Data on DH technologies (DHTs) adoption in Yemen |
Percentage of healthcare facilities with access to electronic medical records (EMR) | 55% fully operational | Percentage of functional health facilities in Yemen | Yemen faces significant challenges due to ongoing conflict that affects health infrastructure. However, adopting health information technology, including EMRs, has improved access to care, especially for underserved communities |
31% functioning partially |
13% non-operational |
Specific data on EMR adoption rates in Yemen is scarce |
Utilization rates of telemedicine/telehealth services | 22% | The national telehealth utilization rate among adults by mid-2021 was down from the early pandemic peak but still above pre-pandemic levels | The adoption of telemedicine in Yemen is promising, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinicians have increasingly used telehealth modalities, including video-based and audio-only services |
Use of mHealth apps and other DH tools by healthcare providers | 66% | Telehealth | As in other regions, mHealth apps play a crucial role in Yemen. While specific data is limited, adopting DH tools has expanded access to healthcare. Clinicians have used such tools |
66% | Electronic health records (EHRs) |
49% | Patient portals |
41% | Health information exchange |
39% | Prescription drug monitoring programs |
27% | Remote/home monitoring |
22% | Wearable devices |
Barriers to DHTs adoption (lack of training, funding, regulations, etc.) | 53% | Time constraints | Challenges of using DHTs include: Incomplete and difficult-to-use health information exchange interfaces for providers. Internet/broadband access and poor connectivity are another challenge for patients |
51% | Cost considerations |
Data and healthcare system indicators |
Number of functioning healthcare facilities | 45% | Percentage of healthcare facilities in Yemen that are functioning and accessible to the public | The shortage of functioning healthcare facilities demonstrates the importance and the urgent need for DH implementation, which promotes healthcare intervention and universal health coverage nationwide |
247 | Number of healthcare facilities have been destroyed or damaged due to the ongoing conflict |
Distribution of healthcare facilities (urban vs. rural) | 80% | Percentage of the population in urban areas who have access to healthcare services | The disparities that exist within the distribution of healthcare facilities between rural and urban areas demonstrate the importance and urgent need for DH implementation in the country |
25% | Percentage of the population in rural areas who have access to healthcare services |
Healthcare worker density and training levels | 10 healthcare workers per 10,000 people | The average of healthcare workers | The density of healthcare workers is very low. Yemen falls well below the international standard of 41 per 10,000In contrast, the surveyed percentage of those who reported an acute shortage of qualified nurses indicates that the training level for healthcare workers is weak. Several training institutions to prepare certified professionals have been closed, and the available training programs failed to offer the kind of practical and task-oriented instruction required in real-life healthcare settings. Consequently, healthcare centers have under-trained staff, capable of providing the most basic services only |
More than 90% of the health centers | The percentage of the health centers that reported an acute shortage of qualified nurses |
Disease burden and mortality rates | 62.7 years to 65.8 years | There was an increase in life expectancy at birth in Yemen between 2000 and 2021 | However, the country still faces health challenges, including high levels of child malnutrition, low immunization rates, and outbreaks of infectious diseases |
1,471.7 deaths to 1,069.4 deaths per 100,000 population | The decrease of all-causes age-standardized mortality rate between 1990 and 2019 |
Data on socioeconomic and demographic factors |
Poverty and income levels | 55% | The percentage of the population estimated by the United Nations Development Program who lives below the poverty line | Poverty rates are higher among rural residents than urban residents and among women than men |
18.4% | The percentage of the population estimated by the United Nations Development Program who lives in extreme poverty |
Education attainment | Over 56% of women | Percentage of those having no formal schooling | Educational attainment among women in Yemen is currently very lowIn contrast, Yemen ranks 155 out of 156 in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index regarding gender disparities. Women remain significantly underrepresented in public and elected office, holding only 4.1% of managerial and decision-making positions |
Nearly 18% of men |
Only 14% of women | Percentage of those having at least a secondary-level education |
40% of men |