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Countries

Belize

Indicator 1990/1994 2002/2004
Total population  (mid-year)  194,300  249,800
Average population growth rate   2.6  2.7
Total fertility rate  3.7 (1998) 3.4 (2001p)
% births with skilled attendants 97.3  92.2
GDP per capita US$  NA 3332
Mortality
Infant mortality per 1000 live births  21.2 (2000) 16.9
Life expectancy males  69.95 66.7
Life expectancy females 74.07 73.5
Maternal mortality ratio 41.7 56.5
Education
Primary enrollment  (net) males  84.0 (1998/99) 94.6
Primary enrollment  (net) females   86.9 (1998/99) 95.4
Secondary enrollment (net)  males 30.9 )199/99) 42.5
Secondary enrollment (net)  females 35.4 (1998/99) 47.6
Reproductive health
Births per 1000 women aged 15-19 NA 78.7
Contraceptive prevalence – 33.5 37.5
HIV prevalence rate (%) (15-24)  NA 1.57
HIV prevalence rate (%) (15-24) females } NA  2.111

Laws enacted

Children and Family Act; Sexual Harassment Act; gender policy and gender  mainstreaming policies adopted; amendment of criminal code (marital rape recognised as crime).

Policies Implemented

  • Draft Policy on Older Persons  - National Council on Ageing and Secretariat established.
  • Approval of National Health Policy which outlines reproductive health rights
  • Reproductive Health Policy passed in 2003; legal age of consent is 16 years.
  • Training of police forces; development of family violence curriculum at the University; development and implementation of MOH protocol, domestic violence surveillance; establishment of a family violence unit at the police department; establishment of a data-collection system on domestic violence.

Partnerships established

  • Expanded services of NHI; HIV/AIDS counseling; Government provision of antiretrovirals; STD clinics.
  • Belize Family Life Education: Provision of condoms and services for youth; Alliance Against AIDS: general out-reach programme; Pan American Social Marketing Organisation: condom distribution; Peace Corps: general out-reach programme
  • National AIDS Commission; PMTCT programme; Ministry of Health/NGO/Peer Education Programme; VCT; provision of increased access to medication and condoms.

 

 

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