2014年-世界发展银行全球_Yemen___Early_Childhood_Development_2013_28页_1mb

Summary of Yemen's Early Childhood Development (ECD) Policies and Status

Core Content

Yemen is a country of approximately 25 million people on the Arabian Peninsula, with a young and growing population, including around 5.8 million children under the age of 8. The country faces significant challenges in ECD, including political instability, poverty, violence, and widespread malnutrition. The Government of Yemen (GoY) has developed a National Strategy for Early Childhood Development (2011-2015), which aims to improve access and quality of ECD services, particularly preschool education and health/nutrition interventions.

The report is part of the SABER-ECD framework, a tool used by the World Bank to assess and compare ECD policies globally. It outlines three key policy goals for ECD: Establishing an Enabling Environment, Implementing Widely, and Monitoring and Assuring Quality. These goals are essential for ensuring optimal ECD outcomes and require a multi-sectoral, integrated approach.

Main Policy Goals and Key Points

1. Establishing an Enabling Environment

• Legal Framework: Yemen has laws that promote healthcare and nutrition, including the Children's Rights Law (2002) and the Yemeni Constitution, which recognizes the right to education and health and guarantees social safeguards.
• Healthcare: Free immunizations are available, but well-child visits are not mandatory. HIV/AIDS screening for pregnant women is not required, and only a small percentage of women receive testing.
• Nutrition: Mandatory iron fortification of staples exists, with 80% of white flour and 82% of cooking oils fortified. However, anemia remains a severe public health issue, with 68% of young children and 58% of pregnant women affected.
• Breastfeeding: Laws comply with the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, but the exclusive breastfeeding rate is low at 12% (2007–2011). A public awareness campaign is recommended to improve this rate.
• Parental Leave: Women are entitled to 60 days of paid maternity leave at 100% wage, with additional days for twins or difficult labor. There is no paternity leave, and no explicit prohibition on discrimination based on parental status.
• Child Protection: While some child protection measures exist, such as the Social Monitoring and Child Protection with Community Protection program, there is no national system for vulnerable and disadvantaged children. Child abuse is widespread, with 95% of caregivers using violent discipline.

2. Implementing Widely

• Preschool Access: Preschool enrollment is very low, with a gross pre-primary enrollment rate of 1% (2010). Most preschools are private, and access is limited to urban areas.
• Nutrition Programs: Existing programs do not fully address the acute need for nutrition interventions among young children and pregnant women.
• Health and Education Services: These services do not reach large numbers of families, and there is significant inequity in access between urban and rural areas and between different income groups.

3. Monitoring and Assuring Quality

• Data Collection: Limited data on ECD access and outcomes are available, and the types and number of children tracked could be expanded.
• Quality Standards: Few established standards for ECD services, and mechanisms for monitoring compliance are lacking.
• Evaluation: The National Strategy includes a monitoring and evaluation component, but the system is not yet robust.

Key Recommendations

• Develop and disseminate Arabic language materials on the benefits of breastfeeding.
• Encourage breastfeeding from an Islamic perspective and engage religious organizations.
• Train healthcare workers to support and educate mothers on breastfeeding.
• Engage NGOs, women's associations, and community leaders in promoting breastfeeding.
• Establish regular meeting schedules for the High Council for Motherhood and Childhood (HCMC) to improve coordination.
• Improve inter-sectoral coordination between health, education, and social sectors.
• Expand child protection programs, including the establishment of special children's courts.
• Strengthen funding mechanisms and ensure transparent allocation of resources.
• Develop comprehensive strategies to ensure universal access to ECD services.

Regional and International Comparisons

• Infant Mortality Rate: 57 per 1,000 live births (Yemen), compared to 19 (Egypt), 68 (Ethiopia), 31 (Iraq), and 66 (Sudan).
• Under-5 Mortality Rate: 77 per 1,000 live births (Yemen), compared to 22 (Egypt), 106 (Ethiopia), 39 (Iraq), and 103 (Sudan).
• Maternal Mortality Ratio: 370 per 100,000 births (Yemen), compared to 55 (Egypt), 670 (Ethiopia), 84 (Iraq), and 1,100 (Sudan).
• Gross Pre-primary Enrollment Rate: 1% (Yemen), compared to 29% (Egypt), 5% (Ethiopia), N/A (Iraq), and 27% (Sudan).
• Birth Registration Rate: 22% (Yemen), compared to 99% (Egypt), 7% (Ethiopia), 95% (Iraq), and 33% (Sudan).

Key Laws and Regulations

• UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Yemeni Constitution: Guarantees the right to education and health, and protects motherhood and childhood.
• Children's Rights Law (2002): Provides free primary healthcare for pregnant women and children, and ensures access to special services for children with disabilities.
• General Education Law (1992): Recognizes preschool as part of the education system.

Conclusion

Yemen is at an "Emerging" stage in ECD policy development, with some legal and institutional frameworks in place but significant gaps in implementation, monitoring, and quality assurance. Strengthening these areas is crucial to improving the well-being of young children and their families, especially in the context of the country's ongoing political and social challenges.