Here’s a quick look at Laos health stats thanks compliments of Save the Children.
The health situation of women and children in Laos is amongst the poorest in Southeast Asia; Infant mortality rate is 70 per 1000 live births and under five mortality claims 98 per 1000 live births1.
Every day 36 children under-five die due to preventable and treatable diseases.
Percentages of underweight children have been almost unchanged between 1990 and 2006 (40% and 37.1%) and the prevalence of stunting in under-fives is up to 40.4%.
According to UNICEF/WHO official estimate (2007), immunisation coverage has declined—only 27% of children by their first birthday have received all eight recommended vaccinations2.
Maternal mortality remains very high at 405/100,000 live births, approximately 800 deaths per year or 2 deaths per day.
A high percentage of children (71.5%) are born to mothers who received no antenatal care and 84.8% of pregnant women give birth at home3 .
These are clear indicators of low health service utilization and poor quality health services/facilities.
1 Lao Reproductive Health Survey 2005, this is the official figure and most reliable for reference – the 2008 survey, although it quotes lower figures is not ‘official’
2 Strategy and Planning Framework for the Integrated Package of Maternal Neonatal and Child Health Services 2009 – 2015
3 Lao Reproductive Health Survey 2005
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