Food and Nutrition
Housing Conditions
Individual Health Assessment
Food and Nutrition
- Group discussions with children and youth aged 6 to 19
- Interviews with local food system experts (including traditional food harvesters, social workers, policymakers, store managers, and school/daycare administrators and teachers)
- Assessment of availability, cost and quality of foods in local stores
- Questionnaire (for 100 children and youth aged 3 to 19) to ask about;
- Traditional and store-bought food intake
- Access to food
- Food security
- Physical and sedentary activities
Housing Conditions
To study possible links between children’s health and exposure to potential contaminants in their homes, the following will be conducted in 100 households:
- Inspection for housing conditions, mould and water damage.
- Household dust collection to measure substances that are harmful to lung health.
- Indoor air quality assessment using up to 3 types of monitors:
- An indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor will measure levels of chemicals that can affect lung health such as carbon dioxide and small airborne particles (PM2.5), as well as relative humidity and the temperature in the home.
- A radon detector will measure this radioactive gas that can accumulate to high levels in homes and increase the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers.
- A volatile organic compound (VOC) monitor will measure levels of gases released from household products such as paint, disinfectants and air fresheners.
Learn more about Housing Conditions and Indoor Air Quality.
Individual Health Assessment
To measure children’s health and nutritional status as well as their exposure to environmental contaminants, the following will be measured or collected from 100 children and youth aged 3 to 19 by trained personnel:
- Height, weight and waist circumference
- Body composition
- Blood pressure
- Lung function
- Hair sample
- Blood sample
- Urine sample
A questionnaire will also ask about:
- Health and lifestyle: questions about the child’s general health, lifestyle, chronic illnesses, and injuries.
- Substance use (if desired by community leadership).
Learn more about The Mobile Clinic.