The Context: A Brief Overview of Mozambique
Located on Africa's southeastern coast and sharing borders with South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, and Tanzania, Mozambique declared its independence from Portugal in 1975, following five centuries of colonial rule. Three decades later, Mozambique faces some of the most severe economic, demographic, and health-related problems in Africa. In its struggle to recover from nearly 20 years of civil war, Mozambique must cope with frequent droughts and floods, widespread social and economic inequalities, a crumbling infrastructure, a predominantly rural population with little access to health services, a per capita income of $80, and the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS.

Mozambique at a glance
Government type: Republic
Languages: Portuguese (official), indigenous dialects
Ethnic groups: indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Shangaan, Chokwe, Manyika, Sena, Makua, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%
Religious beliefs: indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20% 
Labor Force: agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13%

Total population: 18 million
Percent of population under the age of 15: 45%
Urban population: 29%
Life expectancy: 34 years (recently revised down from 50 years as a result of HIV/AIDS)

Focus on reproductive health
Total fertility rate (average number of children born to a woman in her lifetime): 5.1
Contraceptive prevalence rate (among married women aged 14-49): 5% (modern methods); 5% (all methods)
Maternal mortality ratio (number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births): 980
In Mozambique abortion is legal to save the life or preserve the health of the woman.

Focus on young women
Percentage of single females aged 15-19 who are sexually active: 11%
Percentage of females aged 15-19 who are currently married: 45%
Women's average age at first marriage: 17
Percentage of females who have given birth by age 20: 65%

Focus on HIV/AIDS
*Percentage of adults living with HIV/AIDS: 16.2%
**Number of HIV-positive adults (aged 15-49): 1.2 million
**Number of HIV-positive women (aged 15-49): 670,000

Focus on gender
Percentage of female-headed households: 27%
Literacy rate for women (ages 15+): 29%
Literacy rate for men (ages 15+): 60%
Women as a percent of parliament: 30%
In 2000, 84% of women aged 15-64 were participating in the labor force, compared to 91% of men in the same age group.

Source: Population Reference Bureau, www.prb.org

*Source: Reuters

**Source: UNAIDS, www.unaids.org