CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE Region Five (5)
Mahaica-Berbice
Ministry of Communities Building cohesive, empowered and sustainable communities
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 1 Mahaica-Berbice
Published by
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
72 Brickdam, Georgetown, Guyana. South America. www.unicef.org/guyana
Unicef Guyana & Suriname
UNICEF GUYANA & SURINAME
United Nations Children’s Fund
September 2017
2 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Table of Contents
Regional Profile ...... 4
Background ...... 5
Child Development ...... 7 Mahaica-Berbice 5 Child Protection ...... 8
Water and Sanitation ...... 9
Vaccinations ...... 10
Nutrition ...... 11
Reproductive Health ...... 12
Education ...... 13
Health ...... 14
Other ...... 15
Conclusions ...... 16
Annex ...... 17
There is no better investment in this world than investment in children. — President David Granger, August 21, 2017
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 3 Mahaica-Berbice Region 5 Mahaica-Berbice
The Mahaica-Berbice RegionRegion extends east of the Mahaica River to the West Bank of the Berbice River. A large part of the region is Low Coastal Plain. Further inland are the Intermediate Savannahs and Hilly Sand and Clay region. The population of Region 5, 49,498, is much lower than in Region 4. Rice farming is the main economic activity of this region, followed by sugar and coconut farming and beef and dairy cattle ranching. The region has a water conservancy project aimed at improving the drainage and irrigation of the area. Great dams were erected across the headwaters of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Creeks to prevent the flooding of the farmlands during the wet seasons. During the dry seasons, the dams are opened to allow the land to be properly irrigated. Indigenous Peoples living in inland settlements make beautiful nibbi furniture, tibisiri baskets and other craft items, which they sell to earn their living.
Location of Region 5 (Mahaica-Berbice)
4 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Background Background Context
The Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and the UnitedUnited Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) are committed to the wellbeing and, development of Guyanese children. The Government, at the national and sub-national levels, is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). UNICEF is the custodian or co-custodian of 10 of the SDG indicators (stunting, wasting/ overweight, skilled attendance at birth, under five mortality, neonatal mortality, early childhood development, early marriage, FGM/C, child discipline and sexual violence against children). This commitment is demonstrated by their support for the generation and dissemination of evidence to inform the development of plans, policies, projects, and programmes to address equity gaps in areas of survival, lifelong learning, protection, and participation of children.
Need for Developmental Data
Building sustainable communities is part of the Ministry of Communities’ mandate. An essential component of sustainable communities is being child-friendly. This effort to develop child-friendly regional data profiles is a repackaging of existing data, from empirical sources, in a way that is specific to a region and can be used by decision makers, to the fullest extent possible, for the realisation of child rights. It can also assist in supporting the achievement of the SDGs.
Disaggregated data on social indicators are an essential component of evidence informed policies, plans, projects and programmes. It enables actors to effectively monitor progress toward the realisation of national and international goals and commitments and helps to measure whether these goals have been achieved and to what extent. Data supports national and sub-national governance structures to focus their interventions on the most deprived thereby reducing inequities and identifying capacity deprivations for corresponding capacity building initiatives.
Methodology
The process of developing this risk-informed profile was participatory and involved varied stakeholders. For the social indicators the Multiple Cluster Indicators Survey (MICS) 2014 was used along with other national surveys, consultations were carried out with the Regional Administration and other stakeholders to present the findings, seek consensusand validate the processes. The data presented and the profile prepared represent a commitment by the Regional Administration and stakeholders to sustainable community development in a child-friendly way.
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 5 Mahaica-Berbice
The profile indicates areas of achievements and areas of depravations, some of which are the lowest in the country. Undoubtedly the regional administration, national government, local actors and international development partners will work to address the issues the data unfolds. To determine the relativerelative exposure to hazards across the region, a combination of an analysis of the characteristics of each of the priority hazards and primary data on locations affected by each hazard was utilised by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC). The primary data was provided by the participants of regional consultations and respondents to the questionnaire survey in addition to their first-hand experience in the region. The CDC then verified and cross-referenced with secondary data sources.
6 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Child Development Child Development
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 1.1: Early Childhood Development Indexi 92.2 percent of the children of the region are developmentally on track. Mahaica-Berbice 92.2%
National 85.6%
Fig. 1.2: Availability of Playthingsii 66.2 percent of the region’s children have playthings. Mahaica-Berbice 66.2%
National 66.7%
Fig. 1.3: Availability of Children’s Booksiii Only 52.2 percent of the region’s children have books which is a reason for concern. Mahaica-Berbice 52.2% There is a positive relationship with higher literacy levels and educational achievement and the availability of books National 41.2% in childhood.
