Health in Zambia
The African country of Zambia faces a number of ongoing health challenges.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) provides information pertaining to Zambian health. The 2014 CIA estimated average life expectancy in Zambia was 51.83 years.[1] UNESCO estimated it to be 61.8 years in 2015.[2]
Water supply and sanitation
In 2010, 61% of the population of Zambia had access to an improved water source and 48% had access to adequate sanitation, according to UN data.[3]
87% of urban areas had access to an improved source of water supply. In urban areas, 41% have access to water connections in their house or yard and 49% rely on water kiosks and standpipes. The share of those with access to house connections has actually declined, while the share of those served by kiosks has increased.[3]
Water supply in urban areas is intermittent, with an average supply of 16 hours per day in 2010.[4] Concerning sanitation, 29% of the urban population are connected to sewers and 30% are served by septic tanks or improved household-level latrines. While these figures are low, they are actually higher than the average access in Sub-Saharan Africa.[3] In rural areas, 46% of the population had access to an improved water source in 2010.[3] 43% of the rural population had access to adequate sanitation in 2010.[3]
International support
Since 2010, the Zambia UK Health Workforce Alliance has promoted global cooperation to support health in Zambia through the global forum HIFA-Zambia (Healthcare Information For All).
Health status
Life expectancy
The 2014 CIA estimated average life expectancy in Zambia was 51.83 years, with men having a life expectancy of 50.24 years and women 53.45 years.[5]
HIV/AIDS epidemic
Zambia faces a generalized HIV epidemic, with an estimated prevalence rate of 13.5% among adults (ages 15–49) in 2009,[6] remaining relatively constant through 2014 at 13.3%.[7] HIV incidence in Zambia has declined by more than 25% from 2001 to 2010, an indication that the epidemic appears to be declining.[8] The HIV incidence is measured using a proxy,[9] which the prevalence of HIV in the age 15-24 year and the prevalence in this age group was 6.6% in 2014[7]
Attainment of MDG on HIV
The Millennium Development Goal target for HIV was to keep HIV prevalence below 15% and it has been meet.[10]
Maternal and child healthcare
The 2010 maternal mortality rate was 470 per 100,000 births in Zambia. This is compared with 602.9 in 2008 and 594.2 in 1990. The under-5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 145 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under-5's mortality is 25. In Zambia, the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 5 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women is 1 in 38.[11]
Zambia may not attain its goals for reducing the Maternal Mortality ratio to 162/100,000 live births. For Under-5 Mortality rate and infant Mortality rate, the target are 63.3 and 35.7, respectively.[7] In 2014, the Maternal Mortality ratio was 389 with Under-5 mortality rate being 75 and Infant mortality rate 45. Additionally, the percentage of 1-year-old children immunized against measles is 84.9%.[7]
The 2010 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Zambia is 470. This is compared with 602.9 in 2008 and 594.2 in 1990. The under-5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 145 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality is 25.
In Zambia the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 5 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women is 1 in 38.[12] Female genital mutilation (FGM), while not widespread, is practiced in parts of the country. According to the 2009 Zambia Sexual Behaviour Survey, 0.7% of women have undergone FGM.[13] According to UNICEF, 45% of children under five years are stunted.[14]
The government has made attempts to address women's health concerns and provide policies that give women greater opportunities in political life in the 2010s. A 2017 law established "Mother's Day" which allows every Zambian one day off from work per month to ease menstrual pain.[15]
Malaria
Malaria is the number one cause of hospitalization in Zambia and a major cause of morbidity and mortality, with pregnant women and young children at heightened risk.[16] In 2016 there were over 4.8 million cases of malaria reported.[16] Malaria occurs year-round, with the peak during the rainy season from November to April.[16] Although the four main malaria parasite species are present in Zambia, Plasmodium falciparum accounts for 98% of all infections.[16]
Malaria prevalence as reported by the Malaria Indicators Surveys decreased from 21.8% in 2006 to 14.9% in 2012.[17] According to the Zambia Demographic and Health Survey, the percentage of children sleeping under insecticide-treated nets has increased from 6.5% in 2001/2 to 40.6% in 2014.[7] In April 2017, Zambia launched its National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan.[16] This plan involves a two-pronged approach, targeting different areas based on transmission levels.[16] For districts with more than 50 cases per 1,000 people, the focus is on reducing burden and health systems strengthening.[16] In districts with fewer than 50 cases per 1,000 people, the key intervention focuses on surveillance.[16]
See also
References
- ^ "CIA – The World Factbook Life Expectancy". Cia.gov. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
- ^ "WHO - World Health Statistics 2016: Monitoring health for the SDGs". Who.int. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme: www.wssinfo.org". wssinfo.org. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ NWASCO. "Urban and Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Report 2010/11" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 27 August 2011.
- ^ "CIA - The World Factbook Life Expectancy". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
- ^ "The World Factbook". cia.gov. Retrieved 26 May 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d e "Zambia Demographic Health Survey 2013-2014". Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[1] - ^ "UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011" (PDF). UNAIDS.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ Ghys, P D (1 April 2006). "Measuring trends in prevalence and incidence of HIV infection in countries with generalised epidemics". Sexually Transmitted Infections. 82 (suppl_1): i52–i56. doi:10.1136/sti.2005.016428. PMC 2593065. PMID 16581761.
- ^ "Millennium Development Goals" (PDF). Retrieved 3 Sep 2015.
- ^ "The State of the World's Midwifery 2014" (PDF). United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The State of the World's Midwifery" (PDF). United Nations Population Fund.
- ^ Zambia Sexual Behaviour Survey 2009 Archived 29 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. zamstats.gov.zm
- ^ Zambia. Nutrition. UNICEF
- ^ Chutel, Lynsey (4 February 2017). "Women in Zambia Are Getting an Extra Day Off per Month for Period Pain". Quartz.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Zambia" (PDF). President's Malaria Initiative. 2018.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Zambia National Malaria Indicator Survey 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
