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The total population of Dominica is estimated at 69,000 in 2005, of which 72.7% live in urban areas. [1] Women represent 49.3% of the total population. [2] It is estimated that 18,589 women were 15 to 49 years old in the year 2004, that is, around 54% of the total number of women. [3] The average annual rate of growth of the population has fluctuated considerably during the period since 1985, but always remaining within the range of -1% to +1% (Figure 1).
The most recent year for which mortality data from Dominica are available by sex, age and cause of death is 1997. During the period 1995-1997, the estimated (crude) death rates increased among women and men.
The gross national income per capita (PPP value) was US$5,020 in 2003. [4] Public expenditure on health was 4.4% of gross domestic product in the year 2000, and private expenditure was 2.2% (excluding health insurance). [5] At least 90% of the population of urban and rural areas has access to improved water sources; however, the access to sanitation services is not quite as high (Figure 3).
In 2002-2003, the gross enrollment rate at the secondary level was considerably higher than at the primary level, especially among women (Figure 4).
In 2005, life expectancy at birth was 77.7 years for women and 71.7 years for men.[9] Beginning around 1985 there was a decrease in this indicator, especially among women, but demographic estimates point to modest increases by 2010 for women and men (Figure 5).
The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the population 13-15 years of age was 16% among women and 24% among men (2000).
Age-specific death rates in 1997, due to all causes combined, were higher among males than females in all the age groups except among children under 1 year old (Figure 6).
There were 20 infant deaths in 2003. [11]
When mortality in Dominica was considered, by cause of death and by age, substantial variability was encountered for the younger age groups. There are two main reasons for this: the low number of total population, and the few deaths occurring at young ages. Often, there were no deaths for specific causes. Because this makes the rates less meaningful, they have been omitted from the material that follows. Among the population 15 to 44 years old, the male death rate in 1997 due to external causes was several times higher than the female rate (Figure 7). This was also the case at ages 45 to 64 years, but diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms caused much more mortality in this population group than external causes did, especially among men but also among women (Figure 7).
Mortality due to malignant neoplasms of the digestive organs and peritoneum is an important element within total mortality due to neoplasms. In the age group 45 to 64 years, the male death rate in 1997 due to this cause was 172 per 100,000 and the female rate was 46. Among women, deaths due to malignant neoplasms of this site, together with mortality from malignant neoplasms of uterus (41 per 100,000 women) and breast (51), contributed almost two-thirds of the total mortality due to neoplasms at ages 45 to 64 years. [12] Ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are major causes of death among adults 45 years and over, and especially adults 65 years and over. Among women 45 to 64 years old in Dominica, malignant neoplasms of uterus and breast, jointly, caused considerably more mortality than ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular diseases in 1997 (Figures 8 and 9). These same two types of malignant neoplasms, jointly, also caused greater mortality among women 65 years and over, than ischemic heart disease.
Accidents, suicide and homicide are all included in the grouping external causes of death . In Dominica, male death rates in 1997 due to each of these causes were several times greater than those for females (Figure 10). However, a considerable amount of mortality from external causes was assigned to Other external causes; generally, most of the deaths included in this grouping are due to injury, but under circumstances where it is unknown whether the injuries causing death were accidental or were purposely inflicted.
In 2004 the total fertility rate in Dominica was 2.0 children per woman. [13] There were no maternal deaths in 2003. [14] A rising trend is seen in the reported cases of AIDS for the period 1987-1999 (Figure 11). Starting in the year 2000, the breakdown of cases by sex is not available: a total of 3 cases were reported for 2000, 5 for 2001, and 7 for 2002. Three cases were reported for 2003: 2 males and 1 female. [15] In September 2005 there were 17 people under treatment with antiretroviral drugs; [16] the number of people 15 to 49 years old who need such treatment is unknown. [17]
In 2003, all births were attended by trained personnel and all pregnant women received at least one consultation for prenatal care, provided by a trained health worker. [18] Although this topic is an essential element in the analysis of gender-based inequalities related to the participation of women and men in the health sector, the statistics that would allow such analyses are not currently available.
[1] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [2] Based on: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. http://www.paho.org , 26 January 2006. [3] U.S. Census Bureau. International Data Base. http://www.census.gov/cgi-bin/ipc/ , 14 March 2006. [4] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [5] Ibid. [6] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [7] United Nations. Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw , 27 March 2006. [8] United Nations. Population Policy Data Bank, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/doc , 27 March 2006. [9] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [10] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [11] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [12] The data in this paragraph are from: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator, http://www.paho.org (December 2005). [13] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [14] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [15] PAHO/AI and National AIDS Program. [16] Idem. [17] UNAIDS/WHO. [18] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base.
Source: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: PAHO/AIS.
Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005
. Washington, DC, 2005.
Source: UNESCO.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau. International Data Base.
Source: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: Based on data from: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator. (December 2005)
Source: Idem.
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem. 
Source: Idem.
Source: PAHO/AI and National AIDS Program.