Fig. 1.4: Support for Learningiv 13.2 percent of the males in the region play a role in their children’s learning. This may also indicate a high incidence of matrifocal households which is related to 47.6% higher levels of poverty. Mother’s support for learning is also low at 47.6 percent which is low and is below the national average.
Percentage of Children Percentage 13.2%
Father’s support Mother’s support for learning for learning
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 7 Mahaica-Berbice Child Protection
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 2.1: Birth Registrationv Birth Registration is 82.6 percent. Efforts should be made to realise 100 percent. Mahaica-Berbice 82.6%
National 88.7%
Fig. 2.2: Child Labourvi Child Labour is at 13.8 percent, which is slightly better than the national average. Mahaica-Berbice 13.8%
National 18.3%
Fig. 2.3: Child Marriage Before Age 15 Child Marriage before 15 is at 6.9 percent [Female]vii but higher than the national average.
Mahaica-Berbice 6.9%
National 5.0%
Fig. 2.4: Violent Discipline of Childrenviii Violent discipline of children is high at 65.5 percent and presents an area for work for all actors. Mahaica-Berbice 65.5%
National 69.7%
Fig. 2.5: Child Marriages Before Age 18 Child Marriage before age 18 is high at 34.3 [Female] percent and above the national average of 26.9 percent. Delayed marriage in women is positively related to several indicators Mahaica-Berbice 34.3% including higher national educational levels of achievements and lower levels of National 26.9% domestic violence.
8 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Water and Sanitation Water and Sanitation
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 3.1: Use of Improved Drinking Sourcesx 91.9 percent of residents have access to clean and improved drinking water Mahaica-Berbice 91.9% sources.
National 94.2%
Fig. 3.2: Use of Improved Sanitationxi More than 86 percent of the region’s population have improved sanitation, Mahaica-Berbice 86.4% making the region and the country well on its way to achieving the SDG. National 86.9%
Fig. 3.3: Water Treatmentxii 52.3 percent of the population has a system for treating its water. More focus Mahaica-Berbice 52.3% and work need to be placed on this indicator. National 27.4%
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 9 Mahaica-Berbice Vaccinations
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 4.1: Polio Immunisation Coveragexv 98 percent of the children of this region are immunised against Polio. This is higher Mahaica-Berbice 98.0% than the national average.
National 89.9%
Fig. 4.2: Tuberculosis Immunisation 98 percent of the population of this region Coveragexvi are immunized against Tuberculosis. This is higher than the national average which stands at 94.6 percent. Mahaica-Berbice 98.0%
National 94.6%
Fig. 4.3: Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus The DPT coverage for this region is 89 (DPT) Immunisation Coverage percent, which mirrors the national average. (Pentavalent)xvii
Mahaica-Berbice 89.0%
National 89.2%
Fig. 4.4: Measles Immunisation Coveragexviii
Mahaica-Berbice 100.0%
National 94.1%
Measles and Yellow fever immunisation coverage are both at 100 percent. The Fig. 4.5: Yellow Fever Immunisation region has managed to make significant Coveragexix achievements in the area of immunisation.
Mahaica-Berbice 100.0%
National 71.5%
10 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Nutrition Nutrition
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 5.1: Child Ever Breastfedxx 94.9 percent of the population of infants in the region were breastfed at least Mahaica-Berbice 94.9% once, indicating a heightened sense of awareness among mothers about the importance of breast milk and postnatal National 91.4% nutrition for healthy children.
Fig. 5.2: Early Initiation of Breastfeedingxxi 94.9 percent of the population have had an early initiation of breastfeeding. Mahaica-Berbice 94.9%
National 91.4%
Fig. 5.3: Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Exclusive breastfeeding is low at 28.8 Six Monthsxxii percent though higher than the national average of 23.3 percent. The goal is 100 percent exclusive breastfeeding under Mahaica-Berbice 28.8% six months. Efforts should be targeted at increasing this indicator since it has an National 23.3% impact on the future health of children.
Fig. 5.4: Age-appropriate Breastfeedingxxiv Age-appropriate breastfeeding is also low at 39.8 percent and below the national average of 45.4 percent. Mahaica-Berbice 39.8%
National 45.4%
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 11 Mahaica-Berbice Reproductive Health
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 6.1: Antenatal Care Coveragexxv This indicator shows that the region is on track in covering over 95 percent of those Mahaica-Berbice 95.4% needing antenatal care.
