Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY)

Detailed information for 2024

The Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) aims to provide important insights on the health and well-being of Canadian children and youth. The survey covers various topics such as mental health, access to a regular health care provider and care needs. The CHSCY also collects information on long-term conditions and substance use. Selected respondents have an opportunity to share their experiences and perceptions in complete confidentiality.

The information collected will provide a better understanding of children and youth health care needs and will be used to measure how health care is delivered across Canada. The data collected will also help policymakers and health researchers monitor Canadian children's health over time.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The main objectives of the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth are to:

- Offer young people the opportunity to share their experiences, in complete confidentiality, to reflect a true picture of what affects their health and well-being today;
- Provide insights on issues impacting the physical and mental health of children and youth;
- Monitor health trends based on sociodemographic information;
- Support health surveillance programs by providing health data at the national, provincial, and territorial levels;
- Allow researchers from various fields to use the data to conduct research into the various factors that affect the health and well-being of children and youth in Canada.

The data collected will be used by Statistics Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, provincial and territorial ministries of Health, as well as by other federal and provincial departments.

The information collected from respondents will be used to monitor, plan, implement and evaluate programs to improve the health of Canadian children and youth. Researchers from various fields are also interested in the survey data and will use the information to conduct research into the various factors that affect the health and well-being of children and youth in Canada.

Subjects

• Children and youth
• Health
• Health and well-being (youth)
• Health care services
• Risk behaviours

Data sources and methodology

Target population

To produce annual estimates, the 2024 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) covers the population aged 1 to 17 years as of August 31, 2024, living in the 10 provinces and 3 territories. Excluded from the survey's coverage are children and youth living on First Nation reserves and other Indigenous settlements in the provinces, children and youth living in foster homes and the institutionalized population.

Instrument design

The survey content was developed based on consultations across Canada with key experts and federal and provincial stakeholders. The goal of the consultations was to provide advice to Statistics Canada on what survey content would be relevant for programs and policies and to fill data gaps related to children and youth.

Qualitative testing by Statistics Canada's Questionnaire Design Resource Centre, using face-to-face interviews and focus groups, was conducted in December 2023 and March 2024.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

The sampling units are children and youth aged 1 to 17 years as of August 31st, 2024.

Sample size and allocation
The sample consists of a random sample of units selected from each geography and age group stratum. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) file was used as the frame.

The sample size is 63,000 raw units (60,000 in the provinces and 3,000 in the territories).

Sample design
The sample is stratified by province/territories and by three age groups: children aged 1 to 4 years old, children aged 5 to 11 years old, and youth aged 12 to 17 years old.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2024-10-01 to 2025-02-02

Responding to this survey is voluntary.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Respondents are given an opportunity to complete the questionnaire online using an electronic questionnaire. The survey includes a questionnaire to be completed by the parents or legal guardians of the children, as well as a questionnaire for the children themselves, for those aged 12 to 17. If an electronic questionnaire is not completed in the first month of collection, a Statistics Canada interviewer will call and ask the respondent to complete the questionnaire over the telephone. In the territories, interviews in regions outside the capital cities will be conducted using computer-assisted personal interviewing.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .