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PubMed1997

In search of human dignity: gender equity, reproductive health and healthy aging.

This paper analyzes the nine pillars of human dignity (sufficient food, potable water, shelter, sanitation, health services, healthy environment, education, employment and personal security), which humankind tries to establish by following nine approaches to reality (scientific, cultural, religious, ethical, economical, ecological, socio-critical, philosophical and political) in a world drastically changed by nine revolutions (demographic, scientific, technological, communication, global identity, environmental, contraceptive, reproductive health and gender equity). The author's generation participated in these revolutions and contributed to the global intellectual process by which gender equity and reproductive health assumed a central role in world affairs. A rapidly aging world population constitutes another major challenge. Its likely impact on the very fundaments of our future social, economical, health and even political infrastructures is--as yet--incompletely comprehended by the international community. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has and will continue to have an indispensable role in assisting humankind to reach its ultimate goal : human dignity.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Men and reproductive health in rural Pakistan: the case for increased male participation.

OBJECTIVES: In Pakistan, the role of men has always been considered to dominate in the decision-making process pertaining to women's fertility and birth spacing. This study was done to explore men's knowledge, perceptions and behavior on various reproductive health issues. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 180 married adult males in 12 rural districts of Pakistan in 2000. The study was qualitative, utilizing tools such as in-depth and key-informant interviews. RESULTS: The findings pointed out gaps in knowledge and misconceptions among men on a range of reproductive health issues and stress the need for health education. The findings suggest that strategies such as couple counseling, door-to-door campaigns by village-based male family planning workers and small group meetings could be effective. This study indicates a pressing need for incorporating effective intervention strategies, both at the community and the clinic level, backed with efficient counseling, motivation, and provision of services with appropriate education of males in rural areas. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that investment into promotion of healthy fertility control practices among men will be effective in the near future, as they are interested in acquiring new knowledge and are willing to become partners.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Reproductive health status, knowledge, and access to health care among female migrants in Shanghai, China.

As the largest labour flow in human history, the recent rise in migration in China has opened up unprecedented opportunities for millions of Chinese to rearrange their lives. At the same time, this process has also posed great challenges to Chinese migrants, especially female migrants, who not only face a bias against 'outsiders' but also have a greater need for reproductive health-related services in their migratory destinations. Based on data collected via multiple sources in Shanghai, China's largest metropolis, this study profiles the changing characteristics of female migrants, presents data on self-reported symptoms of reproductive health-related problems and knowledge on reproductive health issues, compares maternal and child health measures between migrants and local residents, and examines factors related to reproductive health knowledge and migrants' access to health care in urban China. Results of this study show a relatively low level of self-reported reproductive health problems among female migrants, coupled with a relatively high level of ignorance in knowledge related to STD. Both self-reported health status and knowledge of reproductive health are related to migrants' educational attainment and length of stay in the urban destination. This study also finds ample evidence that female migrants' access to urban health care is limited by a number of institutional barriers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Reproductive health and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Women with hyperandrogenic disorders represent a unique group among those with infertility due to anovulation. Although antiestrogens are effective in restoring ovulation in most women, it remains unclear whether these treatments restore fecundability per ovulatory cycle and the ability to maintain pregnancy in these individuals. Moreover, antiestrogens are ineffective in restoring ovulation in some hyperandrogenic anovulatory women, whose condition poses unique and vexing challenges for the infertility therapist. Gonadotropin treatment in antiestrogen-resistant women often leads to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which has been addressed by modification of dosing schedules (e.g., low-dose administration), pretreatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs, and elimination of luteinizing hormone from the administered gonadotropins. Surgical reduction in ovarian volume has met with some success, although there may be a risk of inducing surgical adhesions of the adnexa. The second major reproductive adversity facing these patients is their elevated risk of endometrial cancer. Unopposed estrogen exposure probably contributes to this risk, but hyperandrogenicity and hyperinsulinism may act independently or in concert with estrogen to amplify the risk in these women. While the risks and strategies for preventive care in these women need to be better defined, reproductive health specialists are urged to continue using presently accepted measures, including education, to maintain these women's reproductive health.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗
PubMed2006

Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of people living with HIV.

KEY POINTS: (1) Sexual expression and the desire for parenthood are central to the lives of most people. Acknowledging these aspirations is essential to vindicating the human rights of people living with HIV. (2) Meeting the sexual health needs of HIV positive people is essential to global HIV prevention efforts. (3) Efforts to provide sexual and reproductive health services to HIV-positive people are impeded worldwide by weak and fragmented health systems and by sexual taboos, gender inequality, and HIV stigma and discrimination. (4) Effective HIV programming demands taking advantage of the perspectives, expertise and accumulated experiences of people living with HIV.

Family Planning Services↗
PubMed2001

Reproductive health needs of young persons in markets and motor parks in south west Nigeria.