National 87.9%
Fig. 6.2: Adolescent Birth Ratexxvi Adolescent birth rate is 2.7 percent. While this is below the national average efforts Mahaica-Berbice 2.7% are still needed to zero adolescent births.
National 3.9%
Fig. 6.3: Early Child Bearingxxvii Early Child Bearing is high at 23.9 percent and higher than the national average of Mahaica-Berbice 23.9% 15.8 percent. Delayed child bearing has many health and social positives for both mother and child. National 15.8%
Fig. 6.4: Contraceptive Prevalence Ratexxviii 32.7 percent of residents are using contraceptives. The availability of Mahaica-Berbice 32.7% contraceptives, including the types required, are factors that can influence use. National 34.3%
12 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Education Education
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 7.1: School Readinessxxix School readiness in this region stands at 91.7 percent. This is well above the Mahaica-Berbice 91.7% national average.
National 76.0%
Fig. 7.2: Net Intake in Primary Educationxxx The net intake in Primary Education is 84.6 percent. Though higher than the national Mahaica-Berbice 84.6% average, it is still less than 100 percent and therefore should be a point of focus. National 78.6%
Fig. 7.3: Transition Rate to Secondary The transition rate to Secondary school Schoolxxxii in this region is 100 percent which is commendable and should be maintained. Mahaica-Berbice 100.0%
National 88.5%
Fig. 7.4: Availability of Children’s The availability of learning materials and Booksxxxiii resources needed for a successful and fulfilling school life is 52.2 percent. This infers that just about half of the children Mahaica-Berbice 52.2% in this region do not have children books.
National 41.2%
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 13 Mahaica-Berbice Health
Achievements /Areas for Attention
Fig. 8.1: Neonatal Mortality Ratexxxiv Neonatal mortality rate in this region, though lower than the national rate, is Mahaica-Berbice 15.0% still relatively high and needs immediate attention. National 23.0%
Fig. 8.2: Use of Tobacco [Male]xxxv About one in every five persons in this region use Tobacco. The percentage of Mahaica-Berbice 19.5% users stand at 19.5 percent.
National 20.7%
Fig. 8.3: Smoking Before Age 15 [Male]xxxvi 13.8 percent of the males in this region, are smoking before age 15. This is also Mahaica-Berbice 13.8% higher than the national average.
National 9.4%
Fig. 8.4: Use of Alcohol [Male]xxxvii 61 percent of males in the region use alcohol and is a cause for concern as it can Mahaica-Berbice 61.0% lead to unwanted social consequences including violence against women and children. National 63.0%
14 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Other Other
Achievements /Areas for Attention Fig. 9.1: Use of Internet [Male]xxxviii
Mahaica-Berbice 57.0%
National 66.5%
57.0 of males and 53.9 of females use the internet. The internet can be a source of information for education, personal and community development. Fig. 9.2: Use of Internet [Female]xxxix
Mahaica-Berbice 53.9%
National 66.6%
Fig. 9.3: Exposure to Mass Media [Male]xlii
Mahaica-Berbice 31.9%
National 41.3%
31.9 percent of males and 42 percent of females are exposed to mass media and these figures should be increased. Mass media is a medium for public education programmes and a medium of xliii Fig. 9.4: Exposure to Mass Media [Female] development. Inaccess to mass media can limit the effectiveness of development Mahaica-Berbice 42.0% programmes.
National 39.9%
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 15 Mahaica-Berbice Conclusions
This risk-informed child-friendly profile represents an important first step in the presentation of regional aggregated indicators of women and children.
It can be an important addition to the resources on the achievement of national goals and policies.
It is hoped that the resource will be used by all actors in the achievement of a more child-friendly society.
As this is a first step, the Ministry of Communities welcomes your feedback and response to the document. Feedback will allow us to improve future editions.
