The social policies implemented in Brazil over the last ten years have had a significant positive impact on the lives of women and children, according to a survey (Pesquisa Nacional de Demografia e Saúde da Criança e da Mulher – PNDS) released yesterday.

Taking a sample of 15 thousand women between the ages of 15 and 49, and 5 thousand children up to the age of 5, it was found that access to health services, hospital treatment, medicines and contraceptives has improved significantly.

A range of family-planning initiatives contributed to a fall in the fertility rate (the average number of children born per woman in her child-bearing years) from approximately 2.5 in 1996 to 1.8 in 2006.

Looking specifically at rural areas, the survey found that in 2006 97% of pregnant women had at least one medical consultation before the birth of their child, compared with 68% in 1996.

In the same ten-year period, malnutrition among Brazilian children under the age of five fell by more than 50%, contributing to a decrease of 44% in child mortality. These figures are in line with the findings of a UNICEF report published in January this year.

Source: Office of the President and Embassy of Brazil in London