Latest news with #HigherPopulationCouncil
Roya News
03-08-2025
- Health
- Roya News
Breastfeeding rates plummet in Jordan, prompting support efforts
As Jordan commemorates World Breastfeeding Week, officials and health advocates are raising concerns over declining breastfeeding rates and calling for a nationwide push to better support mothers, from hospitals to homes, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported. This year's campaign, running under the global theme 'Enabling Breastfeeding: Shared Responsibility of Health Systems and Communities,' is part of Jordan's wider 'Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures' initiative, which aims to prioritize maternal and child health. In a statement on Sunday, the Higher Population Council sounded the alarm on persistently low exclusive breastfeeding rates. Only 24 percent of Jordanian infants under six months are exclusively breastfed, a significant drop from 39 percent three decades ago. The council highlighted systemic gaps that continue to undermine breastfeeding practices, particularly within healthcare settings. Notably, nearly 70 percent of newborns delivered in private hospitals are separated from their mothers immediately after birth, disrupting the critical early skin-to-skin contact and delaying breastfeeding initiation. Just 38 percent of babies are exclusively breastfed during their first two days of life, with cesarean deliveries posing additional barriers. 'Breastfeeding is more than a nutritional choice, it's a foundational pillar of lifelong health,' health experts emphasize. In addition to providing ideal nourishment, breastfeeding strengthens immunity, reduces the risk of chronic disease, and promotes mother-child bonding. For mothers, it supports postpartum recovery, lowers cancer risks, and aids natural birth spacing. The economic burden of formula feeding also adds urgency to the issue, with the average Jordanian family spending about JD 55 per month on infant formula, a cost that hits hardest among low-income households. To address these challenges, the Higher Population Council is urging investments in healthcare worker training, stronger enforcement of breastfeeding-related regulations, and wider adoption of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. The Council also called for accessible counseling services before and after birth and broader enforcement of the international code restricting aggressive marketing of breast-milk substitutes.
Jordan Times
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Jordan Times
Traffic accidents surge in 2024, resulting in 543 deaths, 18,275 injuries — HPC
AMMAN — As Jordan marks World Traffic Day on Sunday, alarming statistics reveal a sharp increase in road traffic accidents in 2024, according to a report issued by the Higher Population Council (HPC). The number of traffic accidents rose to 190,175 in 2024, up from 122,970 in 2020. Accidents resulting in human casualties also saw a steep rise, increasing from 8,451 to 11,950 cases, with 543 deaths and 18,275 injuries reported in 2024 alone. The economic burden of these accidents is substantial. The HPC estimated the total direct and indirect cost at approximately JD958 million, representing 2.8 per cent of Jordan's gross domestic product, a figure that aligns with global averages. The report attributed 97.1 per cent of casualty-related accidents to human error, with male drivers involved in 89 per cent of such incidents. Road conditions were cited in 1.9 per cent of cases, while vehicle-related issues accounted for just 1 per cent. Drivers aged 18 to 35 were involved in more than half (52.4 per cent) of all accidents and represented 47.7 per cent of total casualties. Among the most common violations were failure to take proper precautions (42.2 per cent), lane violations (22.5 per cent), and failure to yield (10.2 per cent). Newly licensed drivers — those with less than three years of experience — were involved in 10.5 per cent of the total accidents. The HPC warned of worsening traffic congestion, particularly in the central and northern regions, due to the uneven geographic distribution of the population and the continuous rise in vehicle numbers. Currently, about 92 per cent of the population resides in the northwestern parts of the country, placing immense pressure on the road infrastructure. The number of registered vehicles in Jordan increased from 1.72 million in 2020 to nearly 2 million in 2024, equivalent to one vehicle for every six people, a dramatic shift from one in 69 in 1970. The figure is projected to surpass 2.3 million by 2030, underscoring the growing strain on the transportation network.
Jordan News
06-04-2025
- Health
- Jordan News
Higher Population Council: 43% of Births in Jordan are Cesarean; Child Marriage Rate Drops to 11% - Jordan News
Higher Population Council: 43% of Births in Jordan are Cesarean; Child Marriage Rate Drops to 11% The Higher Population Council confirmed that maternal and child health are fundamental to the well-being of families and healthy communities. Between 2010 and 2023, Jordan recorded approximately 2.9 million births, representing nearly a quarter of the population. The male-to-female birth ratio stood at 105 male births for every 100 female births. اضافة اعلان In a statement issued on Sunday in conjunction with World Health Day, which is celebrated tomorrow under the theme "Healthy Start for a Bright Future," the Council highlighted that improving the quality of maternal and child healthcare within integrated health systems contributes to ensuring a brighter future for society. The Council also mentioned a position paper titled "Ensuring Healthy Lives and Promoting Well-being for All at All Ages," which will be presented during the 58th Session of the Commission on Population and Development at the United Nations in New York, from April 7 to 11. The statement emphasized the importance of addressing child marriage, which accounted for about 15% of all first-time marriages between 2010 and 2023. This poses significant risks to maternal health, as 4.6% of Jordanian women gave birth to their first child before the age of 18. The Council stressed the need to strengthen healthcare before, during, and after pregnancy, along with health education, proper nutrition, and early screening for chronic diseases and breast cancer. Regarding cesarean births, the Council reported that about 43% of births in Jordan in 2023 were through cesarean section. The Council called for the promotion of safe natural childbirth under medical supervision, as well as providing psychological support for mothers during pregnancy and childbirth. It also urged the improvement of postnatal care, monitoring the health and mental well-being of mothers, and promoting exclusive breastfeeding, which lasts for only a month in Jordan. Additionally, family planning services are crucial, as unmet needs for contraception reach 11%, and rise to 33% when including those using traditional methods. In terms of neonatal health, the Council underscored the importance of post-birth medical checks, vaccinations, and proper nutrition. It reported that only 24% of infants under six months old are exclusively breastfed, according to the 2023 Population and Family Health Survey. The Council praised Jordan's efforts over the past two decades to improve the healthcare sector through digital transformation, automating maternal mortality records, and launching an electronic system for reporting births and deaths, which has enhanced the efficiency and responsiveness of the health system. The Council also noted that the Ministry of Health's strategic plan for 2023-2025 focuses on improving primary and preventive healthcare, reducing the spread of infectious and non-communicable diseases, and strengthening reproductive and child health services. These efforts have resulted in a rise in life expectancy to 75.3 years in 2023, a decrease in the under-five mortality rate to 15 deaths per 1,000 live births, a reduction in maternal mortality to 24 deaths per 100,000 live births, and a decrease in child marriage rates to 11%, down from 17% in 2017. Despite these improvements, the Council pointed out challenges in reproductive health services, including limited integration between reproductive health programs and primary care, varying service levels across regions, access difficulties for some women, low awareness of available services, and limited female participation in health decisions affecting them. The Council emphasized the need to adopt the "Family Health" model in primary healthcare and to implement the National Reproductive Health Strategy 2020-2030 through programs and projects that enhance the health and well-being of all family members. (Petra)
