cognitive ability in mathematics and reading. Special testing and growth surveillance is often instituted among SGA infants, associated with higher parental stress. After birth, the weight and length of an infant is plotted on growth curves each time he or she has a routine check-up. We recently created birthweight curves according to the baby's mother's World region of origin. We showed that there is a high likelihood that infants of East Asian as well as South Asian maternal origin are miscategorized as SGA. The birthweight curves that we have produced are ready for dissemination across Canada. However, we need to be sure that they differ substantially from the World Health organization (WHO) Curves that are currently being used in Canada. Moreover, we need to create growth curves for infants after birth, and, again, ensure that they differ substantially from the WHO Curves. Our initiative will lead to appropriate labeling of 'normal' and 'abnormal' birthweights for common ethnic groups in Canada. We have the research team and leading knowledge user partners across Canada, to inform our work and to disseminate the new curves. They will be mobilized via two roundtable meetings. Our initiative will also allows us to assess the impact upon resource use and health-related financial costs, and to report those data in a final report to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.