Using a population health approach, this report compiles existing research to explain how the various determinants of health interact to shape healthy child development, and to depict conditions & trends relevant to the health & well-being of children & youth in Canada. The introduction provides useful background information, including basic demographic data on Canadian children & youth, an overview of the population health approach and the determinants of health, and a general description of the process of child development. The body of the report contains 11 chapters, each examining a specific determinant of health, addressing its relationship to healthy child development, summarizing current conditions & trends relevant to that determinant, and identifying how it relates to other determinants of healthy child development. The final chapter takes a broader view of the areas of concern identified in each chapter, compiling some of the key findings about the determinants of health to identify issues, opportunities, and priorities for inter-sectoral collaboration and decision-making that will improve the health & future prospects for Canada's children & youth.

This WHO's report provides a global overview of progress towards each of the health MDGs to date and identifies the challenges to be addressed if we are to meet the goals. It presents the essential elements - the strategies and inputs - that will help the international community working collectively, to tackle the health crisis facing many poor countries, and in doing so, contribute to poverty reduction.