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  • Title: Sudan.
    Author: United Nations. Department of International Economic and Social Affairs. Population Division, United Nations Fund for Population Activities UNFPA.
    Journal: Popul Policy Compend; 1984 May; ():1-7. PubMed ID: 12313300.
    Abstract:
    The Sudan currently has a population of 18,618,000, with an annual rate of population growth of 3.1% and a rate of natural increase of 2.8%. Population size estimates for the year 2000 range from 32,064,000-33,762,000. The Sudan does not have an explicit policy to modify population growth, although the government is currently in the early stages of formulating a population policy. The current population growth rate is considered satisfactory because of the lack of population pressure on presently developed land, large areas of undeveloped land and unutilized agricultural potential, and low levels of open unemployment. However, the government seeks to modify spatial distribution to attain a better balance between population and resources. This will be accomplished through social infrastructure investments in rural and desert areas, regional development, sedentarization of nomads, development of new towns, and administrative decentralization. In addition, there is major concern with the high influx of undocumented workers and refugees and the significant emigration of skilled personnel. Life expectancy at birth stands at 45.1 years and the infant mortality rate is 131/1000. Current levels and trends of mortality are considered unacceptably high. Major health problems include schistosomiasis, malaria, malnutrition, infectious childhood diseases, and unsafe water. Primary health care is being prioritized to reduce regional differentials in health status and increase accessibility to health services. The total fertility rate has remained constant at 6-7 births/woman, but the government has been cautious with regard to family planning because of generally negative attitudes of Sudanese women toward birth control. Family planning has been integrated into maternal and child health services, although close to half of all ever-married women have never heard of family planning methods and only 6% of currently married fecund women are contraceptive users. The chief acceptors of family planning in the Sudan appear to be young married women who use contraception to space births.
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