Research Involves

Measuring health among children in rural and northern regions, and developing approaches to ensure children contribute to the assessment of their health outcomes.

Research Relevance

This research involves getting children in rural and northern regions to participate in assessing and promoting their own health.

Using Children’s Voices to Improve Health in the North

The voices of children who live in rural and northern regions are rarely heard when it comes to their health, but Dr. Nancy Young, Canada Research Chair in Rural and Northern Children's Health, is trying to change that situation.

Young is trying to improve the health of these children, who face unique health challenges due to geography, disability and limited health-care resources. She is doing so by ensuring the voices of children are heard because children are as good as their parents and clinicians in reporting on the state of their health and quality of life. Both of these factors are of critical importance in the measurement of child health.

Young is collaborating with international partners to ensure that cutting-edge methods for measuring health and quality of life among various cultures are accessible to children around the world. Her research projects include three innovative projects with Aboriginal children and youth that will build on lessons learned to promote their health and wellbeing.

Young’s clinical and community-based research will change the lives of these children for the better.