Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in El Salvador

As of 2005, the total expenses on health by the Salvadorian government is 7% of GDP and health per capita (Intl $) is 364. The Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare organizes mobile health units, field offices, professional medical missions, laboratories and clinics. The Rockefeller Foundation, UNICEF and other foreign establishments have supported the health campaigns.

In 2000, the major causes of death are bronchitis, gastroenteritis, maternal/perinatal, measles, malaria (almost 2,800 cases), pneumonia, tuberculosis (67 cases for every 100,000 individuals), HIV/AIDS (0.6 for every 100 adults) and injuries (200 for every 100,000 people). Other diseases that encountered in the country are asthma, diarrhea, emphysema, polio, tetanus, parasitic diseases and almost 48% of children below 5 years of age suffer from mild malnutrition.

About 80% of major transmission of HIV instances is caused by heterosexual sex. The contagion is mostly in urban areas. In 2007, the country received $2.17 million for necessary HIV/AIDS programs and assistances through USAID. The said assistance includes preparation in new methodologies to get through to the most-at-risk populations; promotes condoms and other birth control devices; media campaigns to support abstinence and partner reducing and rendering voluntary counseling.

Life expectation at birth m/f (years) is 67/75; healthy life anticipation at birth m/f is 57/62 (2003); possibility of dying below five for every 1000 live births is 25; chance of dying between 15 and 60 years for every 1000 population m/f is 256/127. The country had around 7,300 physicians or 1.1 for every 1,000 people, 1.6 hospital beds also for every 1,000 people as of 2000.