Reports: Zimbabwean women, kids vulnerable

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Living conditions in Zimbabwe for women and children have deteriorated during the last five years, government data and a U.N. report indicated.

The Multiple Indicator and Monitoring Survey, conducted in May 2009 by UNICEF, reported a decline in access to many social services for women and children, particularly among poor populations and in rural areas, the United Nations said Wednesday in a release.

"The MIMS data underscores the deterioration that has occurred in the social sectors in the last few years and the tragic consequences that have resulted," UNICEF representative Peter Salama said.

The information indicated the mortality rate for children under age 5 rose 20 percent since 1990, the baseline year for the Millennium Development Goals. Children in rural areas and those in the poorest fifth of the population were identified as the most vulnerable. The UNICEF report said the major causes were HIV, AIDS, newborn disorders, pneumonia and diarrhea.

The survey showed that one of every two pregnant women in rural areas were having home births while 39 percent of pregnant women nationally weren't accessing necessary medical facilities for delivery.

UNICEF said its findings reconfirm previous research indicating user fees and other financial barriers limited women's access to obstetric services.

The national survey of 12,500 households in Zimbabwe also revealed limited support to the country's orphaned and vulnerable children, with 79 percent not receiving any form of external assistance, the United Nations said. Also, about two-thirds of all Zimbabwean children do not possess birth certificates.