The maternal mortality ratio is unacceptably high in Africa. Forty per cent of all pregnancy-related deaths worldwide occur in Africa. On average, over 7 women die per 1,000 live births. About 22,000 African women die each year from unsafe abortion, reflecting a high unmet need for contraception. Contraceptive use among women in union varies from 50 per cent in the southern sub-region to less than 10 per cent in middle and western Africa" UNFPA
Early and unwanted childbearing, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy-related illnesses and deaths account for a significant proportion of the burden of illness experienced by women in Africa. Gender-based violence is an influential factor negatively impacting on the sexual and reproductive health of one in every three women. Many are unable to control decisions to have sex or to negotiate safer sexual practices, placing them at great risk of disease and health complications.
According to UNAIDS, there is an estimated of 22.2 million people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan African in 2009, which represents 68% of the global HIV burden. Women are at higher risk than men to be infected by HIV, their vulnerability remains particulary high in the Sub-Saharan Africa and 76% of all HIV women in the world live in this region.
In almost all countries in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, the majority of people living with HIV are women, especially girls and women aged between 15-24. Not only are women more likely to become infected, they are more severely affected. Their income is likely to fall if an adult man loses his job and dies. Since formal support to women are very limited, they may have to give up some income-genrating activities or sacrifice school to take care of the sick relatives.
For more information on HIV/AIDS and Reproductive health, please visit the following websites:
Source: Human Rights Watch
A lack of oversight and accountability for recurrent problems in the health system and abuses committed by health personnel contributes to South Africa’s substandard maternity care and undermines one of its top health goals: to reduce its high maternal death rate, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.
Source: All Africa
At least 71% of women in Nebbi are ignorant of the ways to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).
Long seen as the ugly step-child of HIV prevention, the female condom seems to be gaining popularity through grassroots campaigns, according to a report by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA).
Source: All Africa
At least 71% of women in Nebbi are ignorant of the ways to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases (STDs).
Source:AllAfrica
In a bid to utilise their holiday period well, 45 students heading Anti-AIDS clubs from various secondary schools across the country, Sunday completed a training program on sexuality, reproductive health and dangers of HIV/AIDS.
Source: Times Live
Pregnant women in the Eastern Cape often have to buy nurses gifts - including lunches of fried chicken - to receive medical attention.
Source: All Africa
Catholic Christian mothers on Sunday called on the Federal Government to increase maternity leave from four months to six months to encourage exclusive breastfeeding by nursing mothers.
Source: All Africa
Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) and Gender in Development Division(GIDD) will on Tuesday next week hold a two day women's HIV prevention Convention aimed at stipulating the state of the epidemic
Source: ThirdAge.com
The maternal death rate in South Africa has quadrupled in ten years, according to a new report.
SOURCE: TrustLaw
From horrific childbirth injuries to death in the delivery room, millions of teen brides worldwide face a “silent health emergency” as their young bodies struggle to cope with pregnancy, rights groups say.
Source: TrustLaw
"Nobody wants a woman who passes stools all the time and smells," whispered Farhiya Mohamed Farah, explaining why her husband divorced her when she was pregnant with their second child.