The children

Early Childhood Years

© 2005 UNICEF Jamaica; Noorani

A toddler looks out from the safety of a mother's lap at Emancipation Park in Kingston

There are 313,656 children aged 0 to 5 years old in Jamaica.

Infant mortality rates (19.9 per 1000 live births in 2002) have improved. Birth registration levels have remained very high with estimates exceeding 94 percent for every year since 1992. The challenge remains to reach the 4-5 percent that has remained continuously unregistered. A 2002 study in three parishes identified some of the challenges to registration – some mothers think registration is linked to payment of hospital fees while others need more information on the registration process, especially late registration, and the role of fathers in registration.

Immunization rates for all vaccines have been declining steadily since 2001. A study found that the public knows the importance of immunization, but it seems that public awareness is fading and misconceptions still prevail in particular communities. The main reasons identified for the falling rates include: difficulties in accessing health services, inadequate transportation, violence, limited health staff for vaccination and financial constraints.

Children’s nutritional status as reflected in low birth weight, low height for age (stunted) and low weight for height (wasted) has improved, but continues to lag behind international standards. A worrying trend is the growing percentage of overweight children under five years old. One in every ten children from the wealthiest quintile is overweight.
 
Exclusive breastfeeding rates up to six months are well below the global target of 70 percent. There is need for significant improvement in this area as well as for continued advocacy and raising of public awareness about the benefits of breastfeeding and breast milk.

Paediatric deaths to AIDS declined in 2003 by 17.3 percent when compared to the previous year. The Health Ministry attributes the decline in part to the improved services provided through the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme and improved care and treatment of infected children. In 2003 there were 67 new cases of pediatric AIDS reported compared to 81 for 2002.        

Education

Statistics indicate that there is enrollment of  96.4 percent of children from the relevant age cohort in early childhood institutions. There are 2,137 basic schools in the island, the vast majority of which are community-run institutions. Although enrollment is high, the quality of education, stimulation and care offered in some of these facilities leaves much to be desired. In some institutions staff are untrained, classrooms are crowded, there is a lack of resource material and inappropriate curricula. Currently there are moves to implement and enforce uniform standards and curricula under an Early Childhood Commission. A system of registration is to be developed and instituted across the island.