Etudes par pays volume 2, PDF, 346 p., 1,4 Mo - Femise

11873_02 Study D2: Poverty, Informal Sector, Health and Labour
2.4. Data
[in addition to standard health indicators that can be accessed throughout the
Human Development Report the following data are provided]
Adult morbidity
More than one third of individuals reported episodes of illness during the
last two weeks 5 . Twenty percent of the individuals reported chronic
illness/disability. Twenty two percent of adults Egyptians are at risk from
chronic diseases that can be attributed to smoking. Seventeen percent of
individuals reported chest sound wheezy/whistling and half of them
experienced short of breath.
Child morbidity
The 2000 Egyptian Demographic and Health Survey provided data on the
prevalence and treatment of two common childhood illnesses, diarrhea and
acute respiratory illness. Seven percent of children under five were reported
to have had diarrhea in the two weeks preceding the survey . Medical advice
was sought in treating about around half of these cases. Use of ORS packets
( 34 percent ) or a homemade solution of sugar, salt and water (5%) to
combat the dehydration was common. Altogether some form of ORT or
increased fluids was used in treating around one in two of the children
suffering from diarrhea.
During the two weeks preceding the survey, 10% of children had a cough
accompanied by symptoms of acute respiratory illness. In the case of twothirds
of the cases a health provider was consulted and three fourth of the
children were given antibiotics.
Child nutrition
Anthropometric data collected for children in the 2000 EDHS indicate that
19 percent of Egyptian children show evidence of chronic malnutrition or
stunting, and 3 percent are acutely malnourished . The trend in
5
Ministry of Health and Population 2002, Egypt Household and Health Care Utilization
and Expenditure Survey.
FONDAZIONE CENSIS
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