Haiti: Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper; IMF Country Report 08/115 ...

Human Poverty and Inequality
27 For Haiti, the indicators included in the human poverty index are alarming. Life expectancy at
birth is estimated at 58.1 percent (2000-2005). Maternal mortality rose from 457 to 630 per
100,000 live births between 1990 and 2005. The illiteracy rate, which stood at 39 percent in 2003,
remains high, even though progress has been made from one generation to the next. Only 49
percent of school age children attend school. This low level of instruction is reflected in limited
capacities. In 2001-2002, only 45 percent of the population between the ages of 6 and 24 was
enrolled in a school or university. The degree to which food needs are met in Haiti is low. More
than half the population is unable to obtain the minimum food ration established by FAO of 225
kcal per year, per individual. A WFP report on food security and vulnerability showed that
households that face food insecurity 1 do not have adequate income and have a low level of access
to such basic essential services as drinking water and health facilities, particularly in rural areas
and shantytowns, where only 25 percent of inhabitants have access to drinking water and very
few persons have access to adequate health facilities. Overall, these households have a low level
of access to health care and markets and low levels of education and schooling. Access to basic
social services remains very limited – more than 77 percent in the 133 municipalities (2002) lack
basic services.
The Perception of Poverty by Households
28 In the view of households, the degree to which their basic needs are met is very limited,
particularly in rural areas. The problem is even more acute in the case of food and health. In rural
areas, only 13.1 percent of households think that they can meet their basic food needs and 9
percent think that they can address their health problems, compared to 33 percent and 28 percent
in the metropolitan area (La parole des Haïtiens, Haiti, p.54). Throughout Haiti, four of every five
households indicated that they are unable to properly meet their foods needs. These households
indicated that a reduction in their food ration is their first line of action in such situations.
Approximately 32 percent of households indicated that they would use potential additional
income to improve their food situation; 24 percent, for the education of their children; and 23
percent, for housing. Barely 9.6 percent of self-employed heads of household working in
agriculture indicate that they are able to meet their food needs. Data indicate that poverty and
vulnerability are widespread in both the rural and urban areas.
29 More than 70 percent of heads of household think that poverty has increased, particularly in
recent years. Job creation, controlling inflation, and access to land are the primary measures
recommended by households to address poverty. They appear to view the problem largely in
terms of purchasing power and access to the means of production.
1
This survey was conducted in four departments: West, North, North-East, and Central Plateau.
20