High Mortality Rate of Zambia

High Mortality Rate of Zambia

Introduction

Gaining independence from the British rule in the year 1962, Zambia is a landlocked country which covers an area of 752612 square kilometers. With an estimated population of 13,257 million, the country has an annual growth rate of 2.9 percent, which is nearly divided equally amongst its male and female population. However, Zambia is listed among the African countries where a high rate of fertility prevails, which is approximated to be 6.2. Also, with 47% of its total population is comprised of young children who are under the age of 15 years, which on the whole has resulted in its high ratio of dependency. According to measured statistics, in the year 2006, eight percent of Zambia's population used to live in urban areas, which makes it stand among the few most urbanized countries of the African continent.

Since its independence, the African country of Zambia has maintained a peaceful market-oriented economy with a multiparty democracy system of Government. Over the years, tremendous amounts of efforts have been put in for the enhancement of the social and economic conditions of the region. In the past few years, a significant amount of growth has been observed particularly in the economic sector, with its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) almost doubling from approximately 3.6 percent in 2000 to 6.3 percent by 2008. Despite though, to date, almost two-thirds of its entire population manages to survive on less than 1.25 US dollar per day. A larger proportion of the youth population of the country provides hopeful opportunities to the nation for enhancing its improved growth rate and an overall reduction in its high rate of poverty. Nonetheless, for availing this opportunity successfully, it is essential for the government to provide for the human capital formation of its youth. This is particularly essential in the context of the slow rate of growth rate, which is supposed to be resulting because of global recession along with the Zambia's persistent exposure to high unpredictability in the commodity prices (United Nations Statistics Division, 2011).

Complications Related to Health and Development in Zambia

Over the years, the presence of immense burden of preventable and treatable diseases has contributed to the elevation of morbidity and mortality rates. This on the whole has resulted in a negative effect on Zambia's social and economic development. It has been observed that no significant improvements in the various health indicators have been brought about since the year 1980. The life expectancy at birth was around 50.4 and 52.5 years for males and females, respectively, in the year 1980, whereas, by the year 2007, it decreased to became 45 years for males and 47 years for females (Millennium Development Goals, 2013).

Owing to the decreasing life expectancy at birth and a heightened level of fatality rate, it has become essentiality important for the nation to encourage gender equality along with the empowerment of women, for improving their reproductive health. Research has shown that reproductive health outcomes tend to improve if a woman is provided with the right ...