A landlocked sub-Saharan country, Burkina Faso is among the poorest countries in the world—44 percent of its population lives below the international poverty line of US$1.90 per day (UNICEF 2017)—and it ranks 185th out of 188 countries on UNDP's 2016 Human Development Index (UNDP 2016). Rapid population growth, gender inequality, and low levels of educational attainment contribute to food insecurity and poverty in Burkina Faso. The total population is just over 20 million with the estimated population growth rate is 3.1 percent per year and seven out of 10 Burkinabe are younger than 30. Total health care expenditures were an estimated 5% of GDP. Total expenditure on health per capita is 82 (int dollar) in 2014.
Despite increased government funding and an effective expansion of proven health interventions, Burkina Faso still faces major challenges in the health sector. Communicable diseases continue to be the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in the country, with malaria being the largest contributor to mortality for children under 5 years of age. In addition, Burkina Faso did not fully meet Millennium Development Goals in child mortality, maternal mortality and sanitation. USAID is contributing to new advances in health by increasing malaria prevention and control and expanding access to improved water resources, sanitation and family planning.
A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by The Lancet in September 2018. Burkina Faso had the fourth lowest level of expected human capital countries with 3 health, education, and learning-adjusted expected years lived between age 20 and 64 years. This was an improvement over 1990 when its score was 1.
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative finds that Burkina Faso is fulfilling 72.6% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income. When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Burkina Faso achieves 81.6% of what is expected based on its current income. In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 85.0% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. Burkina Faso falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 51.1% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.
Overall health indicators Burkina Faso nutrition data, based on SMART (Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions) surveys conducted by the Ministry of Health 2015–2017, was as follows, per the USAID. +Indicators2015 (%)2017 (%)Prevalence of stunting (under 5 years)3021Prevalence of underweight (under 5 years)2316Prevalence of wasting ( under 5 years)109Prevalence of low birth weight14NAPrevalence of anemia ( 6–59 months)n83NAPrevalence of anemia ( reproductive aged )62NAPrevalence of thinness ( reproductive aged women)16NAPrevalence of thinness ( adolescent girls)23NAExclusive breastfed children 4748Prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding4756Prevalence of children who received a prelacteal feed36NAPrevalence of breastfed children 6–23 months receiving minimum acceptable diet1414Prevalence of overweight/ obesity among children under 5 years12Prevalence of overweight/ obesity among women of reproductive age 11NACoverage of iron for pregnant women ( for at least 90 days)50NACoverage of vitamin A supplements for children8776Percentage of children (6-59months ) living in households with iodized salt23NA
Life expectancy
In 2023, the average life expectancy in Burkina Faso was estimated at 58,9 for males and 63,2 for females which gives it a world life expectancy ranking of 179.
HIV AIDS In 2016, Burkina Faso had 3400 (2200 - 5000) new HIV infections and 3100 (2000 - 4500) AIDS-related deaths. There were 95 000 (77 000 - 120 000) people living with HIV in 2016, among whom 60% (49% - 74%) were accessing anti retroviral therapy. Among pregnant women living with HIV, 83% (65% - >95%) were accessing treatment or prophylaxis to prevent transmission of HIV to their children. An estimated <1000 (<500 - <1000) children were newly infected with HIV due to mother-to-child transmission. The key populations most affected by HIV in Burkina Faso are sex workers, with an HIV prevalence of 16.2%, gay men and other men who have sex with men, with an HIV prevalence of 3.6% and prisoners, with an HIV prevalence of 3%. In Burkina Faso, three out of four girls and women have undergone FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) . But work to reverse this trend is proving successful: community meetings, peer education and a law banning the practice have helped to reduce the numbers of girls getting cut by 31%. Overall, These figures highlight the ongoing public health challenges in the country.
