Health: Afghanistan: Health Minister Calls AIDS Epidemic 'Serious And Alarming' Challenge

Friday, January 18, 2008

Afghanistan: Health Minister Calls AIDS Epidemic 'Serious And Alarming' Challenge

August 22, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Afghanistan's Health Ministry announced on August 2 that HIV infections have increased fourfold in that country in the past six months. Official figures show 75 cases recorded this year, but international groups estimate that the real HIV-positive rate is higher. RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan broadcaster Mustafa Sarwar discussed the Afghan AIDS epidemic with Health Minister Mohammad Amin Fatemi.

Afghanistan Basic Health and Demographic Indicators

Indicators
Under-5 mortality rate (2006)	191
Infant mortality rate (under 1) (2006)	129
Total population (2004)	28,574,000
Life expectancy at birth (years) (2004)	46
Vitamin A supplementation coverage rate (6-59 months) (2003)	86
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities (2002)(total)	8
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities (2002)(urban)	16
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities (2002)(rural)	5
Immunization 2004: 1-year-old children immunized against: Tuberculosis (TB) (BCG)	78
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities (2002) (total)	8
Immunization 2004: 1-year-old children immunized against: Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT1)	80
% of population using adequate sanitation facilities (2002) (total)	8
Immunization 2004: 1-year-old children immunized against: Diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT3)	66
Immunization 2004: 1-year-old children immunized against: Polio (polio3)	66
Immunization 2004: 1-year-old children immunized against: Measles (measles)	61
Immunization 2004: pregnant women tetanus	35
Population (thousands), 2004, under 5	5,329
Crude death rate, 2004	19
Crude birth rate, 2004	49
Life expectancy, 2004	46
Total fertility rate, 2004	7.4
Average annual growth rate of urban population (%), 1990-2004	6.7
Contraceptive prevalence (%), 1996-2004	10
Antenatal care coverage (%), 1996-2004	16
Skilled attendant at delivery (%), 1996-2004	14
Maternal mortality ratio , 1990 - 2004, reported	1600
Maternal mortality ratio, 2000, adjusted	1900

Source: www.unicef.org

Health Indicators Definitions

Rate: "A rate is a measure of some event, disease, or condition in relation to a unit of population, along with some specification of time."
birth rate: "is calculated by dividing the number of live births in a population in a year by the midyear resident population. Birth rates are expressed as the number of live births per 1,000 population."
death rate: "is calculated by dividing the number of deaths in a population in a year by the midyear resident population. Death rates are expressed as the number of deaths per 100,000."
infant mortality rate: "is calculated by dividing the number of infant deaths during a calendar year by the number of live births reported in the same year. It is expressed as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births."
neonatal mortality rate: "is the number of deaths of children under 28 days of age, per 1,000 live births."
Maternal mortality rate: "is defined as the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. The maternal mortality rate is a measure of the likelihood that a pregnant woman will die from maternal causes. The number of live births used in the denominator is a proxy for the population of pregnant women who are at risk of a maternal death." Source: www.cdc.gov