Benin faces a number of population health challenges. Apart from modern medicine, traditional medicine plays a big role too.[1]
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative[2] finds that Benin is fulfilling 59.2% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income.[3] When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Benin achieves 77.5% of what is expected based on its current income.[4] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 81.5% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. [5] Benin falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 18.5% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.[6]
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Further information: Water supply and sanitation in Benin |
According to the Joint Monitoring Program of the World Health Organization and UNICEF, three quarters of the Beninese population had access to an improved water source in 2008, whereas 12% had access to improved sanitation. The share rose from 63% concerning water and from 5% concerning sanitation in 1990. Coverage in urban areas is considerably higher than in rural areas.[7]
| Access to Water and Sanitation in Benin (2008)[7] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban (41% of the population) |
Rural (59% of the population) |
Total | ||
| Water | Improved water source | 84% | 69% | 75% |
| Piped on premises | 26% | 2% | 12% | |
| Sanitation | Improved sanitation | 24% | 4% | 12% |
Wastewater treatment is extremely rare in Benin. In most cases, wastewater is not disposed appropriately. According to a 2001 national health survey, in the cities of Cotonou, Parakou and Porto-Novo, two out of 1,000 households dispose their wastewater in a correct way, while most of them discharge it directly into the nature or drains. This leads to pollution and can cause water-borne diseases like malaria and typhoid fever.[8]
The 2014 CIA estimated average life expectancy in Benin was 61.07 years.[9]
On 16 March 2020, the first COVID-19 case in the country was confirmed in Porto-Novo.[10]
The 2011 maternal mortality rate per 100,000 births for Benin is 410. This is compared with 468.9 in 2008 and 587.6 in 1990. The under 5 mortality rate, per 1,000 births is 121 and the neonatal mortality as a percentage of under 5's mortality is 27. In Benin the number of midwives per 1,000 live births is 4 and the lifetime risk of death for pregnant women is 1 in 43.[11]
According to a 2013 UNICEF report, 13% of women had undergone female genital mutilation.[12]