Publication: Achieving MDGs 4 and 5: Egypt's Progress on Maternal and Child Health
Loading...
Files in English
365 downloads
Published
2014-08
ISSN
Date
2015-08-31
Editor(s)
Abstract
Egypt is a lower-middle-income country with a GNI per capita (PPP) of US$ 5,654 in 2012. Since the Arab Spring, Egypt s economic growth has slowed to 0.6 percent in 2012. Half of Egypt s 82.54 million people live in rural areas. Poverty is concentrated in Upper Egypt (the southern region). As of 2009, 43.7 percent of Upper Egypt s rural population was living in poverty. Egypt has made considerable progress in improving maternal and child health. According to interagency estimates, child mortality declined from 86 to 21 deaths per 1,000 live births between 1990 and 2012 a 75.4 percent drop, that exceeds Egypt s target for MDG 4. Egypt also successfully reduced neonatal mortality by 65 percent during the same period. Egypt s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 120 to 45 deaths per 100,000 live births between 1990 and 2013 a 62 percent decrease, also exceeding its MDG 5 target. However, recent political events in the country bring into question the long-term sustainability of gains if conditions do not improve. This note explores the actions Egypt has taken to reduce child and maternal mortality, with a focus on policies and programs.
Link to Data Set
Citation
“Sarker, Intissar; Saadat, Seemeen; Cortez, Rafael; Hamed Abdel-Hamid, Alaa Mahmoud. 2014. Achieving MDGs 4 and 5: Egypt's Progress on Maternal and Child Health. Health, nutrition and population global
practice knowledge brief;. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/22572 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
Digital Object Identifier
Associated URLs
Associated content
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue
Collections
Related items
Showing items related by metadata.
Publication Maternal and Child Survival : Findings from Five Countries Experience in Addressing Maternal and Child Health Challenges(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-05)Considerable progress has been made towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) since 1990. Although advances in improving MDG 4 and MDG 5a (reducing child and maternal mortality, respectively) have been made, progress is some countries have been insufficient. While some countries have made substantial gains, others have not. This paper is part of a larger study that aims to address this gap in knowledge. The paper discusses the findings from qualitative case studies of five countries that are either on track to meet MDGs 4 and 5a by 2015 or have made significant progress to this end (Bolivia, China, Egypt, Malawi and Nepal). Although they have different socio-economic characteristics, all have made significant advancements due to a strong commitment to improving maternal and child health. To do this, strong political commitment, through policies backed by financial and programmatic support, was critical. In addition, focusing on the most vulnerable populations helped increase access to and use of services. Empowering women and families through education, employment, and poverty reduction programs have led to better health outcomes. These countries still face challenges, however, in terms of the evolving health system, and changes at the economic, social and political levels. Future qualitative and quantitative analyses on the returns of health investments, the political context and institutional arrangements at the country level could help deepen the understanding of the ways in which various countries, with their unique conditions, can improve MCH.Publication Challenges for Adolescent's Sexual and Reproductive Health within the Context of Universal Health Coverage(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2014-10)Young people (10-24 years of age), around the world face tremendous challenges to meeting their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. Inadequate access to health information and services, as well as inequitable gender norms, contributes to a lack of knowledge and awareness about puberty, sexuality, and basic human rights. This can have serious implications on young people s health and welfare as well economic development and poverty reduction. Given the importance of ASRH within the context of development as well as the paucity of data on the issue, the WBG conducted a global analysis and country case studies in order to: (i) gain a deeper understanding of the multi-sectoral determinants of ASRH outcomes; (ii) explore further the multi-sectoral supply and demand-side determinants of access, utilization, and provision of services relevant to identified ASRH outcomes; and (iii) identify multi-sectoral programmatic and policy options to address critical constraints to improving ASRH outcomes that can inform WBG lending operations and policy dialogue.Publication Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2015-03)Nigeria is the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. It also has a very young population. The majority of the population is below the age of 25 years, with 22 percent of the country s population between the ages of 10-19 years. Data on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes in Nigeria highlight the importance of focusing on adolescents. At 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Nigeria accounts for roughly 14 percent of the global burden of maternal mortality (DHS 2013/WHO 2014). Global evidence shows that young girls bear a higher burden of maternal mortality and morbidity. Data show that the average age at sexual debut is roughly 15 years of age among adolescent mothers in Nigeria (DHS 2003, 2008, 2013). This note presents the findings of a recent study on Nigeria that examines determinants of adolescent sexual behavior and fertility, with a narrower focus on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents aged 10-19 years old in Karu Local Government Authority (LGA), a peri-urban area near the capital city of Abuja.Publication