TANZANIA: Demographic and Health Survey Report Finds Decrease in Maternal Mortality
The Guardian reported on 29 May that Tanzania’s Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) report, unveiled this week, shows the Total Fertility Rate in the country stands at 5.4 children per woman down from the 5.7 children per woman recorded in 2004. It also shows that the disparity between urban and rural areas ranges between 3.9 in the eastern regions and 7.1 in the western zone. Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative, said population data is crucial for policy programmes, being a key aspect in efforts to reduce poverty and accelerate socio-economic development. “The new Tanzania DHS report is compilation of such rich and comprehensive development data that would help demonstrate how investments made over years have impacted and changed the lives of women and men, boys and girls,” she said. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and Office of the Chief Government Statistician, Zanzibar made the report public. Read: The Guardian
The Daily News and The Citizen reported on 27 May that the country's maternal and child mortality rates have dropped by over 20 per cent during the last five years. The 2010 Demographic and Health Survey has found out that maternal death had decreased by 22 per cent. Conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics, the survey establishes that the current maternal mortality rate stands at 454 deaths, down from 578 deaths per 100,000 live births. Commenting on the findings, Julitta Onabanjo, UNFPA Country Representative, said, "The report shows we are moving in the right direction, but we must not be satisfied till we reduce and bring to zero all preventable deaths linked to childbirth." Read: The Daily News and The Citizen