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Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015

KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1974 Population: 106,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 1.8% p.a. 1990–2013 GNI p.c.: US$7,460 (2013) UN HDI 2014: World ranking 79 Life expectancy: 73 years (2013) Under-five mortality rate (per 1,000 live births): 12 (2013) Largest contribution to mortality: Cardiovascular diseases Government health expenditure: 3% of GDP (2012) General information Grenada consists of the island of Grenada, the most southerly of the Windwards in the Eastern Caribbean, and some of the southern Grenadine islands, the largest of which is Carriacou (33 sq km). Its Caribbean neighbours include St Vincent and the Grenadines (which includes the more northern Grenadines), and Trinidad and Tobago. 178 Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015 Climate: The tropical climate is especially pleasant in the dry season (February–May) when the trade winds prevail. The rainy season runs June–December, when hurricanes may occur and in some years – for example, Hurricane Ivan in 2004 – cause extensive damage. The temperature and rainfall vary with altitude, with much heavier rainfall in the mountains. Population: 106,000 (2013); 36 per cent of people live in urban areas. The population growth rate stood at 0.4 per cent p.a. between the years of 1990 and 2013, depressed over this period by emigration. In 2013 the birth rate was 19 per 1,000 people (28 in 1970) and life expectancy 73 years (64 in 1970). Most of the population is of African (82 per cent in 1991 census) or mixed African/European descent (13 per cent). The remainder is made up of small European and Asian groups. Economy: Grenada is classified as an upper-middle-income economy by the World Bank. Health Child and maternal health: The rate of infant mortality in Grenada was 11 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013, with an under-five mortality rate of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2013. There has been a consistent decline in the under-five mortality rate since 1990. Despite this, the under-five mortality rate has not yet reached the country’s target of seven deaths per 1,000 live births, as defined by Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG 4). In 2010 the three most prominent known causes of death for children below the age of five years were congenital anomalies (17 per cent), prematurity (15 per cent) and intrapartum-related complications (15 per cent). Other contributory causes were neonatal sepsis (seven per cent), injuries (three per cent) and acute respiratory infections (one per cent). The adjusted maternal mortality ratio for Grenada stood at 23 per 100,000 live births in 2013. Burden of disease: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) accounted for an estimated 81 per cent of all mortality in Grenada in 2008. In 2008 the most prevalent NCDs were cardiovascular diseases (34 per cent). Cancer, diabetes and non-communicable variants of respiratory diseases contributed 21 per cent, nine per cent and three per cent to total mortality, respectively. Communicable diseases along with maternal, perinatal and nutritional conditions in Grenada accounted for an estimated 13 per cent of all mortality in 2008. A government paper on HIV/AIDS reported a cumulative 517 HIV cases (237 of which resulted in deaths) in the period 1984–2013. Estimated incidence of tuberculosis (TB) fell slightly overall during the period 1990–2013 and overall estimated mortality (when mortality data excludes cases comorbid with HIV) also fell slightly overall during this time. Grenada


Commonwealth Health Partnerships 2015
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