Adolescent Fertility and Sexual Health in Nigeria(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2016-01)This study examines the determinants of adolescent sexual behavior and fertility in Nigeria, with a special focus on knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of adolescents aged 10-19 years old in Karu Local Government Authority (LGA), a peri-urban area near the capital city of Abuja. Using the last three waves of Demographic and Health Surveys (2003, 2008, 2013), focus group discussions, stakeholder interviews, and a specialized survey of 643 girls and boys aged 10-19 years old in Karu LGA, the study narrows in on key challenges to and opportunities for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The national median age at sexual debut for adolescent girls and boys is between 15 and 16 years of age. This is closely emulated in Karu LGA with a median age of 14.8 years for girls and 15.3 years for boys. While data on pregnancies was limited in the Karu sample, DHS data show that for girls, sexual debut is closely associated with marriage or cohabitation, which in turn is a strong predictor of adolescent fertility. Poverty is another strong predictor, with the odds of becoming pregnant being twice as high for adolescents in the lower wealth quintiles compared to their counterparts in the richest quintile in the country. While adolescents’ knowledge of contraception has increased from under 10 percent to over 30 percent, use of health services among adolescents for SRH (and contraception) is limited due to factors such as fear of stigma, embarrassment, and poor access to services, something also emphasized in focus group discussions. Challenges for improving adolescent SRH outcomes relate to: (i) the paucity of data, especially on the 10-14 year olds; (ii) availability and access to youth-friendly services and the Family Life and HIV Education (FLHE); (iii) reaching out-of-school adolescents with SRH information; and (iv) addressing ambiguities and gaps in Federal law and customs on age at marriage, and generating support for the legal age at marriage of at least 18 years old. Addressing these barriers at the State and sub-regional levels is going to be critical in improving adolescent well-being.Publication Equity, Access to Health Care Services and Expenditures on Health in Nicaragua(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2008-06)Nicaragua has embarked on an ambitious health sector program, which has contributed to significant progress in the health sector over the past decade. Health indicators show gradual but steady improvements: access to basic services such as clean water and sanitation facilities has improved, as have other related performance indicators such as life expectancy, infant/child mortality, immunization rates, and child nutrition among others. Despite these achievements, there are still large inequities in access and quality of health services across socioeconomic groups and regions. Poor individuals living in rural areas (especially in the Central and Atlantic regions), the indigenous population, and individuals living in households engaged in agriculture have average access to health care services and preventive care. The lack of risk mitigation mechanisms such as insurance and social security is causing users in Nicaragua to spend, out-of-pocket, a significant share of their income on health care, especially to buy medications and other non-consultation items such as medical tests. Long distances, lack of medicines, and high costs and other demand-side factors (such as self-prescription) constitute the main constraints causing poor and sick individuals to seek informal care or not to seek care at all.
Users also downloaded
Showing related downloaded files
Publication Recipe for a Livable Planet(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-09-20)The global agrifood system has been largely overlooked in the fight against climate change. Yet, greenhouse gas emissions from the agrifood system are so big that they alone could cause the world to miss the goal of keeping global average temperatures from rising above 1.5 centigrade compared to preindustrial levels. Greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood must be cut to net zero by 2050 to achieve this goal. Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agrifood System offers the first comprehensive global strategic framework to mitigate the agrifood system’s contributions to climate change, detailing affordable and readily available measures that can cut nearly a third of the world’s planet heating emissions while ensuring global food security. These actions, which are urgently needed, offer three additional benefits: improving food supply reliability, strengthening the global food system’s resilience to climate change, and safeguarding vulnerable populations. This practical guide outlines global actions and specific steps that countries at all income levels can take starting now, focusing on six key areas: investments, incentives, information, innovation, institutions, and inclusion. Calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, citizens, and international organizations, it maps a pathway to making agrifood a significant contributor to addressing climate change and healing the planet.Publication Data Transparency and GDP Growth Forecast Errors(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2023-04-19)This paper examines the role of a country’s data transparency in explaining gross domestic product growth forecast errors. It reports four sets of results that have not been previously reported in the existing literature. First, forecast errors—the difference between forecasted and realized gross domestic product growth—are large. Globally, between 2010 and 2020, the average same-year forecast error was 1.3 percentage points for the World Bank’s forecasts published in January of each year, and 1.5 percentage points for the International Monetary Fund’s January forecasts. Second, the Middle East and North Africa region has the largest forecast