The aim of the study was to assess the reproductive health needs of out-of-school males and females aged 12-26 years working in markets and motor parks in Ibadan using Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and a survey questionnaire. Result revealed that sexual experience was higher among males (80%) compared to females (66%). Multiple concurrent sexual partnerships were found to be common among unmarried young men (71%) than women (51%) but means to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease (STD) were rarely employed. The knowledge of HIV was high (70%) though very few (12%) were aware that an infected individual would remain asymtomatic. Moreover, 36.5% thought that condoms make sex less enjoyable. Between 6 and 9% used a method for disease prevention within marriage or regular partnerships compared to 16% in casual contacts. Despite high exposure to risk, the prevalence of STDs was low as only 4% of the sexually experienced males and 9% of females were infected with Candida Albicans, Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginitis or Neisseria gonorrhea. The ready availability of antibiotics may account for this apparent discrepancy. These findings suggest that out of school adolescents working in motor parks needs sexuality education and counseling backed up with clinical services.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reproductive health: an international perspective.

The twentieth century began with approximately 1.6 billion human beings in the world and, with an increase of 96 million people per year, will end with over 6 billion people. Unless this trend is directly confronted by the world governments and their citizens, there will be nearly 8 billion by 2025 and over 11 billion by 2050. Thus, reproductive health is and will remain an issue of critical importance for all countries to realize and study. Part of this trend is because of the many pregnancies which occur in adolescents around the world. A number of issues have developed this century contributing to the many pregnant teenagers. For example, India has one of the world's largest populations of teenagers--over 23 million, representing over 26% of the total in the world. Effective methods for contraception and sexually transmitted diseases prevention are available, but not to all sexually active humans. However, many barriers to effective contraception exist around the globe. This article discusses some of them and also reviews use of contraceptive methods in various countries. These include oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, injectable and implantable contraceptives, intrauterine devices, barrier contraceptives and others. Reproductive health remains a critical, universal issue for all humans in the world. We all must examine the many pitfalls to controlling the world's populations, including lack of sex education, limited access to effective contraceptives, and others. We cannot afford to let the population continue unchecked. Effective strategies are needed at this time; otherwise, the population will continue to run out of control, negatively damaging the world for the coming generations. There is need to leave a positive, and not negative legacy for the next generation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

PrepCom III ends with no consensus on reproductive health and rights.

The third and final session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom III) for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) came to a close on April 22 without agreement on the language of the draft Program of Action on Population and Development. Although PrepCom III was intended as a forum for reaching world consensus on the document, an intense campaign led by the Vatican has left key segments in dispute. The Vatican effort centered on attacking terms that it believed included the possibility of abortion. As a result, "reproductive health," "sexual health," "sexual and reproductive rights," "safe motherhood," "fertility regulation," and "family planning" now appear in brackets indicating that they are disputed terms. The Vatican and its allies also proposed replacing the term "individuals and couples" with "men and women" because the former could be interpreted to allow adolescents the right to reproductive and sexual health and to information about these issues. Finally, the Vatican opposed references to "condoms" in a segment addressing HIV transmission, contending that abstinence is the only effective method of preventing sexual transmission of the virus. The resulting lack of consensus on the document may force ICPD participants to focus more on abortion specifically than on the broader issues of population and development emphasized by the draft Program. Regarded as an enlightened document that departs from its predecessors, the draft focuses on the centrality of women to the issues of population and development. In addition to moving beyond traditional notions of family planning, the draft recommends the initiation of programs to promote gender equity in health, economic opportunity education, and property rights. CRLP's International Program is currently preparing a fact sheet on the politics of choice in preparation for the ICPD.

Condoms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Sexual behavior, contraceptive practice, and reproductive health among Liberian adolescents.

This paper reports on a survey that was aimed at obtaining information for use in designing programs to reduce the incidence of adolescent pregnancy in Liberia. The sample of 1,488 never-married adolescents aged 14-21 was divided into subgroups based on age, sex, student status, and (for non-students) level of education. Although 57-93 percent of respondents claimed to have received information on reproductive health, only 2-21 percent could identify the monthly fertile period. Thirty to 49 percent of females ages 14-17 years have sexual relations at least once a month; over 80 percent of female non-students ages 18-21 years are sexually active. Highest levels of current contraceptive use were reported for 18-21-year-old female students (51 percent). Never-use of contraception among sexually active respondents was 97 percent for 14-17-year-old non-student females with a low educational level. Insufficient information about family planning methods and inaccessibility were the main reasons cited for non-use. Half of females ages 14-21 years who are currently attending school have been pregnant, as have 67 percent of those not in school. These results indicate a substantial unmet need on the part of Liberian adolescents with respect to reproductive health knowledge, information, and access to contraceptive methods.

Abortion, Induced↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Women's use of complementary and alternative therapies in reproductive health care.

Numerous studies have documented that health care consumers all over the world are spending money out of pocket for alternative therapies and that billions of dollars are spent in the United States alone. In this article, the use of complementary and alternative therapies by women health care consumers is discussed, particularly as this phenomenon relates to women's reproductive health in the United States. Women use conventional health care services more frequently than men; thus, it is not surprising that women account for approximately two thirds of health care appointments for complementary and alternative therapies. The traditional conceptual frameworks of herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and acupressure are presented, and common clinical applications to women's reproductive care are discussed.

Acupressure↗