Health in Tajikistan
It is ranked as the poorest country within the WHO European region, including the lowest total health expenditure per capita.
In the post-Soviet era, life expectancy has decreased because of poor nutrition, polluted water supplies, and increased incidence of cholera, malaria, tuberculosis, and typhoid.
[6] In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 97.5% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income.
The under-five mortality rate (Figure 1) in 2015 was 45 for every thousand live births and while, these reductions fell short of the Millennium Development Goals[13] set for the region for 2015 there has been some progress made towards reducing child deaths.
[14] According to the World Health Organization, in Tajikistan, most child deaths are caused by diseases that are "readily preventable or treatable with proven, cost-effective and quality delivered interventions.
Official statistics from the Ministry of Health show that maternal mortality has decreased significantly, from more than 110 per 100,000 live births in 1995 to 44 in 2012.
In Tajikistan, "maternal mortality is conditioned by poor quality of services in antenatal delivery and postnatal care the lack of a functioning referral system the lack of means of transport especially in rural areas, and inadequate access to emergency obstetric care (EOC).
The leading factors are also regional disparities in human resource capacity, inadequate education and skills of health workers, combined with the lack of essential materials and equipment.
[18] Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and the largest contributor to the gap in mortality between central Asia and industrialized countries, with rates about five times higher than in western Europe.
[22] The majority of injuries causing disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were unintentional and related to road accidents.
[23] Substance abuse is one of the major behavioral risk factors contributing to years lived with disabilities (YLDs).
In 2013, the officially registered domestic consumption of drugs was relatively low at 7,470 addicts, but the UNODC and Red Cross estimate that up to 1.2% of the population or 100,000 people are regular opiates users.
Since the late 1990s, HIV occurrence has increased rapidly in areas such as the autonomous province of Gorno–Badakhshan, where the flow of narcotics is heavy and poverty is endemic.
The recently reported increase in sexual transmission among men could point to the hidden nature of MSM epidemic in Tajikistan.
[32] Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tajikistan has had a rapid and significant rise in seasonal migration, affecting all aspects of Tajik society.
Such levels of migration to Russia (high prevalence country) may result in increased numbers of HIV in Tajikistan.
Overall, 79% of respondents reported using condom during the last anal sexual intercourse and 16% of MSM mentioned having symptoms of STIs during the last year.
[36][37] Over the past 13 years, HIV prevention work has been implemented in Tajikistan with the support of GFATM; funding has also been available from US government and UN agencies.
HIV prevention services, as well as care and support are accessible through the network of NGOs and at local AIDS centers.
The country concept note for 2018–2020 GFATM funding envisaged financial allocations to civil society organizations for increasing access and engagement of KPs in seeking prevention packages, linkage to care, adherence to treatment, decreasing stigma and discrimination, providing legal support services, etc.
[38] However, MSM are not defined as a key population in the National Program to Fight the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2017–2020.
Additionally, due to recurrent natural disasters, deforestation, soil erosion, and droughts, just 24% of the rural population is food secure.
