Event Details

PHO Rounds: Ontario Marginalization Index Updates and Products

The Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg) is widely used in research and population health assessment to understand how area-based marginalization drives health inequities at the neighbourhood-level. The MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Unity Health Toronto and Public Health Ontario (PHO) have recently updated ON-Marg using data from the 2021 census. While this version contains the same dimensions as previous iterations, it does use new dimension names informed through consultations with community partners.

To facilitate the use of ON-Marg, PHO has developed a new ON-Marg map to allow public health stakeholders to easily explore the geographical distribution of marginalization in Ontario. This presentation will discuss the 2021 update of ON-Marg, and examine some best practices for using ON-Marg to study health inequities. Additionally, a demonstration of the ON-Marg map will showcase how ON-Marg can facilitate discussions about understanding and addressing inequities related to marginalization among populations in Ontario.

Intended audience: Public Health Staff working in surveillance and planning, epidemiologists, Ontario Health staff working in surveillance and planning, students and researchers. Public health leadership.

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe ON-Marg, including the changes to the 2021 version, and how it can be used to study health inequities
• Explain why the development of the Ontario Marginalization Index is important to the practice of public health in Ontario
• Use PHO’s ON-Marg Map to explore the geographic distribution of marginalization in Ontario and apply it to their own public health practice

Presenter(s): Dr. Flora I. Matheson, Trevor van Ingen, Steven Johnson

Dr. Flora I. Matheson, PhD, is a Scientist and Sociologist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, who explores gender-based inequities in health among people experiencing complex health and social needs along two priority areas: problem gambling, poverty and homelessness; and traumatic brain injury and criminal justice involvement.

Trevor van Ingen, MPH, is an Epidemiologist Lead in the Informatics Department at Public Health Ontario whose work focuses on advancing the reporting systems for population health inequities, including the development of updates to the Ontario Marginalization Index.

Steven Johnson is a Senior Geospatial Analyst on the Analytic Services team at Public Health Ontario (PHO). He works closely with PHO program areas and external stakeholders in the areas of spatial data creation and management, supporting infrastructure, spatial analysis, and dissemination of spatial products using both desktop and cloud-based dynamic visualization technologies.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Accreditation

Public Health Ontario Rounds are a self-approved group learning activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). In order to receive written documentation for Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits, please check “Yes” beside the question “Do you require CME credits?” on the registration form.

College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) Affiliate Members may count RCPSC credits toward their Mainpro+ credit requirements. All other CFPC members may claim up to 50 Certified credits per cycle for participation in RCPSC MOC Section 1 accredited activities.

PHO Rounds are also approved by the Council of Professional Experience for professional development hours (PDHs) for members of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI).

For more information or for a record of registration for other Continuing Education purposes, please contact capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Accessibility

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.