Grup de Presă FLUX
September 20, 2005

This article has been translated by DHS staff and
reflects as close as possible the content of the original article.

About one third of children are affected by some degree of anemia

Moreover, according to the MDHS, iodized salt is consumed in only about 60 percent of households, with the lowest levels recorded in the South region of the Republic of Moldova (43 percent of households). In urban areas, about 70 percent of households use iodized salt in their diet. Experts in this field stated that they "expected better results regarding this issue, because there have been significant campaign efforts to inform the population of the importance of consuming iodized salt."

The authors of the study further recognized that, based on the results, "the quality of information that persons of reproductive age have concerning HIV/AIDS infection is practically universal, however, knowledge regarding the prevention of the infection leaves a lot to be desired." According to the MDHS, at least 97 percent of men and women have heard of HIV/AIDS, but only 37 percent of women and 25 percent of men believe that there exists at least one means to prevent the infection.

Over thirty percent of children do not live with their parents

Results from the MDHS also show that approximately one third (31 percent) of children under age 15 years do not live with both parents, and seven percent do not live with either of their parents. These results indicate that the living arrangements of children has deteriorated compared to 2000, when 16 percent of children under age 15 years did not live with both parents, and two percent did not live with either parent. It was explained that these indicators do not take into account those children who live outside of households, such as children in institutions or those living on the street, because the survey included only households in the sample.

The technical director of the survey, Dr. Oleg Benes, announced that the survey results show the total fertility rate (TFR) in the Republic of Moldova is 1.7 births. This means that, on average, a woman in the Republic of Moldova gives birth to 1.7 children by the end of her reproductive period. The TFR in rural areas is higher (1.8) than in urban areas (1.5).

The survey revealed that the infant mortality rate (IMR) is 13 deaths per 1,000 live births, meaning that about 1 in 76 infants die before reaching one year. Comparisons with official estimates of IMRs suggest that this rate has been improving over the past 10 years. Benes mentioned that the results obtained from the MDSH do not differ significantly from official statistics which are used in developing policies and designing programs to address health-related issues in Moldova.

The MDHS was designed to collect information from a nationally representative sample of over 11,000 households from all regions of the Republic of Moldova, except Transnistria. The results are based on interviews with 7,440 women age 15-49 years and 2,508 men age 15-59 years.

The United States government sponsored the MDHS through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Additional funding for the survey was contributed by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund, and in-kind contributions from the Government of Moldova.

Ludmila Moraru, FLUX