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: Voice of America
Fertility rates as well as future projected population growth are much higher in Africa than in any other part of the world. A new report by a Kenyan-based organization says that in some African countries, political will, maternal and child health concerns as well as more and more funding are helping to develop effective family planning.
Source: Leadership Newspapers
Nigeria, accounting for 47% of the population of West Africa, according to experts at a 5-day workshop organised by Africa Leadership Forum (ALF), has a moral responsibility to lead the continent towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Yet its health system is ranked 187th of 191 WHO member states. Writes PEMBI STEPHEN-DAVID
Source: The Rwanda Focus
Family planning is crucial not only for individual and family development, but also for the development of the country as a whole, affecting on the way global development.
Source: South Africa.Info
Eight of South Africa's media houses have teamed up with the International Women's Media Fund (IWMF) to improve their coverage of issues around HIV/Aids, the Washington-based organisation announced last week.
Source: The Zimdiaspora
Prostitution among Zimbabweans living in South Africa has reached dramatic levels with some men being blamed for pimping their home girls for financial gains, The ZimDiaspora has found out.
Source: Inquirer
Hawa Kollie lies on her back screaming in pain, her head throbbing and body aching after the loss of first her baby, and then her uterus. Like many Liberian women, she got to the hospital too late.
Source: AllAfrica
The 5th Eastern Africa Reproductive Health Network ((EARHN) summit held has condoned cultural beliefs in the region which have impeded the implementation of Family Planning initiatives on a wider scale.
Source: New Security Beat
USAID’s new Global Health Strategic Framework, Better Health for Development, lays out the agency’s major health priorities for the next five years. “Core global health priorities” include reducing maternal mortality, ensuring child survival and nutrition, fostering an “AIDS free generation,” and fighting infectious diseases. Family planning and reproductive health is listed as a key area for bilateral engagement.
Source: IOL News
Thousands of girls are falling pregnant each year and the latest report paints a grim picture of how pupils become mothers at an early age.
Source: Nyasa Times
President Joyce Banda on Wednesday laid a foundation stone for Maternity Waiting Home and launched the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health and Safe Motherhood in Mulanje with a resolve to gallantly fight against the alarming maternal deaths in Malawi.
Source: Health-e
Almost 5 000 women died while pregnant or within 42 days of giving birth in South Africa between 2008 and 2010, more than in any of the previous years.