HEALTH SYSTEMS PROFILE HONDURAS - PAHO/WHO

Breastfeeding is a widespread practice. According to ENDESA 2005-2006, 95% of Honduran children
have breastfed at some time and 43% of children under 2 months of age received exclusive
breastfeeding. 11 Nevertheless, prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding in children under 3 months of age
was 42.4% in 1996 and 34% in 2005-2006 (Table 2).
Honduras has also progressed with regard to vaccine-preventable 12 diseases. Advances have been made
in eradication of wild poliovirus (1989); elimination of measles (1997) and rubella (2002); as well as
control of diphtheria, neonatal and non-neonatal tetanus, Hib meningitis, and tuberculosis. These
achievements are the result of increased vaccination. Over 90% coverage has been attained in the past
15 years.
Women’s Health
The age-specific fertility rate for females aged 15-19 years was 136 live births per 1,000 women in 1993-
1995 and 137 live births per 1,000 women in 1998-2000. 13 This figure decreased to 102 live births per
1,000 women in 2003-2006 (Table 2).
Delivery care by trained staff increased steadily from 53.8% in 1990-1994 to 55.2% in 1995-1999, and
66.9% in 2005-2006. A total of 64% of mothers received care by physicians and 3% by nurses. There
were significant differences between women living in urban (90%) and rural (50%) areas. There was a
high percentage of home deliveries in women aged 35 years or more (42%), especially multiparous
women with six or more children (58%). This situation poses a high risk, indicating that women living in
rural areas have less access to delivery care by trained staff. 14
Communicable Diseases
Dengue is still highly endemic. A total of 3,530 cases were recorded in 1990-1994, 19,766 cases in 1995-
1999, 15 and 18,303 cases in 2000-2004. This trend changed in 2007, when there were 24,660 new cases
(Table 2). There is evidence of circulation of 4 serotypes of dengue. The first cases of dengue
hemorrhagic fever were recorded in 1995. The prevalence rate of dengue hemorrhagic fever was 12.8
cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002. The rate increased to 24.7 in 2005. 16
There were 52,100 cases of malaria in 1994. This figure decreased to 46,740 cases in 1999 and 15,696
cases in 2004. The trend continued in 2007, when 13,913 cases were recorded. The annual prevalence
rate of tuberculosis has decreased steadily from 94.6 cases in 1991 to 91.7 cases in 1995, and 47.1
cases in 2004 (Table 2).
11
ENDESA 2005-2006, pp. 177, 180.
12
SS, Outpatient Care Bulletins, 1990- 2005. (UPEG draft document, p. 10).
13
This means that 137 out of every 1,000 females in the 15-19 years age group have already had at least one child.
14
ENDESA 2005-2006, pp. 143, 144, Table 9.6, p.146.
15
SS, Hospital Care Bulletin, Data on children born in hospitals.
16
MDG Honduras, Second Country Report 2007, p. 88.
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