Native Women's Association of Canada Website

11.0 PROGRAM: CANADA PRENATAL NUTRITION PROGRAMThis ongoing federal Program is delivered through the Community Action Program forChildren, a component of the Child Development Initiative. The Canada PrenatalNutrition Program was one of the Programs promised in Creating Opportunity.The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program is a comprehensive Program designed toprovide food supplementation, nutrition counselling, support, education, referral andcounselling on lifestyle issues to pregnant women who are most likely to have unhealthybabies.There are approximately 400,000 births every year in Canada. Of these, an estimated10% of births are at risk due to poor health and malnutrition of the mother. Poor nutritionis a risk factor for low birth weight (less than 2500 grams). Low birth weight is thedetermining factor in about two-thirds of all deaths among newborns, and those thatsurvive are at a greater risk of developing serious and lifelong disabilities. At 5.5% in1990, there has been a minimal reduction in the rate of low birth weight over the last fewyears.The Program delivered through Health Canada regional offices, funds communitygroups to establish and deliver services that address the needs of low income pregnantwomen. Long-term financial assistance is provided through contributions to supportthese services.The Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program supports comprehensive community basedservices, especially designed to build upon existing prenatal health programs acrossCanada. It offers resources, based on population (number of births) to provinces andterritories to expand prenatal nutrition programs, and in cases where they do not exist,to assist in setting them up. The Program establishes and enhances services but doesnot duplicate or replace other government services.11.1 Targets:pregnant adolescentsyouth at risk of becoming pregnantpregnant women who abuse alcohol or other substancespregnant women living in violent situationsoff-reserve First Nations, Métis and Inuitrefugeespregnant women living in isolation or not having access to services11.2 Contact: Judy Watson Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program Childhood & Youth Division, Health Promotion & Programs Branch Health Canada, Finance Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 1B5 Tel:(613) 952-0240Pg. 166