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| >> Foreign Aid in the National Interest >> Chapter 3 >> Health, development and aid |
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Jump to Chapter 3 Sections:
Urbanization and educationUrbanization is generally associated with other changes that influence health status. Relative to their rural counterparts, urban households tend to have better access to education, be closer to services, and have higher incomes-all of which increase their use of health services. By standard health indicators, urban residents are in better health than rural residents. But changes in diet and more sedentary lifestyles may create new health risks for people living in cities, increasing noncommunicable diseases. Urban crowding can also increase the risk of communicable diseases, like tuberculosis, cholera, and meningitis. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), education levels in developing countries, a crucial determinant of health status, are changing. In 1970 just 40 percent of developing countries had medium or high literacy rates, but by 2005 that share is expected to be 88 percent. Although much of this progress is the result of rising literacy in Latin America and Asia, some countries in Africa-including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania-are projected to achieve literacy rates of 80 percent by 2005. Still, concerted commitment to education remains essential. In Mali, for example, literacy is projected to be 50 percent in 2005 and in neighboring Niger, just 19 percent. Women’s education is particularly important for health because it is highly correlated with reductions in infant mortality. Since 1970 there has been considerable progress on female literacy in the 98 developing countries tracked by UNESCO. In 1970 fewer than one woman in three was literate in more than a third of these countries. By 2005 only four countries, all in Africa, will have such low female literacy. In two-thirds of these 98 countries, female literacy will exceed 75 percent by 2005. Broad progress, startling changes, persistent quandaries |
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