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Background on Nicaragua
Nicaragua
remains one of the poorest countries in Latin America
despite some recent advances. The country is in
the midst of a complex process of political, economic,
demographic and epidemiological transition.
The Government has made progress in improving budgetary
imbalances and controlling inflation. Economic growth
has been relatively high in the last few years
(averaging 4.3 per cent from 1993 – 1998 and then
reaching 7 per cent in 1999), but the annual per capita
income remains very low – less than US$500.00. The
recent economic growth has been financed mainly by
foreign capital, and there is a high dependence on
international assistance, which represents 30 per cent
of the gross domestic product. Economic growth continues
to be very imbalanced, with the poorer segments of
society missing out on the benefits of economic
expansion.
The high level of poverty, around 50 per cent of the
population, is an obstacle to sustainable development
and to the consolidation of the country’s fragile
democracy and the emerging rule of law. The weakest and
most vulnerable group are those people, especially women
and children, living in rural areas, in a fragile
physical environment, characterized by less education,
less access to basic social services, higher fertility
and maternal and infant mortality rates, and with fewer
options and opportunities.
Nicaragua has a current population of 5.1 million
inhabitants with an annual growth rate of 2.7 per cent,
one of the highest in the region. Its total fertility
rate (3.9 children per woman) is double the Latin
American average. The adolescent fertility rate (139 per
1,000) is the highest in the region and represents a
large percentage of the total births (a third of those
in rural areas). As a consequence, the population is
very young, and there are 84 dependents for every 100
people of productive age.
The total fertility rate fell from 4.6 children per
woman in 1993 to 3.9 in 1998, and it is expected that in
2001 it will be no higher than 3.7. The adolescent
fertility rate (139 in 1998) also shows a downward
tendency, although to a lesser degree than the global
figure. The decreases in fertility registered in recent
years have been mainly concentrated among the non-poor
population.
Contraceptive use is already moderately high (about 60
per cent in 1998), but it is expected that the rate of
use will rise less rapidly in coming years. It is likely
that the unmet demand for family planning (15 per cent
in 1998 against 24 per cent in 1993) will continue to
drop as a result of current efforts. Such efforts will
be targeted at young women between 15 and 19 years of
age, less educated women and women in rural areas.
Life expectancy at birth in Nicaragua is one of the
lowest in Latin America – 66 years for men and 70
years for women. Infant mortality continues to fall, but
the infant mortality rate (40 per 1,000) is still higher
than the Central American average. Meanwhile,
malnutrition is a severe problem, with approximately 20
per cent of those under 5 years of age affected by
chronic malnutrition.
Determining the maternal mortality rate is very
difficult, but it is estimated that it is not less than
133 per 100,000 live births. The trend could even be
worsening, given the poor current conditions for
attending to obstetric emergencies and the limited
attention being given to address the main causes of
maternal death. The situation is not uniformly negative,
however. Between 1993 and 1998, there were significant
increases in prenatal care, the number of births taking
place in institutions, and the number attended by
trained personnel. However, these advances have not
extended to the most vulnerable groups of the
population, and there are still deficiencies in the
quality of the care provided.
According to official figures, there is a very low level
of HIV infection in Nicaragua (fewer than 4 per 100,000
during the worst year) due to the country’s isolation
during the 1980s and the low levels of drug trafficking
and consumption. However, the health authorities are not
taking advantage of this favorable epidemiological
situation, which may well be temporary. HIV/AIDS care is
not linked to the reproductive health program, there is
no systematic prevention campaign, and there are no
adequate services for those who have been infected.
Domestic violence is an endemic problem. Almost a third
of Nicaraguan women in union have been abused, often in
the presence of their children and even when they were
pregnant. The visibility of the problem has been
increasing due to the efforts of women’s organizations
and to the consolidation of the national network of
Women’s and Children’s Offices run by the National
Police.
In the area of education, the main problem is that 45
per cent of the population under 18 do not attend
school, whether because they drop out early or because
they were never able to enter the system. Currently,
only 29 of every 100 students that enter primary school
actually finish; in the end, only 2 per cent complete
higher education. There are still high levels of
illiteracy. On average, Nicaraguans spend just 4.9 years
in education, a figure that drops to 2 years among the
rural poor.
The Government has recognized that the rapid rate of
population growth (2.7 per cent a year) limits its
capacity to provide basic social services and reduces
the effects of economic growth on poverty reduction.
Thus, while the GDP increased by an average of 4.3 per
cent a year between 1993 and 1998, the per capita GDP
only increased by 1.2 per cent. Furthermore, while the
rates of poverty and extreme poverty both fell slightly
during the same period, the absolute numbers of both
groups increased.
As part of the eligibility process for entry into the
Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative (HIPC), the
Government of Nicaragua has this year completed a
Reinforced Poverty Reduction Strategy (RPRS), developed
through an extensive process of consultation and
interaction with civil society and the donor community.
In the RPRS and other official documents, the Government
recognizes the negative impact of the rapid population
growth on achieving sustainable development. Thus, it
has embraced the need to increase access to better
sexual and reproductive health services, including
family planning, particularly among the poorest sectors
of the population.
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