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.
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Source: The Guardian
The number of women in the world’s poorest countries using modern forms of contraception has jumped by more than 30 million in the past four years, according to a report that found the most significant progress had been made in sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: The Herald
New findings presented at the HIV Research for Prevention 2016 conference currently underway in Chicago, United States have revealed how social harms such as gender-based violence, especially intimate partner violence have a negative effect on adherence.
Source: The New Times
Lack of proper records of teenage pregnancy remains a challenge despite efforts to curb the vice by both government and civil society organisations.
Source: allAfrica
No fewer than 94,141 pregnant women are said to be HIV/AIDS positive in Zamfara.
Source: Daily Trust
A survey conducted by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has revealed that in Nigeria 1 in 13 women dies during pregnancy or child birth and that in every 10 minutes one woman dies from conditions associated with childbirth.
Source: The Post
Amnesty International and AIDS Accountability International say the failure of the Referendum is a welcome reprieve because it contained clauses which would have undermined the rights of women.
Source: The Citizen
On July 8, this year, human rights activists had a reason to celebrate after the High Court declared early marriage illegal.
Source: Broadly.
When I call Fadumo Dayib, she tells me she's in the middle of a school run and driving her car. Straight away I notice her way with words; the way she pauses to choose the right word with each sentence. "I had a very interesting childhood," she tells me, "one that was happy but was also very sad. It's one that I don't like to dwell on. But I think it's what has made me who I am, it has actually defined who I am in a very positive way—not negatively."
Source: allAfrica
A group of 37 non-government organisations dealing in the promotion of girl-child rights have asked President Museveni to honour his campaign pledge and deliver the sanitary pads he promised during the presidential campaigns early this year.
Source: Daily Maverick
As the UN Human Rights Council prepares to vote this week on a potentially life-saving progressive Maternal Mortality and Morbidity resolution that will affect billions of women, it’s the last chance for South Africa to reflect on its role as its current term draws to a close.
Source: IOL
About 22 million unsafe abortions are estimated to take place worldwide each year, almost all in developing countries, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.