Via New Vision: Uganda's health indicators improve. This is an informative (and disturbing) overview of public health, quite apart from big-news stories like Ebola and cholera. Excerpt:
Under early childhood mortality, the survey indicates that the under-five mortality rate has registered a decline from 158 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2001, to 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2011. Also, infant mortality has declined from 89 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2001, and is now standing at 54 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Also, neonatal mortality has declined from 33 deaths per 1,000 live births, to 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. However, childhood mortality is generally higher among children of women with low education and children from poor households.
Also, child mortality is highest among children who are born less than two years after a previous birth, and those born to mothers below 20 years of age.
Also, the report shows that there has been an increase in immunization coverage of children aged between 12-23 months against the common killer diseases such polio, tuberculosis, measles, tetanus, diphtheria. In 2001, immunization coverage stood at 37 percent, and has risen to 52 percent in 2011, according to the latest UDHS.
Also, the survey reveals that exclusive breastfeeding has improved from an average duration of 3 months in 2006, up to an average of 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding in 2011. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for babies in the first six months of life because breast milk contains all nutrients that a baby needs.
However, the nutrition status of children shows a decline, with the number of stunted and wasted children in the country, recording an increase, compared to previous years.
For instance, the number of stunted children increased from 39 percent in 2001, to 47 percent in 2011. Also, the percentage of wasted children rose from 4 percent in 2001, to 7 percent in 2011. However the number of underweight children dropped from 23 percent in 2001, to 17 percent in 2011.
Also, the prevalence of anemia in children dropped from 73 percent in 2006, to 49 percent in 2011.
