TNAG-0899-FCO40-1109-Refugees-from-Vietnam-in-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-boat-people-1979 — Page 166

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

Annex A

Report on the Health Simalion of the Vistramene

:

The general state of health of the Vietnamese refuge: ropulation most be considered against the backgrsord of their originally Jov standard in their own country which they have just left not long ago.

2.

Given the circumstances and the ordeal that they have gone through, coupled with their naturally lower standards of health, their resistance to diseases must be lower and this is particularly so in the case of children from the age of 0 to 4 years.

3.

Some ca of the state of health may be gleaned by all analysis of the mortality figures in the refugee camps, especially the infant mortality rate which is usually a very se.sitive index reflecting the general level of health of a population - in this case the refugees.

App. I

4.

App. II &

III

App.AIV

Appendix I shows the total number of deaths and the mortalit; rate per 1000 population in the camps in the recent three months, i.e. July to September, 1979.

5.

It will be seen that there has been a sigzinicant reduction in the number of deaths and the death rate per 1000 population in Sept.mber as compared to the previous two months. The comparatively higher death rambers and rates in July and August 1979 is due to the fact that about 66.7 of the deaths in July and 73.5% from 0 to 4 years of age.

in August respectively are among children

5.

As stated previously, the major causes of death among these children were post-measles pneumonia and bronchopneumonia. The draratio drop in death numbers and rates in September can be attributed to the effective immunisation programmes and other, health measures which have been, intcasified since July and Augest,

Infant Mortality Rate`*m:

7.

It will be seen that the infant mortality rate has also dropped dramatically in the latest month of September. However, compared to the infant mortality rate of the general Hong Kong population for the 3rd quarter of 1978 (103), the MR for the refugees is significantly higher. This is of course a reflection on the general level or health inherent in their country and their situation and the dramatic improvement in fact represents a significant change for the better. It must also be pointed out that it is not possible to change the general level of health overnight. After all, the infant mortality rate obtaining in liong Kong, which is comparable to many advanced countries in the world, has been attained over a period of more than a quarter of a century!

Infent a new born under one year old.

:

Infant Mortality

the death of a child under one year old.

Infant Mortality Rate

the number of deaths of children under one year of age per 1000 live births. (Generally accepted as a very sensitive index of the level of health of the populatio..).

CONFIDENTIAL

......

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.