She made this statement during the launching of the 2019-2020 Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) held at the Sir Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre yesterday.
Vice President Touray said that the survey was important to the government of The Gambia, adding that the survey shows many ways in which the health system of The Gambia has improved and that government would make sure that the survey is held every three years.
Meanwhile, the 2019-2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey is the second demographic and health survey conducted in The Gambia, following the 2013 GDHS.
The objective of the survey was to provide reliable estimates of demographic and health indicators including fertility, sexual activity, maternal mortality, child health, female genital mutilation and domestic violence amongst others that can help policymakers and programme managers to evaluate and improve existing programmes.
According to the survey, nearly 7 in 10 married women were employed at any time in the year before the survey compared with 99% of married men.
“The majority of married women (85%), who are employed and earn cash make decisions on how to spend their earnings on their own, while 8% make decisions jointly with their husbands,” the survey reveals, adding that 80% of working women earn less than their husband.
While government declares its intention to close gaps to gender parity, the report of The Gambia Demographic and Health Survey has it that, 46% of women have experienced physical violence since age 15.
Going by the survey, 26% of women aged 15 to 49 who have experienced physical or sexual violence sought help to stop the violence. 65% of women never sought help nor told anyone.
The 2019-2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey provides data for monitoring the health situation of the population in The Gambia and is based on a national representative sample.
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