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Nicaragua: Revised Country Plan 2011 (MAANI002)

Countries
Nicaragua
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
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Country Context

Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American with population of 5.6 million1 and a population density of 43.52 inhabitants per squared kilometres, which is the lowest in the region. According to UNDP's Human Development Report 2009, 15.8 per cent of the population lives on less than 1.25 US dollars a day (2000-2007) and 47.9 per cent lives below the national poverty line (2000-2006). In addition, it continues to have a high level of disparities, inequities and gaps between different population groups, particularly notable for indigenous people, afro-descendents, children, women and people with disabilities.

Women in their childbearing age make up 52 per cent of the female population and 59 per cent are less than 30 years old; 12 per cent are not formally educated; 37 per cent have secondary school education and 14 per cent have advanced studies. The overall fertility rate is 2.7 children per woman and in rural areas reaches 3.5 children and 2.2 in urban areas. Females between the ages of 15 and 19 years are the largest contributors to the overall fertility rate, making up 20 per cent. Contraception is used by 42 per cent of females between the ages of 15 and 40 years, which lowers to a 7 per cent rate for single women. Whilst 94 per cent of pregnant women receive prenatal care, the rate descends to 87 per cent in rural areas. Seventy-four per cent of females gave birth in health centres and 26 per cent in their homes.

Infant mortality is estimated at 29 for every 1,000 live births and in the rural areas increases to 34 for every 1,000 live births. In the age group of 18 to 29, 85 per cent of children and young adults have completed all of their vaccinations. The prevalent illnesses are severe respiratory infections and diarrhoea, with the children under the age of five being most vulnerable to the latter.

Of the women who know about HIV and AIDS, 76 per cent have heard of HIV testing; 44 per cent know where to have one done and 16 per cent have had a test. Condom use is at 10 per cent in urban areas and 4 per cent in rural areas, with a slight increase in the group of women with higher education levels. In addition, it is reported that 21 per cent of women were physically mistreated before the age of 15.

Since all of the health indicators decrease in the country's rural areas, national policies promote community-based health interventions to strengthen primary health care.

Nicaragua is a multi-hazard country. The Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies3 ' study conducted in 2001 on natural hazards in Nicaragua indicates the country's different levels of vulnerability due to natural disasters. Alongside its geographic beauty, Nicaragua is a country with high risks to disasters, mainly earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, hurricanes and floods.