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: Ghana Web
The Ghana Chapter of the Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission and UT Foundation, on Friday organised a free health screening exercise for the people of Gbawe and its surrounding areas in Accra.
Source: PRI
Sex columnist Dorothy Black says the "Life Orientation" program taught in South African schools is the closest the country gets to sex ed. It also includes nutrition, physical education and career guidance, a telltale sign that sexual education is far from being a priority.
Source: iol news
South Africa's first national HIV stigma survey has found that 7 percent of HIV-positive women surveyed reported being sterilised against their will.
About 40 percent said contraception use had been a pre-requisite to accessing antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, contrary to national policy.
Source: Daily Monitor
Netherland based organisation has opened its first office in Africa (Uganda) to educate students on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Speaking at the opening of the offices in Lubowa on Thursday, Ms Dianda Veldman the Rutgers executive director said they chose Uganda because of its fast
Source: Sierra Leone Times
Despite considerable advances made in the global response to the AIDS epidemic over the last several decades, young women and adolescent girls in Africa "are still being left behind," according to a new joint report from the United Nations and the African Union.
Source:The Guardian
At a dispensary in Nyaluoyo village in western Kenya, there is just one midwife on duty. There are three women in labour, about 40 children waiting to be vaccinated, and another 15 people with other ailments.
Source: NewsDay
Maternal conditions and cervical cancer are among the top causes of death in Zimbabwe with more than 1 400 women dying annually from cancer-related illnesses.
Source: Reuters
Casablanca — Every day hundreds of Moroccan women and girls put their lives at risk by seeking backstreet abortions or trying to end unwanted pregnancies themselves with needles and poison.
Source: News24Wire
Zimbabwe has the highest condom usage in the world and this has contributed to a reduction in HIV infections, the state-run National Aids Council (NAC) has revealed.
Source: IPS News
Under Article 26 (4) of the Kenyan constitution, "abortion is not permitted unless, in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law."
Source: News 24
At least 214 young women and girls recently rescued from Boko Haram in north-eastern Nigeria are pregnant, the UN Population Fund said on Monday.
Nigeria's army freed almost 7 000 women from various Boko Haram camps last week.