APHRC MESSAGE ON WORLD POPULATION DAY
This year the world will mark world population day on Sunday, 11 July 2010 with the theme Everyone Counts to recognize the important role the public plays in research by participating in the census and other data collection exercises.
APHRC dedicates this day to the residents of Korogocho and Viwandani informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya who have participated in the Center’s research activities in the last 10 years. Since 2000, APHRC has been conducting research through a longitudinal platform known as the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System where demographic data is collected from over 60,000 individuals in 28,000 households 3 times a year. This data is normally analyzed and processed into information that is used to inform policy decisions, program interventions as well as for monitoring and evaluation of projects being implemented in the communities. At a past community engagement exercise, residents of Korogocho and Viwandani acknowledged the role of research in creating an understanding of various challenges facing the community and finding solutions.
On this occasion, APHRC would like to call attention to two main health challenges facing residents of the informal settlements:
1. High Maternal Deaths
According to the 2008-09 Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS), the maternal mortality rate in Kenya stands at 488/100,000 up from 414/100,000 live births (2003 KDHS). Research from APHRC shows that majority of the women dying from maternal health problems are from the informal settlements, where the maternal mortality rate is 706/100,000 live births. “The leading causes of these maternal deaths are: abortion, ante/post partum haemorrhage (bleeding), postpartum sepsis (infection), eclampsia (hypertension during pregnancy), and ruptured uterus.”
The Government of Kenya in partnership with other key stakeholders should provide the women from these communities with increased access to contraceptives so as to reduce the number of unsafe abortions. They should also provide more and better emergency maternal health care services for the women. In order to improve the country’s maternal health and make progress on MDG 4, we need to focus efforts on reducing the high maternal deaths in these communities.
2. High number of people affected by cardiovascular diseases
APHRC’s research results show that cardiovascular diseases in the informal settlements is a major health concern with 17% of the residents being diabetic or hypertensive. As an intervention measure, APHRC along with the Wellcome Trust and the World Diabetes Foundation have been providing medical care to those affected by these chronic conditions. “Before APHRC came I used to walk long distances in search of medicine. Now I get it regularly free of charge, hence I am able to manage my sugar levels,” says a diabetes patient from Viwandani. More help is needed, and the Government of Kenya needs to review health policies that limit provision of health services for diabetes and hypertension to district level hospitals and above as these deny access for the poor and marginalized communities.
######################################################################
More research publications, policy briefs and a newsletter focusing on APHRC’s data can be accessed at http://www.aphrc.org/insidepage/page.php?app=publications.
This year World Population Day highlights the importance of data for development. The focus is on the 2010 round of the population and housing census, data analysis for development and UNFPA’s lead role in population and development. http://www.unfpa.org/public/world-population-day
The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) is a regional institute that conducts policy-relevant research on population, health, and education and drives its use in policy and practice, as well as strengthens the research capacity of upcoming African scholars and institutions. APHRC runs a continuous surveillance system in two slum settlements in Nairobi to gather data on population, health and schooling indicators. For more information, visit the APHRC website: http://www.aphrc.org/
Tags: WORLD POPULATION DAY; Korogocho ; Viwandani;
Related