16 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Annex Annex i. Number of children age 36-59 months who are xiii. Number of households with a specific place for developmentally on track in at least three of the hand washing where water and soap or other cleansing following four domains: literacy-numeracy, physical, agents are present. Total number of households. social-emotional, and learning. Total number of children age 36-59 months xiv. Number of households with soap or other cleansing agents. Total number of households. ii. Number of children under age 5 who play with two or more types of playthings. Total number of children xv. Number of children age 12-23 months who received under age 5. the third dose of OPV vaccine (OPV3) by their first birthday. Total number of .children aged 12-23 months. iii. Number of children under age 5 who have three or more children’s books. Total number of children under xvi. Number of children age 12-23 months who received age 5. BCG vaccine by their first birthday. Total number of children aged 12-23 months. iv. Number of children age 36-59 months who are attending an early childhood education programme. xvii. Number of children age 12-23 months who Total number of children age 36-59 months. received the third dose of DPT vaccine (DPT3) by their first birthday. Total number of children aged 12-23 v. Number of children under age 5 whose births are months. reported registered. Total number of children under age 5. xviii. Number of children age 24-35 months who received measles vaccine by their second birthday. Total vi. Number of children age 5-17 years who are involved number of children aged 24-35 months. in child labour. Total number of children age 5-17 years xix. Number of children age 24-35 months who received vii. Number of women age 15-49 years who were first yellow fever vaccine by their second birthday. Total married or in union before age 15. Total number of number of children aged 24-35 months. women age 15-49 years. xx. Number of women with a live birth in the last 2 years viii. Number of children age 1-14 years who experienced who breastfed their last live-born child at any time. Total psychological aggression or physical punishment during number of women with a live birth in the last 2 years the last one month. Total number of children age 1-14 years. xxi. Number of women with a live birth in the last 2 years who put their last newborn to the breast within ix. Number of women age 20-49 years who were first one hour of birth. Total number of women with a live married or in union before age 18. Total number of birth in the last 2 years. women aged 20-49. xxii. Number of infants under 6 months of age who are x. Number of household members using improved exclusively breastfed Total number of infants under 6 sources of drinking water. Total number of household months of age. members. xxiii. The age in months when 50 percent of children xi. Number of household members using improved age 0-35 months did not receive breast milk during the sanitation facilities which are not shared. Total number previous day of household members. xxiv. Number of children age 0-23 months appropriately xii. Number of household members in households using fed during the previous day. Total number of unimproved drinking water who use an appropriate children age 0-23 months. treatment method. Total number of household members in households using unimproved drinking water sources. xxv. Number of women age 15-49 years with a live birth in the last 2 years who were attended during their last pregnancy that led to a live birth
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 17 Mahaica-Berbice
(a) at least once by skilled health personnel and month. Total number of men aged 15-49.
(b) at least four times by any provider. Total number xxxviii. Number of young men age 15-24 who used the of women age 15-49 years with a live birth in the last 2 internet during the last 12 months. Total number of men years. aged 15-24. xxvi. Age-specific fertility rate for women age 15-19 xxxix. Number of young women age 15-24 who used years. the internet during the last 12 months. Total number of women aged 15-24. xxvii. Number of women age 20-24 years who had at least one live birth before age 18. Total number of xl. Number of men age 15-24 years who are very or women aged 20-24. somewhat satisfied with their life, overall. Total number of men age 15-24 years. xxviii. Number of women age 15-49 years currently married or in union who are using (or whose partner is xli. Number of women age 15-24 years who are very or using) a (modern or traditional) contraceptive method. somewhat satisfied with their life, overall. Total number Total number of women age 15-49 years who are of women age 15-24 years. currently married or in union. xlii. Number of men age 15-49 years who, at least once a xxiv. Number of children in first grade of primary school week, read a newspaper or magazine, listen to the radio, who attended pre-school during the previous school and watch television. Total number of men aged 15-49. year. Total number of children attending the first grade of primary school. xliii. Number of men age 15-49 years who, at least once a week, read a newspaper or magazine, listen to the xxx. Number of children of school-entry age who radio, and watch television. Total number of men aged enter the first grade of primary school. Total number of 15-49. children of school entry age. xxxi. Number of children attending the last grade of primary school (excluding repeaters). Total number of children of primary school completion age (age appropriate to final grade of primary school). xxxii. Number of children attending the last grade of primary school during the previous school year who are in the first grade of secondary school during the current school year. Total number of children attending the last grade of primary school during the previous school year. xxxiii. Number of children under age 5 who have three or more children’s books. Total number of children under age 5. xxxiv. Probability of dying within the first month of life. xxxv. Number of men age 15-49 years who smoked cigarettes, or used smoked or smokeless tobacco products at any time during the last one month. Total number of men age 15-49 years. xxxvi. Number of men age 15-49 years who smoked a whole cigarette before age 15. Total number of men aged 15-49. xxxvii. Number of men age 15-49 years who had at least one alcoholic drink at any time during the last one
18 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) Notes Notes
CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5) 19 Mahaica-Berbice
20 CHILD-FRIENDLY REGIONAL PROFILE - Region Five (5)