INTRODUCTION

In 1994, the federal government announced the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program to help communities improve birth outcomes by improving the nutritional health of low income, high-risk pregnant women.  It is a comprehensive, community-based program that is expected to help set up or expand existing prenatal health programs.

BACKGROUND

Good maternal nutrition is a major factor contributing to health birth weight.  Low birth weight(less than 2500 grams) puts babies at risk for many health problems and death.  High birth weight (greater than 4000 grams) is also understood as a risk factor particularly for the development of diabetes in later life.

Babies born into poverty are at greater risk of having low birth weight.  Poor pregnancy outcomes in low income families are due to a variety of adverse conditions, such as poor nutrition and housing, stress and unhealthy lifestyles.

Studies have shown certain First Nations and Inuit women are at risk of poor nutritional status.  Nutrients important to a healthy pregnancy and birth outcome such as calcium, folic acid, Vitamin A and iron are found to be low in the diets of many of these women.  The problem lies in both the quantity and quality of their diets.

Prenatal programs that provide nutrition counseling in combination with food and/or vitamin/mineral supplements have proven to be most effective for improving the nutritional status of poorly nourished pregnant women.  Successful programs have also included education, and are linked to programs and resources that can address lifestyle issues such as smoking, substance abuse and alcohol abuse, family violence and stress. 

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal of the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program, First Nation and Inuit Component is:

To improve maternal and infant nutritional health by providing a greater depth of service to women in earlier pregnancy and for a longer duration postpartum with a particular focus on those at high risk.

To achieve this goal, the following objectives have been developed:

1.         To improve the adequacy of the diet of prenatal and breast-feeding First Nations
            and Inuit women.
 

2.         To increase access to nutrition information services, and resources to eligible
            First Nations and Inuit women, particularly those at high risk.
 

3.         To increase breast-feeding initiation and duration rates.
 

4.         To increase knowledge and skill building opportunities for those involved in this program.
 

5.         To increase the number of infants fed age-appropriate foods in the first twelve (12) months.

TARGET GROUP

CPNP is universal to First Nations and Inuit women who are living in First Nations or Inuit communities.

Primary Target Group:
 

Pregnant women, mothers of infants, and infants up to twelve months of age in First Nation and Inuit communities, in particular those identified as high risk, such as:

•     Pregnant teenagers;

•     Underweight before becoming pregnant

•     experiencing weight loss or slow weight gain

•     expecting twins or multiple births

•     becoming pregnant less than twelve months after a birth, miscarriage or abortion

•     experiencing health problems, physical or emotional

•     Malnourished or eating a poor diet

•     Women in isolated communities – northern, rural or with limited road access

Secondary Target Group:
 

Women of childbearing age.  This group to be targeted only for services such as Nutrition awareness, education, and related supportive program elements, base on need and where funding allows.