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The total population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is estimated at 119,000 in 2005, of which 60.5% live in urban areas. [1] Women represent 50.4% of the total population. [2] In the year 2004, 33,000 women were 15 to 49 years old, that is, around 56% of the total number of women. [3] The average annual rate of growth of the population has remained below 1% since the 1975-1980 quinquennium and has a decreasing trend (Figure 1).
The most recent year for which mortality data from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is available by sex, age and cause of death is 1997. Crude death rates increased very slightly, among women as well as men, during the period 1995-1997; male and female death rates are almost identical (Figure 2).
The gross national income per capita (PPP value) was US$5,870 in 2003. [4] Data are not available as to the income ratio of the population with the 20% highest and the 20% lowest income. Public expenditure on health was 3.9% of gross domestic product in the year 2000, and private expenditure was 0.6% (excluding health insurance) in 2002. [5] Over 90% of the rural population has access to improved water sources and to sanitation services (Figure 3). Data are not available on access in urban areas.
Among the population aged 15 years and over, literacy was 96.0% in 1998; male and female literacy were both 96.0% as well. [6] In 2002-2003, the gross enrollment rate at the primary level exceeded 100% for both sexes; however, it was considerably lower at the secondary level (Figure 4).
In 2005, life expectancy at birth was 74.4 years for women and 68.8 years for men. [11] There have been steady increases in life expectancy since 1970, accompanied by a widening of the gap between women and men. Recent demographic estimates indicate that, in the 2005-2010 quinquennium, women’s life expectancy at birth will be 5.5 years greater than men’s (Figure 5).
The prevalence of tobacco consumption in the population 13-15 years of age was 20% among women and 27% among men (2001).
Male age-specific death rates due to all causes combined, in 1997, were higher than female rates in all age groups except among children 5 to 14 years old; for that age group the male and female rates were practically identical (Figure 6).
The infant mortality rate was 17.3 per 1,000 live births in 2004. 13]
When mortality in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was considered by cause of death and by age group, the calculation of death rates for ages under 15 years presented two problems: the low number of total population, and the few deaths occurring at young ages. Because this makes the rates less meaningful, they have been omitted from the material that follows. Among those 15 to 44 years old, as well as the population aged 45 to 64 years, the male death rate due to external causes was at least 4 times the female rate. However, at ages 45 to 64, diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms were far more important causes of death, for both sexes, than external causes (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 43 per 100,000 and the female rate was 47. Deaths due to malignant neoplasms of this site, together with mortality from malignant neoplasms of uterus (81 per 100,000 women) and breast (75), contributed over three fourths of the total mortality due to neoplasms among women in this age group. [14] Ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus are major causes of death among men and women aged 45 years and over, and especially adults 65 years and over. Malignant neoplasms of uterus and breast, combined, caused far greater mortality among women aged 45-64 years than ischemic heart disease or cerebrovascular diseases in 1997; however, at ages 65 and over, the opposite is true (Figures 8 and 9). Diabetes mellitus was a much more important cause of death among women than men in both of these age groups (Figure 9).
Accidents, suicide and homicide are all included in the grouping external causes of death . In 1997, the male death rates due to suicide in St. Vincent and the Grenadines dwarfed the rates among women, and male rates for homicide and accidental causes were much larger as well (Figure 10).
In 2004 the total fertility rate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was 2.2 children per woman. [15] Adolescent pregnancy is one of several reproductive risk categories; [16] it constitutes a barrier that can prevent women from developing capabilities to help them achieve the resources necessary for their well-being. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, in 2004, 6% of adolescents 15 to 19 years old gave birth; among women 35 to 49 years, 2% gave birth to a child. 17] There were no maternal deaths during 2004. [18] A rising trend is seen in the number of AIDS cases reported annually since the beginning of the epidemic, especially among men (Figure 11). However, the sex distribution of cases is not available for 2001 and 2002; a total of 33 cases were reported for 2001 and 32 for 2002. Reporting by sex resumed in 2003, when there were 26 female and 55 male cases. [19] In September 2005 there were 56 people under treatment with antiretroviral drugs; [20] the number of people 15 to 49 years old who needed such treatment is unknown. [21]
In 2004, 100% of all births were attended by trained personnel and 99.0% of pregnant women received at least one consultation for prenatal care, provided by a trained health worker. [22] 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] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [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] PAHO/GE. Gender, Health and Development in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005. Washington, DC, 2005. [8] United Nations. Division for the Advancement of Women, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw , 27 March 2006. [9] The source states that there was “accession,” not “ratification.” [10] 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. [11] PAHO/AIS. Health Situation in the Americas. Basic Indicators 2005 . Washington, DC, 2005. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: United Nations.
World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision
. New York, 2005.
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: United Nations.
World Population Prospects: The 2004 Revision
. New York, 2005.
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.