Indicator Metadata
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Name |
Small for Gestational Age Rate |
Short/Other Names |
SGA |
Description |
Crude rate for small for gestational age (SGA) |
Interpretation |
The in-hospital SGA rate represents the proportion of singleton babies born in a Canadian hospital with a birth weight below the 10th percentile for their gestational age and sex. In other words, babies classified as SGA are smaller than 90% of the babies from a standard reference population of the same gestational age and sex. Lower rates for this indicator are desirable. |
HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Outcomes: Improve health status of Canadians |
Areas of Need |
Not applicable |
Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
Indicator Results |
Name |
Small for Gestational Age Rate |
Short/Other Names |
SGA |
Description |
Crude rate for small for gestational age (SGA) |
Calculation: Description |
Rate = (Number of live singleton newborns classified as SGA at birth) ÷ (Number of live singleton newborns with a valid birth weight, gestational age and gender) × 100 Unit of Analysis: Discharges from acute care facilities |
Calculation: Geographic Assignment |
Place of residence |
Calculation: Type of Measurement |
Rate - Per 100 |
Calculation: Adjustment Applied |
None |
Calculation: Method of Adjustment |
Not applicable |
Denominator |
Description: Inclusions:
Exclusions:
|
Numerator |
Description: Inclusions:
Exclusions: |
Rationale |
SGA rates continue to vary among provinces/territories. Given this variance, this indicator can be used to inform government planners, policy-makers, health system decision-makers, health care providers, patients and the general public. It can help raise awareness and allow Canada to compare its rates with the rates of other countries. |
Interpretation |
The in-hospital SGA rate represents the proportion of singleton babies born in a Canadian hospital with a birth weight below the 10th percentile for their gestational age and sex. In other words, babies classified as SGA are smaller than 90% of the babies from a standard reference population of the same gestational age and sex. Lower rates for this indicator are desirable. |
HSP Framework Dimension |
Health System Outcomes: Improve health status of Canadians |
Areas of Need |
Not applicable |
Targets/Benchmarks |
Not applicable |
References |
Kramer MS, Platt RW, Wen SW, et al. A new and improved population-based Canadian reference for birth weight for gestational age. Pediatrics. 2001;108(2):e35. http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/108/2/e35 |
Data Sources |
DAD, HMDB, MED-ÉCHO |
Available Data Years |
Type of Year: |
Geographic Coverage |
All provinces/territories |
Reporting Level/Disaggregation |
National, Province/Territory, Region |
Update Frequency |
Every year |
Indicator Results |
Web Tool: |
Updates |
As of 2015–2016, the national results include non-residents of Canada. |
Caveats and Limitations |
In order to provide a more stable rate estimate, only data from regions with a population of at least 50,000 was reported. Additional reasons for suppression were privacy, rate instability and under-reporting. As of 2015–2016, regions are not suppressed based on population; instead, the following suppression methodology is used:
|
Trending Issues |
Results are presented for a patient's region of residence, rather than the location of the facility where hospitalization occurred. For P.E.I. and the territories, the entire province/territory is included as a region. Health regions in Nova Scotia and Alberta have changed over time. The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF/PCCF+) was used to assign patients to their region of residence. As of 2015–2016, the national results include non-residents of Canada. 2016–2017 data for Nunavut is incomplete; indicator results have therefore been suppressed. |
Comments |
Standard Canadian birth weights for gestational age by gender charts were used (M. S. Kramer et al., 2001). |