Health in Benin
Benin faces a number of population health challenges. Apart from modern medicine, traditional medicine plays a big role too.[1]
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative[2] finds that Benin is fulfilling 59.2% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.[3] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Benin achieves 77.5% of what is expected based on its current income.[4] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 81.5% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. [5] Benin falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 18.5% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.[6]
Water supply and sanitation[edit]
According to the Joint Monitoring Program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, three quarters of the Beninese population had access to an improved water source in 2008, whereas 12% had access to improved sanitation. The share rose from 63% concerning water and from 5% concerning sanitation in 1990. Coverage in urban areas is considerably higher than in rural areas.[7]
| Access to Water and Sanitation in Benin (2008)[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (41% of the population) |
Rural (59% of the population) |
Total | ||
| Water | Improved water source | 84% | 69% | 75% |
| Piped on premises | 26% | 2% | 12% | |
| Sanitation | Improved sanitation | 24% | 4% | 12% |
Wastewater treatment is extremely rare in Benin. In most cases, wastewater is not disposed appropriately. According to a 2001 national health survey, in the cities of Cotonou, Parakou and Porto-Novo, two out of 1,000 households dispose their wastewater in a correct way, while most of them discharge it directly into the nature or drains. This leads to pollution and can cause water-borne diseases like malaria and typhoid fever.[8]
Health status[edit]
Life expectancy[edit]
The 2014 CIA estimated average life expectancy in Benin was 61.07 years.[9]
Infectious diseases[edit]
On 16 March 2020, the first COVID-19 case in the country was confirmed in Porto-Novo.[10]
Maternal and child healthcare[edit]
The 2011 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Benin is 410. This is compared with 468.9 in 2008 and 587.6 in 1990. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 121 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality is 27. In Benin the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 4 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women is 1 in 43.[11]
According to a 2013 UNICEF report, 13% of women had undergone female genital mutilation.[12]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Karim Okanla. "Science-based clinic or witch doctor?". D+C,development and cooperation. Retrieved 21 December 2015.
- ^ "Human Rights Measurement Initiative – The first global initiative to track the human rights performance of countries". humanrightsmeasurement.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Benin - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Benin - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Benin - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Benin - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ a b World Health Organization; UNICEF. "Progress on Sanitation and Drinking Water. 2010 Update" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-24. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
Based on:- Enquête démographique et de santé. 2003.
- Enquête socio-anthropologique sur la fécondité et la mortalité infantile et maternelle. 2003.
- Questionnaire des indicateurs de base du bien-être. 2003.
- Recencement général de la population et des habitations. 2002.
- Bénin (2001). Enquête Démographique et de Santé.
- Bénin. Ministère du plan, de la restructuration economique et de la promotion de l'emploi. (1996). Demographic and Health Survey., p. 18
- 1992 Census as recorded in Global Water Supply and Sanitation Assessment 2000. Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Questionnaire. 1999.
- ^ Bénin (2001). Enquête Démographique et de Santé (in French)., cited in: "0,1% des ménages béninois accèdent aux équipements d'assainissement". Panapress. 2004-11-22. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
- ^ "CIA - The World Factbook Life Expectancy". Cia.gov. Archived from the original on 2018-12-29. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "More African countries confirm first coronavirus cases as Jack Ma pledges aid". Reuters. 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
- ^ "The State Of The World's Midwifery". United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ UNICEF 2013 Archived 2015-04-05 at the Wayback Machine, p. 27.