Population Statistics Total population(2016) 20 million Gross national income per capita (PPP international $, 2013) 1992 int dollar Life expectancy at birth m/f (years, 2016) 60/61 Under five mortality rate (per 1 000 live births, 2016) 102 Infant/under one mortality rate (per 1 000 live births, 2016 66 Neonatal mortality rate (per 1 000 live births, 2016) 28 Probability of dying between 15 and 60 years m/f (per 1 000 population, 2016) 273/239 Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2014) 82 Total expenditure on health as % of GDP (2014) 5
Evolution
1960-1979 In place was an "all state" model, strongly centralized with a weak health system infrastructure, and a strong presence of mobile health teams coming from a centralized level. There was no involvement of the local populations. Under the "all state" model, the state managed everything. Communities were not consulted, nor were they implicated in the management of the health services provided. Consequences of this model were geographic and financial inaccessibility as well as a weak frequentation of health services, causing high levels of illness and death. 1980-1990 The concept of primary healthcare was introduced along with the creation of primary healthcare posts. However, the healthcare system was still largely based on the "all state" model which was showing its limitations. 1987 At the conference of African Ministers of Health in Bamako, Mali, it was found that there were many weaknesses in centralization. All decisions were made at high levels. Local communities had no forum to voice concerns of weak coverage and the lack of services available. Also within the health infrastructure, it was found that the cost of services were high, as were levels of death. L’Initiative de Bamako (IB) – The Bamako Initiative was therefore developed based on decentralizing resources in order to reinforce the ideology of Primary Health Care - Soins de Santé Primaires (SSP). This system gave the responsibility for the management of their own healthcare entirely to the community level. Les Soins de Santé Primaires (SSP) – Primary Health Care was essentially based on practical techniques and methodology. Scientifically valuable and socially acceptable, the system was rendered universally accessible to individuals and families in the community. The country could then assume autonomy and self-determination in each step of their health development. 1991–present The healthcare system was reorganized into Health Districts that function under the Bamako Initiative. This was effectively put into place in Burkina Faso in October 1993.http://www.pcburkina.org/content/week1-session2-health-system-bfdoc
Three level pyramidal health system As of 2019, there were 1,721 medical facilities in Burkina Faso. Administratively, Burkina Faso has a three-level pyramidal health system that comprises from the top to the bottom: The national and central health directorates, all located in Ouagadougou, the capital city. These are the national directorates of the Ministry of Health and also the cabinet of the Minister of Health in Burkina Faso. The role of this top level is to draw the national health policy in Burkina Faso and to take appropriate measures for funding and implementation of the health policy. The regional structures at the intermediate level consist of 13 regional health directorates that are in charge of health policy implementation in each of the 13 administrative regions of the country. The peripheral or district level at the bottom is made of 63 health districts and 1495 primary health facilities (in 2012) which are named Centre de Santé et de Promotion Social (CSPS). This level is in charge of health policy implementation and also provides data and reports needed for changes or new recommendations about the national health policy.
On the organizational aspect, the health care system comprises from the top to bottom: Three university hospitals, two in Ouagadougou (Pediatrie Charles de Gaull Centre Hospitalier Universitaire National and Yalgado Ouedraogo Centre Hospitalier Universitaire National) and one in Bobo-Dioulasso (Souro Sanou Centre Hospitalier Universitaire National), and one national hospital (Blaise Compaore Centre Hospitalier National). These facilities are expected to provide the highest available quality of care in Burkina Faso. Medical care is provided by medical experts (specialists) and clinical research should be conducted in these settings. Nine regional hospitals scattered through the 13 regions of Burkina Faso (Dédougou Centre Hospitalier Régional, Banfora Centre Hospitalier Régional, Tenkodogo Centre Hospitalier Régional, Kaya Centre Hospitalier Régional, Koudougou Centre Hospitalier Régional, Fada Centre Hospitalier Régional, Ouahigouya Centre Hospitalier Régional, Dori Centre Hospitalier Régional, and Gaoua Centre Hospitalier Régional). These facilities are referral hospitals for a given region and the staffs include specialists in gynaecology-obstetrics and in general surgery. Sixty-three district hospitals of which 43 can provide comprehensive emergency obstetric care (i.e. caesarean section and transfusion) and 1429 primary health facilities (in 2012) that provide basic health care.
Organization of the peripheral level District: The District Health Team provides technical assistance to and is the administrative authority over the CMA, CSPS, and CoGes. The District Team is responsible for technical guidance and the proper functioning of the Health District. The Team is composed of at least four staff members that oversee the following areas: planning, supervision, training, management, health research Medical centers with surgical services: The medical centers with surgical services serve as a technical assistant to the primary health facilities. Each has a large specialized staff. Technical Services Provided are Medical, Pediatric, Surgery, Laboratory, Orthodontist, Pharmacy Primary health facilities or Centre de Santé et Promotion Sociale (CSPS): The CSPS provides a Minimum Package of Services, comprising activities pertaining to both preventive and curative care, and also maternal and infant health. Preventative Care: Health Education, prevention and Control of Locally Endemic Diseases, promotion of Food Supply and Proper Nutrition, adequate Supply of Safe Water and Basic Sanitation Curative Care: General Consultations, treatment of Common Illnesses and Injuries, simple Surgery and Wound Dressing, provision of Essential Drugs, maternal and Infant Health (Prenatal Consultations, Postnatal Consultations, Births, Baby Weighings, Family Planning, Vaccinations)