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

Further information: Water supply and sanitation in Zambia

Access to improved water supply and sanitation, in 7 Sub-Saharan countries, from 1990 until 2008.[3]

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

Further information: HIV/AIDS in Zambia

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

Further information: Millennium Development Goals

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

• Healthcare in Zambia

References

1. "CIA – The World Factbook Life Expectancy". Cia.gov. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
2. "WHO - World Health Statistics 2016: Monitoring health for the SDGs". Who.int. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
3. "WHO / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme: www.wssinfo.org". wssinfo.org. Archived from the original on 16 February 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
4. 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.
5. "CIA - The World Factbook Life Expectancy". Cia.gov. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
6. "The World Factbook". cia.gov. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
7. "Zambia Demographic Health Survey 2013-2014". Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
8. "UNAIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011" (PDF). UNAIDS. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
9. 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.
10. "Millennium Development Goals" (PDF). Retrieved 3 Sep 2015.
11. "The State of the World's Midwifery 2014" (PDF). United Nations Population Fund. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
12. "The State of the World's Midwifery" (PDF). United Nations Population Fund.
13. Zambia Sexual Behaviour Survey 2009 Archived 29 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine. zamstats.gov.zm
14. Zambia. Nutrition. UNICEF
15. Chutel, Lynsey (4 February 2017). "Women in Zambia Are Getting an Extra Day Off per Month for Period Pain". Quartz.
16. "Zambia" (PDF). President's Malaria Initiative. 2018. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
17. "Zambia National Malaria Indicator Survey 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 27, 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2020.