CARICOM CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CCDP)

National Census Report 2001, St. Vincent and the Grenadines7.6.3 Public HospitalsPersons visiting the public hospital during the one-month reference period accounted for 19.19per cent of all persons that visited a health facility, (Table 7.4). There is one public hospital inthe whole country that offers secondary and tertiary care services, mainly emergency, specialistcare and hospitalisation (MOH, 2004). More females than males in all the age groups, exceptamong children, accessed this type of service. Among children, boys outnumbered girls. Theuse of public hospital was highest among the children and those in the 25 to 44 age group,accounting for 26.45 and 24.56 per cent respectively.7.6.4 PharmacyAbout six out of every ten persons that used a pharmacy in the reference period were females.The proportion of females using this facility as the main source was even higher among those inthe females 15 to 24 years age group (71.74 per cent). The 25 to 44 age group accounted for thelargest share (33.06 per cent) of those that used this facility and the elderly (12.10 per cent), theleast.7.6.5 Other Medical FacilitiesA small proportion (2.99 per cent) visited private clinics, family planning and other medicalfacilities. The majority of the 167 persons that visited a family planning facility were females(82.63 per cent), and in the 15 to 24 and the 25 to 44 age groups (28.14 and 41.32 per cent).This is expected, especially since the services offered at the family planning facility cater mainlyfor those in the reproductive age group. Furthermore, the services offered to males are fewer.102