Among the issues that the government faces, none is more important to Mexicans than the rapid increase in street crime. Although statistics are unreliable, observers agree that robbery, assault, and murder have increased dramatically since 1994. Mexico City has gone from one of the safest metropolitan areas in the world to one of the most dangerous.
Health care is also a pressing issue in Mexico City. Nationally, 36 percent of Mexicans had access to health-care coverage in 1995, while 22 percent used such services. In the Federal District, 46 percent of the people had access to health services the same year, but only 18 percent used them. Although the residents in the Federal District have higher than average access to health care, infant mortality rates are among the highest in the nation—21 deaths among 1,000 infants under the age of one. These rates are so high because access to health care is distorted, largely confined to middle and upper classes. Large concentrations of low-income families do not have adequate health care. In addition, Mexico City's extraordinarily high levels of air pollution are particularly detrimental to the health of infants. Homeless children are increasingly an issue, too. Mexico was estimated to have 13,373 children living on the streets in 1995.
Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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