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Haiti Census Reveals Troubling Statistics

11 May 2006

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) says results of Haiti's first census in more than two decades reveals troubling statistics about the country.

The survey found that half of Haiti's population is younger than age 20. It also found that less than half of the school-aged children are attending school and that unemployment stands at 33 percent.

The census, the first in 24 years, also found that Haiti has the highest maternal mortality ratio and the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the Western Hemisphere.

UNFPA representative Hernando Clavijo says the findings show a need to allocate more resources to education and reproductive health services in Haiti.

The census results come as Haitian President-elect Rene Preval prepares to be sworn into office on Sunday. Members of parliament were sworn in on Monday and Tuesday. The body's first session opened on Tuesday.

Mr. Preval was elected in February. Before his election, Haiti had been without a president or parliament since a popular uprising ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2004.

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