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: All Africa
The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) joins millions across the globe in the united fight against HIV and Aids on this year's World Aids Day.
Source: Huffington Post
Sitting outside her home with a thatched roof made mostly of reeds, Maria Amelia, 46, was preparing to take her first-ever HIV test. She was slightly anxious and made an admission that explained why.
Source: International Business Times
Girls living in sub-Saharan Africa are behind a staggering increase in cases of HIV infections, a recent report from UNICEF shows.
Source: Slate
With all of the news about Ebola's rapid, dispiriting spread through West Africa, you may have missed an encouraging public health development: The continent appears tantalizingly close to fully eradicating polio, once one of the world's most feared and destructive diseases.
Source: All Africa
With the commemoration of World Aids Day around the corner, Cabinet has called on all communities to support, care and accept people living with HIV and Aids.
Source: TheParliamentMagazine.eu
The key to winning the fight against HIV/Aids is changing societies from within and raising awareness on sexual and reproductive health, says Sirpa Pietikäinen.
Source: Global Post
Fewer babies could mean an "economic miracle" for sub-Saharan Africa, with gains of $500 billion (400 billion euros) a year over three decades for the region, the UN Population Fund said Tuesday.
Source: New Security Beat
"Sub-Saharan Africa's young people are in effect the global labor force of the future," said Jack Goldstone at the Wilson Center on October 15.
Source: Star Africa
The White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) in Malawi, a grouping that advocates for safe motherhood and welfare of nurses and midwives has petitioned the government over the increasing deaths of women during pregnancy and child birth.
Source: Voice of America
Medical experts say cervical cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer related deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Swazi Observer
Lowering the number of girls and women who are infected by HIV is key to ending the epidemic in Swaziland. Worldwide, women account for half of people living with HIV and AIDS, and in Swaziland the figure is more than half.