University of Manitoba - Manitoba Centre for Health Policy
Date Written: October 16, 2014
Abstract
The PATHS Data Resource is a unique database comprising data that follow individuals from the prenatal period to adulthood. The PATHS Resource was developed for conducting longitudinal epidemiological research into child health and health equity. It contains individual-level data on health, socioeconomic status, social services and education. Individuals’ data are linkable across these domains, allowing researchers to follow children through childhood and across a variety of sectors. PATHS includes nearly all individuals that were born between 1984 and 2012 and registered with Manitoba’s universal health insurance programme at some point during childhood. All PATHS data are anonymized. Key concepts, definitions and algorithms necessary to work with the PATHS Resource are freely accessible online and an interactive forum is available to new researchers working with these data. The PATHS Resource is one of the richest and most complete databases assembled for conducting longitudinal epidemiological research, incorporating many variables that address the social determinants of health and health equity.
Nickel, Nathan and Chateau, Dan and Martens, Patricia and Brownell, Marni D. and Katz, Alan and Burland, Elaine and Walld, Randy and Hu, Ming Ming and Taylor, Carole and Sarkar, Joykrishna and Goh, Chun Yan, Data Resource Profile: Pathways to Health and Social Equity for Children (PATHS Equity for Children) (October 16, 2014). International Journal of Epidemiology, 2014, p.1438–1449. doi: 10.1093/ije/dyu190, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2510680