Health in Yemen

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HEALTH IN YEMEN

Determinants of Health in Yemen

INTERYem can only work in Yemen by acknowledging the determinants of healthcare already present. Although we would like ultimately to see these improved, until that time we must work within the given context. As such, it is important that we outline what these determinants of health are.

Demographic information

Yemen is estimated to have a population of over 24 million and a total fertility rate of almost 4.5 children per woman; under current projections, the population is set to more than double within 30 years. Almost half the population is under 18 years of age. Urban centres have seen dramatic rises in population; the population of the capital city Sana’a has increased exponentially from about 50,000 in the late 1970’s to over a million today. The rapid rise in population has contributed to the strains on the health system.

Economy

Unemployment

Yemen has an official unemployment rate of almost 40%;

Natural Resources

Oil, the main natural resource, is far less plentiful than in Yemen’s northern Gulf Cooperation Council neighbours; oil is forecast to run out in less than a decade. Although other natural resources, such as liquefied natural gas, have been identified as potentially significant sources of income, they are unlikely to replace oil in the extent of the remittances they generate.

Corruption

Yemen’s economy and society has been marred by corruption, with Yemen being listed as the 18th most corrupt country in the world.

Agriculture

Agriculture provides the mainstay for employment in Yemen, which remains a mainly agrarian society. For centuries, Yemeni farmers produced, and indeed exported, crops as diverse as coffee and mangoes. However, the increasing cultivation of qat (a mildly narcotic leaf that is chewed for its stimulating effect) has posed a variety of challenges to Yemen

01 Education

Education continues to be a factor in Yemen’s slow economic growth. However, the growth in school enrolment in primary

Education has been significant, increasing to 87% in 2004 from 73% in 1994 (from 28% to 63% for girls), which is higher other among low-income countries. Low uptake of education leads to lower levels of health awareness and perpetuates negative health outcomes.

02 Food and nutrition

Approximately 46% of children under five years remain undernourished (and about one third of the population as a whole). As a result, inadequate growth remains a huge concern: over half of children under five years of age suffer from stunting, over 15% are severely underweight and over 12% suffer from wasting; these figures are even worse for children living in rural areas. The consequent health effects of poor nutrition have life-long effects

03 Environmental health

Yemen faces on-going water scarcity; the per capita supply of water is about 2% of the world average, and even then only 43% of the population can claim access to safe drinking water. The problems of water shortage are exacerbated by the widespread cultivation of qat, which consumes huge amounts of water and diverts water usage away from households and other farming activities. Water scarcity is projected to become worse as the population grows, demand per capita grows, and effects of climate change take hold.

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