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2. TRENDS IN SOCIOECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
2.1 Economic
trends
There has
been a slow but steady increase in GDP
per capita from US $ 217 in 1991 to US $ 445 in 2005. The annual growth rate
of the GNP at constant market prices increased from 3.56 percent in 1991 to
5.5 percent in 2002. With the increase in population, the overall public
financing for health remains the same (National Accounts Statistics, July
2004).
About
one-half of the total population is poor, with the same picture seen in both
urban and rural areas. Income generating schemes are being financed by the
Government to make the poor more self-reliant.
The human
development in Bangladesh
is slow and steady as value of Human Development Index (HDI) has increased from 0.417 in 1990 to 0.530 in
2004, ranking the country at 137 among 177 countries. However, in terms of
gender development, Bangladesh
ranks at 102 among 177 countries, with Gender-related Development Index (GDI) value of 0.524 (Human Development Report,
2006).
In Bangladesh,
36 percent population is living with a per capita income below US $ 1 a
day.
Related Links
Ministry of
Finance
World Bank
HDI
UNESCAP
2.2 Demographic trends
The total
population of Bangladesh
is about 140 million. The annual population growth rate has declined from
2.33 percent in 1981 to 2.15 percent in 1991 and further declined to 1.50
percent in 2002 (SVRS/2002). Similar declining trends are seen over the
period of 1981-2002 for the crude birth rate (34.4 to 20.9), crude death rate
(11.5 to 5.9) and total fertility rate (5.24 to 3.0) (SVRS/2002).
Source: Bangladesh
Bureau of Statistics, SVRS 2002
Source:
BDHS 2004
Source:
BDHS 2004
In Bangladesh,
38 percent of population was under 15 years, 55 percent in the age group of
15-59 years and 7 percent in the age group of 60 years and above (BDHS 2004).
Life expectancy at birth
The
average life expectancy in Bangladesh has improved from 55 years in 1981 to
65 years in 2002, with 55 years for male and 54 years for female in 1981 to
64 years and 65 years for male and female, respectively, in 2002 (SVRS
2002).
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
In Bangladesh,
Infant Mortality has declined during the period of 1981-2002. In 1981, 111
infants died per 1,000 live births, which has declined to 87 in 1991 and 53
in 2003 (BBSSVRS 2003).
Source:
BBSSVRS 2003
Maternal Mortality Rate
In Bangladesh,
Maternal mortality has declined during the period of 19920-2002. In 1992 it
was 4.7 and in 2002 it was 3.9 per thousand live birth.
(SVRS/2002)
Related Links
Director
General of Health Services
World Health Report
2.3 Social trends
The adult
literacy rate in the population over 15 years of age has shown a gradual
increase from 1981 (males 39.7% and females 18.0%) to 2002 (males 55.5% and
females 43.4%) (BBS, SVRS 2002). Whether this increase has resulted in better
utilization of health services is difficult to ascertain.
In Bangladesh,
Gross Enrollment Ratio (GNR) in primary education
for both sexes is not much different. In the case of males, GNR was 94
percent in 2002-03, and for females it was 98 percent during the same
period.
In case
of secondary education, GNR for both the sexes has increased from 42 percent
in 1998 to 47 percent in 2002-03. The GNR in secondary education for female
has increased from 41 percent in 1998 to 50 percent in 2002-03, higher than
males for whom the increase is from 43 percent in 1998 to 45 percent in
2002-03 (UNESCO)
Related Links
MoED
UNESCO
World
Bank
2.4 Food supply and nutritional status
The
prevalence of low birth weight (weight <2500 grams) has decreased from
about 50 percent in 1993-95 to 40 percent in 2005. The percentage of
underweight (weight-for-age) in children below 5 years was: severe - 12.8
percent, moderate - 47.5 percent, and that of height-for-age was: severe -
16.9 percent, moderate - 43.0 percent (Bangladesh Demographic and Health
Survey 2004).
About 69
percent of the population suffers from Iodine Deficiency Disorders (IDDs), as estimated by the urinary excretion of iodine.
Among the population, the total goiter rate is 47.1
percent, of which 8.8 percent have visible Goiter.
The presence of cretinism is 0.5 percent (1993). The IDD control programme
now targets hyper endemic areas with lipiodol
injections as a short term measure, and universal iodization of salt as the
long term intervention.
Anaemia in pregnant women
The
prevalence of anaemia among adult women was estimated at 74 percent and that
of children less than five years at 73 percent (1982-83). Studies conducted
in 1990 and 1995 found the situation unchanged.
Related Links
Director
General of Health services
Nutrition – WHO/SEARO
Nutrition – WHO/HQ
2.5 Lifestyle and Risk Factors
The
percentage of the male population aged 15 years and above who are regular
smokers has steadily increased over the last five years. Data for 1995 show that
the proportions of adult males and females, who are regular smokers are 41 percent and 4.6 percent, respectively. The
Government and NGOs are making efforts to counter this trend by creating more
awareness of the adverse effects of smoking, through warning messages on
cigarette packets, anti-smoking schemes among doctors, banning advertisements
on radio, creation of smoke free zones, etc. There is a need also to address
issues relating to substance abuse, drug trafficking and juvenile delinquency
Related Links
Arsenic – WHO/SEARO
Substance Abuse – WHO/SEARO
Tobacco – WHO/SEARO
Tobacco
– WHO/HQ
Alcohol – WHO/HQ
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