Cambodia: Epidemiology and Public Health
Description and Health Profile
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country home to 14.5 million people, bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.1 After the communist Pol Pot regime and era of the Khmer Rouge came to an end in the 1970’s, the country has been slowly recovering from the Cambodian genocide and its ramifications.1 The last twenty years have seen relative stability in Cambodia, which has translated into significant improvements in population health, demonstrated by decreases in HIV and malaria deaths and improvements in infant, child, and maternal mortality.1,2 Despite these positive steps, the country still faces many struggles related to health; Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 17% of the population below the poverty line as of 2012.1,3 The majority of citizens are subsistence farmers, and the garment-making and tourism industries are currently the primary drivers of the economy.1
The implications of Cambodia’s historical events have resulted in a country dominated by a young population; over 50% of its residents are under 24 years of age, and over 90% are under 54 years of age.3 One source indicates the life expectancy is 62 years for …show more content…
The country has a tropical climate, with alternating dry and monsoon seasons, a seasonal pattern which encourages growth of insect vector populations.3 Further, almost 80% of the population lives in rural areas; of these, 30% lack access to improved drinking water sources, and almost 70% lack access to improved sanitation facilities, providing ideal conditions for foodborne, waterborne, and fecal-oral infections.3 The majority of roadways are unpaved, and only 5% of the population uses the internet, so distribution of public health and healthcare information and services is
Description and Health Profile
Cambodia is a Southeast Asian country home to 14.5 million people, bordered by Thailand, Laos and Vietnam.1 After the communist Pol Pot regime and era of the Khmer Rouge came to an end in the 1970’s, the country has been slowly recovering from the Cambodian genocide and its ramifications.1 The last twenty years have seen relative stability in Cambodia, which has translated into significant improvements in population health, demonstrated by decreases in HIV and malaria deaths and improvements in infant, child, and maternal mortality.1,2 Despite these positive steps, the country still faces many struggles related to health; Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than 17% of the population below the poverty line as of 2012.1,3 The majority of citizens are subsistence farmers, and the garment-making and tourism industries are currently the primary drivers of the economy.1
The implications of Cambodia’s historical events have resulted in a country dominated by a young population; over 50% of its residents are under 24 years of age, and over 90% are under 54 years of age.3 One source indicates the life expectancy is 62 years for …show more content…
The country has a tropical climate, with alternating dry and monsoon seasons, a seasonal pattern which encourages growth of insect vector populations.3 Further, almost 80% of the population lives in rural areas; of these, 30% lack access to improved drinking water sources, and almost 70% lack access to improved sanitation facilities, providing ideal conditions for foodborne, waterborne, and fecal-oral infections.3 The majority of roadways are unpaved, and only 5% of the population uses the internet, so distribution of public health and healthcare information and services is