Health and Nutrition
Romania has continued to make progress in the reduction of Infant Mortality Rate (16 per 1,000 live births in 2005), Under-Five Mortality Rate (19 in 2005) and Maternal Mortality Rate, although the rates are still higher than in other European countries. Furthermore, the rates are higher in rural areas and among the Roma population. The most common causes of death among infants continue to be peri-natal causes, respiratory infections and congenital malformations. The most common cause among children 1-4 years old are accidents with a high (40%) occurring at home, pointing to limited access to quality health services as well as weak parenting skills. While the levels of immunization (97%) remain high, access to improved drinking water sources remain low in rural areas (16%) compared to urban areas (91%). In parallel, a 2006 UNICEF supported national KAP survey on parenting practices found that 17% of parents do not know the purpose of vaccinations, almost 50% do have knowledge about correct hygiene practices for children, and 41% of parents, especially in rural areas (66%), provide unsafe water to young children. The remaining malnutrition and anaemia levels among children, as identified in the UNICEF supported 2005 National Integrated Nutrition Survey, indicate poor feeding practices but also point to low levels of breastfeeding. Only 16% of Romanian children were exclusively breastfed during the first 6 months of life in 2004, while only 12% of new-borns were put to the breast within one hour of birth according to the UNICEF supported 2004 Reproductive Health Survey. In contrast, the iodine level in school children has improved towards international standards as the number of households using iodised salt has increased significantly over the past few years to reach 96% in 2004.
Breastfeeding
Many international studies have revealed that a mother will breastfeed more successfully and for longer periods of time when she is permitted to have early contact, an opportunity for suckling in the first hour, and rooming-in with her infant. UNICEF incorporates these initiatives into a 10-point program called “The Baby-friendly Initiative”. This UNICEF initiated large-scale change in care has been accompanied by an unexpected positive observation in several countries.
|
