Peru - Health

Although Peru has made significant advances toward reducing epidemic disease, improving sanitation, and expanding medical facilities, much remains to be done. In 2000, 77% of the population had access to safe drinking water and 76% had adequate sanitation. Health services are concentrated around metropolitan Lima. A health care plan initiated in 1981 called for the establishment of 100 health centers in rural areas and shantytowns. The central administration of all health services lies with the Ministry of Health. A General Health Law enacted in 1997 restructured and reformed the health care sector. As of 1999, there were an estimated 0.9 physicians and 1.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people. As of 1999, total health care expenditure was estimated at 6.2% of GDP.

The infant mortality rate in 2000 was estimated at 32 per 1,000 live births. As of 2002, the crude birth rate and overall mortality rate were estimated at, respectively, 23.3 and 5.8 per 1,000 people. Maternal mortality in 1998 was high at 265 per 100,000 live births. Some 69% of married women used contraception during 2000. Average life expectancy in 2000 was estimated at 69 years.

Leading causes of death in 1998 included acute respiratory infections (16.3%), intestinal infectious diseases (7.7%), circulatory system and cardiovascular disease (5.4%), and tuberculosis (5%). There were about 26,000 war-related deaths in Peru from 1983 to 1992. Serious vitamin A deficiency was documented in 22% of children ages four and under in 1992 and a 1993 census found 48% of all children aged six to nine suffering from malnutrition. Goiter rates in school-age children during 1986–87 were high (35.8%).

Peru has repeatedly reported the highest number of yellow fever cases in the Americas. The total number of cases in Peru was 503 with a 39% fatality rate in 1995. Other common diseases included malaria (211,561 cases in 1996) and tuberculosis (33,925 cases in 1995). In 1999 there were 228 cases of tuberculosis per 100,000 people. Immunization rates for children up to one year old in 1997 were: tuberculosis, 98%; diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 98%; polio, 97%; and measles, 95%.

As of 1999, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated at 48,000 and deaths from AIDS that year were estimated at 4.100. HIV prevalence was 0.35 per 100 adults.