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Assessing Child Maltreatment in a Multicultural Setting
Introduction Child maltreatment refers to the abusive or neglectful behaviour by a caregiver that results in or places a child at risk of harm: physical, sexual and/or emotional. Maltreatment can occur as a direct result of a caregiver’s actions (e.g., hitting a child) or inaction (e.g., not providing adequate food,…
Health Evaluation of the International Adoptee
Introduction International adoptees new to Canada have unique challenges and needs, and their health issues are often complex. In many cases, they arrive without a prenatal, birth or family history, and their real birth date is often unknown. Their ‘life story’, including experiences before and during orphanage or foster care,…
Community Resources for Immigrant and Refugee Youth
Health professionals can support positive youth development by connecting newcomer adolescents with community services. This list is intended to help health professionals become familiar with services for immigrant and refugee youth in their province/territory or region. Alberta Calgary The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (CBFY) has an in-school settlement program,…
FAQs about Medication Coverage for Refugees
Why do I need to know what coverage my patient has? Knowing what services are covered for your newcomer patients (e.g., lab work, nursing care, diagnostic testing, dental, eye care) is important. Knowing whether a medication you prescribe will be covered for your patient can avoid issues with fulfillment at…
School and Education
Introduction Although the literature is limited, research suggests that most newly-arrived immigrant children do well in school. In particular, immigrant children from Africa, China and other Asian countries, India and the Middle East generally achieve greater educational success than their Canadian-born peers.1 However, not all newcomer children and youth do…
Prenatal Risk Factors for Developmental Delay
Causes of developmental disabilities Developmental disabilities can involve a cognitive or sensory difficulty, social or communications/language-related problem, a motor impairment, adaptive delay or some combination of these. The Global Disease Control Priorities Project estimates that 10% to 20% of individuals worldwide have a developmental disability of some kind.1 In the…
Obesity
Introduction Childhood obesity is a public health crisis worldwide. In Canada, the prevalence of obesity among children has increased significantly over the past decades. The Canadian Health Measures Survey reported in 2025 (using data from 2022 to 2024) that among children and youth ages 5 to 17, 19% were classified…
Cysticercosis
Taeniasis: Introduction Taeniasis is caused by intestinal infection with the adult tapeworm: Taenia saginata (from cattle) or Taenia solium (from pigs). Taenia asiatica causes taeniasis in Asia. T. solium takes two distinct forms in the human host: Taeniasis: Tapeworm infection of the gut lumen. Cysticercosis: Infection of tissues with larval…
First Language Use and Bilingualism
First language use and bilingualism Recent paediatric research supports the importance of first language use in the context of speech and language development in preschool children. Preschool children who develop strong language skills in their first language can learn a second language more easily and do better at school with…
Lead Toxicity
Lead in newcomer children Lead exposure is a concern in young newcomers to Canada, especially in refugee and internationally adopted children. They remain at risk for elevated levels of lead in blood and bone despite declining rates in North American-born children. As the symptoms of lead toxicity can present in…