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The total population of Saint Kitts & Nevis is estimated at 39,000 in 2005, of which 31.9% live in urban areas. [1] Women represent 51.3% of the total population. [2] It is estimated that, in the year 2004, 10,304 women were 15 to 49 years old, that is, around 53% of the total number of women. [3] According to demographic estimates, between 1970 and the year 2000 there was a decrease in population, that is, there was negative population growth; since then, population growth resumed and the average annual rate of growth will reach 1% by 2010 (Figure 1).
The most recent year for which mortality data from Saint Kitts & Nevis are available by sex, age and cause of death is 1997. During the period 1995-1997, there was an increase in the estimated (crude) death rates among women as well as men (Figure 2).
The gross national income per capita (PPP value) was US$10,740 in 2003. [4] Public expenditure on health was 2.5% of gross domestic product in the year 2000, and private expenditure was 2.2% (excluding health insurance). [5] Almost 100% of the population has access to improved water sources, and access to sanitation services is nearly as high (Figure 3). There are no urban-rural differences in access to these services.
Among the population aged 15 years and over, literacy was 97.1% in 1998 among males and 97.5% among females. [6] In 2002-2003, the gross enrollment rate at the primary and secondary levels was higher for women than men (Figure 4).
In 2005, life expectancy at birth was 77.2 years for women and 69.3 years for men. [10] Recent demographic estimates have found that, in 2010, female life expectancy at birth will be 5.9 years greater than male life expectancy; the gap between men and women had already reached this level in 1980, although life expectancy at birth was much lower (Figure 5).
The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the population 13-15 years of age was 16% among women and 20% among men (2002). Data are not available on the prevalence of obesity in the population 15 to 49 years old.
Male age-specific death rates, due to all causes combined, were higher than female rates for all age groups except among children 1 to 4 years old (Figure 6). There were 10 infant deaths in 2004. [12]
When mortality in St. Kitts & Nevis is considered by cause of death and by age group, it is found that the death rates for ages under 15 years vary widely, for two reasons: the low number of total population, and the very few deaths occurring at young ages from any particular cause. Since 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 much higher than the female rate (Figure 7). However, at ages 45 to 64 years, diseases of the circulatory system caused far greater mortality among both sexes than external causes did; in addition, mortality due to neoplasms was a much greater problem among women than among men (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, in 1997 the male death rate due to this cause was 109 per 100,000 and the female rate, 98. Deaths due to malignant neoplasms of this site, together with mortality from malignant neoplasms of uterus (42 per 100,000 women) and breast (98), contributed over 40% of the total female mortality due to neoplasms among women in this age group. [13] 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 (Figures 8 and 9). Among women at ages 45 to 64 years, malignant neoplasms of uterus and breast, combined, caused greater mortality in 1997 than ischemic heart disease (Figures 8 and 9).
Accidents, suicide and homicide are all included in the grouping external causes of death . In 1997, women’s mortality from these causes was barely a fraction of men’s (Figure 10).
In 2004 the total fertility rate in Saint Kitts & Nevis was 2.4 children per woman. [14] There were no maternal deaths in 2004. [15] A total of 44 male cases and 24 female cases of AIDS were reported from 1984 through 2003 (Figure 11). Seven cases of unknown sex were also reported: 1 for 1986, 3 for 1990, 1 for 1998, and 2 for 2001; in addition, no cases were reported for 2002 or 2003. [16] In September 2005 there were 28 people under treatment with antiretroviral drugs; [17] the number of people 15 to 49 years old who need such treatment is unknown. [18]
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. [19] 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/AIS. Health Situation 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] The source states that there was “accession,” not “ratification.” [9] United Nations. Population Policy Data Bank, Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. New York, N.Y. (27 March 2006) [10] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [11] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [12] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [13] The data in this paragraph are from: PAHO/AIS. Technical Information System. Table Generator, http://www.paho.org (December 2005). [14] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [15] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. [16] PAHO/AI and National AIDS Program. [17] Ibid. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: Idem. 
Source: Idem.
Source: PAHO/AI and National AIDS Program.