Recent trends in child health and survival in Zimbabwe.

Abstract

According to the 1982 population census, 92,000 persons died in Zimbabwe that year. 39% were children below 15 years of age, 34% were under 5 years old, and 26% were under 1 year. Reliable information on child mortality (1-4 years) is difficult to obtain and estimates range from 7.4-11/1000. In 1979, pre-independence, this was estimated at 12-15/1000. The main causes for infant and child mortality include low birth-weight and associated perinatal problems, diarrheal diseases, nutrition-related diseases, pneumonia, measles, tetanus, and meningitis. In 1982, only 25% of 1 year old children outside the 3 major cities were fully immunized in Zimbabwe. By 1984, immunization coverage was raised to 42% of 1 year olds in non-urban communities. The survey of 1982 showed that 8.2% of urban and 17.7% of rural children suffered from moderate to severe malnutrition. Recent preliminary results of the Nutrition Survey of 1984 reveal that 23.8% of children under 5 years suffered from moderate to severe malnutrition. In 1984, 89% of mothers in a sample had received antenatal care (against 73% in 1982) and 67% had delivered their babies in a health facility (as against 49% in 1982). Diarrheal diseases constitute a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe. Incidence rate is estimated at 4.38episodes/year for each child under 5 years, with an associated estimated mortality of 4.23/1000, representing 27% of all deaths of children under 5 years. 84% of sampled mothers in 1984 knew of oral rehydration therapy (ORT), as compared to 45% in 1982, however only 59% had actually used oral rehydration solution. Significant progress has been acheived in 5 years since independence in addressing some major health problems that affect the survival of children in Zimbabwe.