The Cameroon News

November 08, 2011

Health

Reproduction On Rise In Cameroon, Study Reveals

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As the world population is estimated at seven billion, reproduction is on the increase in Cameroon - the 2011 cluster Health and Demographic survey has revealed. The survey, conducted by the National Institute of Statistics, was presented under the supervision of the Minister of Public, Health Andre Mama Fouda, on October 31.

The study, which sampled 14 214 households, including women from 15-49 years, and men of 15-59 years, indicates that reproduction has increased from five percent in 2004 to 5.1 percent in 2011. Cameroonians have an average of five children and 66 percent of women still desire to have more children.

However, in the urban areas, the number of children is lower, four percent compared to 6.4 percent in the rural areas. This may be attributed to the increase use of modern methods of contraceptives in urban areas, which the study pegs at 14 percent. There is a shift towards the use of modern contraceptives compared to the traditional methods that accounts only for nine percent.

Though the results of HIV/AIDs would be available in four months, men are more informed about the pandemic and go for prevention in the use of condoms, more than women. Statistics indicate a slight change from 60 percent in 2004 to 62 percent in 2011, against 68 to75 percent from 2004 - 2011 for men. Interestingly, men continue to have multiple sex partners, compared to women, the survey states.

In the area of prenatal care, more women get prenatal care from trained personnel, especially in the urban areas, compared to the rural areas. More children have been vaccinated and more mothers get medication for sick children, besides a reduction in infant mortality from 80 percent in 2004 to 62 in 2011. However, malnutrition remains a major problem.


Article source The Post