Dimensions and determinants of rural poverty
The economic crisis of the country persists although in muted form. The foreign debt rose from $24 million in the mid-1980s to $28.9 million in 1990. Budget and trade deficits were approximately $1.5 billion in the early 1990s. Inflation continued at about 18% in the early 1990s. The incidence of rural families living in poverty was 56% in 1991. Increasing rural poverty has resulted in migration to urban areas. Malnutrition affected about 14% of children under six in 1989/90 and is more widespread among girls.