errors compared to other regions. Third, data capacity and transparency significantly explain forecast errors. On average, an improvement in a country’s Statistical Capacity Index, a measure of data capacity and transparency, is associated with a decline in absolute forecast errors. A one standard deviation increase in the log of the Statistical Capacity Index is associated with a decline in absolute forecast errors by 0.44 percentage point for World Bank forecasts and 0.49 percentage point for International Monetary Fund forecasts. The results are robust to a battery of control variables and robustness checks. Fourth, the role of the overall data ecosystem, not just those elements related to gross domestic product growth forecasting, is important for the accuracy of gross domestic product growth forecasts. Finally, gross domestic product growth forecasts from the World Bank are more accurate and less optimistic than those from the International Monetary Fund and the private sector.Publication Bulgaria(World Bank, Washington, DC, 2020-09)Bulgaria has achieved impressive economic performance over the last two decades. Nevertheless, recent growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and productivity has slowed since the global financial crisis, and the country faces medium- to long-term labor shortages and skills mismatches driven by an aging population and high emigration rates. Maintaining income growth in the face of these challenges will require boosting productivity, and a key step to increase productivity is to strengthen Bulgaria’s science, technology and innovation (STI) performance, which ranks among the worst in the European Union (EU) across multiple indicators. A review of STI policies is critical in preparation for the next EU programing period to ensure that the expected increase in resources to support research and innovation is used effectively. This report provides a comprehensive assessment of the country’s research and innovation needs and an original analysis of the policies devoted to supporting STI in Bulgaria, including nearly all national-level STI-related policy instruments.Publication The Legal and Regulatory Framework for Microfinance in Iraq(Washington, DC, 2014-10)Over the past few years, Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Iraq have emerged as credible sources of financing for low-income households and entrepreneurs, both underserved by conventional banks. Microfinance services in Iraq, however, are still nascent and far from meeting their full potential. Similar to many countries in the MENA region, MFIs in Iraq were set up as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supported by a steady influx of donor funding. While these NGOs were initially able to grow through donor support, they are now struggling to meet increasing client demand as donor resources have dwindled, preventing them from making the necessary investments in capital and infrastructure to meet growing client demand. Many countries address this funding challenge by allowing institutions to provide financial services as companies or banks, helping them raise capital, provide new services, and increase their outreach in a sustainable manner. A similar path could be envisioned in Iraq, but is currently obstructed by regulatory hurdles. This diagnostic report aims to present and assess the current microfinance landscape in Iraq, including the legal and regulatory framework, recommend policy improvements to enhance the sustainability and operating environment for MFIs and their clients. This report argues that the current legal and regulatory environment for microfinance in Iraq hinders the growth and sustainability of the sector and furthermore advocates several short and medium term policy recommendations to enhance the overall operating environment for MFIs, the sustainability of the sector, and impact for clients.Publication Digital Africa(Washington, DC: World Bank, 2023-03-13)All African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations. "Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs" shows that broader use of productivity-enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and households is imperative to generate such jobs, including for lower-skilled people. At the same time, it can support not only countries’ short-term objective of postpandemic economic recovery but also their vision of economic transformation with more inclusive growth. These outcomes are not automatic, however. Mobile internet availability has increased throughout the continent in recent years, but Africa’s uptake gap is the highest in the world. Areas with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 22 percent uses such services. And the average African business lags in the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that catalyze further productivity gains. Two issues explain the usage gap: affordability of these new technologies and willingness to use them. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone would cost one-third of their incomes—in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data plans for small- and medium-size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions. Moreover, shortcomings in the quality of internet services—and in the supply of attractive, skills-appropriate apps that promote entrepreneurship and raise earnings—dampen people’s willingness to use them. For those countries already using these technologies, the development payoffs are significant. New empirical studies for this report add to the rapidly growing evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and reduces poverty throughout Africa. To realize these and other benefits more widely, Africa’s countries must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies to strengthen both consumers’ ability to pay and willingness to use digital technologies. These interventions must prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit from a massive, youthful workforce—one projected to become the world’s largest by the end of this century.