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Background on Mongolia
Mongolia’s
total population is only 2.4 million, spread out across
an area nearly the size of western Europe. It is one of
the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The
population density is only 2 people per square
kilometer. Approximately half the population lives as nomads, just as
their ancestors did, while the rest reside in towns and
cities.
Mongolia
is a country of climatic extremes. Temperatures drop to
–40 degrees Centigrade in the long dark winter months,
but soar to +40 degrees Centigrade in the short,
blistering summer. In the severe winters of 1999-2000
and 2000-2001,
Mongolian herders lost almost 5 million head of livestock.
The country was declared a disaster area by the UN and
was granted special humanitarian and emergency
assistance.
According
to the 1998 Reproductive Health Survey, 94% of
deliveries are attended by trained birth attendants.
However, infant and maternal mortality remain relatively
high because of the poor health condition of many rural
women.
Over the
last five years, the contraceptive prevalence rate has
increased from 28% in 1996 to just under 40% by 2000.
With increased access to reproductive health services
over the course of the 1990s, the abortion rate has
dropped from 442 per 1,000 live births to 180 per 1,000
live births in 1999 in government clinics.
Still, the
country is going through a difficult economic
transition. Disparities in socio-demographic and
socio-economic status by region are emerging. There is a
widening gap between urban and rural areas in terms of
access to income and services. At the same time girls
are staying school much longer than boys; there is
increasing concern of the high rate of male school
dropouts.
The
Government of Mongolia has endorsed the ICPD Programme
of Action. The country adopted an official population
policy in 1996. In 1997 Mongolia enacted a national
reproductive health programme, which provides a
framework for the provision of quality reproductive
health services.
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