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Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Paraguay

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Most of the country’s hospitals are located in the capital city of Asuncion. People living in rural areas suffer from many preventable diseases like Chagas’ disease as well respiratory and parasitic diseases. The root cause of many of the country’s health problem is due to poor health care and sanitation as well as malnutrition. The government increased its health spending gradually from the 80’s to the 90’s. By year 2000 the health care spending rose to at least 1.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). However Paraguay still spends less in health care than many of its neighbor countries. Based on a 2001 survey almost 30% of the population have no access to any public or private health care. Based on recent surveys there are only 117 physicians and 20 nurses for every 100,000 people. Only a small portion of the population has health insurance so most people spend on health care based on a fee for service basis.

The child mortality rate is around 29 deaths per 1,000 babies or children based on a 2003 report. Abortion is currently illegal except when the woman’s life is in danger. However it is reported that 23 out of 100 young women’s death is a result of abortion making it one of the highest in Latin America. Based on a 2003 estimate around 0.5% of the population are afflicted with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS. At least 600 deaths from AIDS have been officially reported. Based on a 2004 report around 15,000 Paraguayans were afflicted with HIV/AIDS.