HEALTH SECTOR ASSESSMENT, EL SALVADOR

A series of consultants conducted the study, under the direction of a coordinator from the Office of International Health, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D.C. The study presents an overall picture of the levels of health and economic development, especially in rural El Salvador. The authors note that the health status of the Salvadorean people does not reflect the presence of the extensive health infrastructure which exists in this country. Infant mortality for the country as a whole is reported at 58 per 1000 live births. Several studies have indicated that in rural areas infant mortality exceeds 100 per 1000 live births. Seventy percent of Salvadorean children are malnourished. In the overall population, the leading causes of mortality are gastroenteritis (25%), followed by acts of violence (11%). Average life expectancy is estimated at 59.1 years of age. Improved health status, particularly for the rural population, is constrained by poor environmental conditions, low literacy rates, low income, lack of health knowledge and hygiene, and minimal contact with available health services. Analyses of key health subsectors -- environmental sanitation, malaria, health education, nutrition, and family planning -- are covered in the report. While the report discusses both government and private health services, no extensive evaluation of these institutions is made in the report. The extent of the GOES commitment to the health sector is discussed.