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: All Africa
Over 800,000 women in the worst-affected countries face increased risks.
Source: United Nations Population Fund
Josefina, a 12-year-old girl living in Mozambique, wanted to leave school behind and become a mother. This was until a community-based activist introduced her to the risks that she faced if she acted on her decision.
Source: BBC News
The Mali government has confirmed the first case of Ebola in the country.
Source: UNICEF
A leadership training programme in Tanzania aims at reducing the vulnerability of out-of-school adolescent girls, who are at high risk for HIV, gender-based violence and unwanted pregnancy.
Source: New Security Beat
"Half of the world's population is under 30 – any development agenda would have to address their needs, including their health needs, as part of accomplishing development goals," said Jennifer Adams, deputy assistant administrator at USAID's Bureau for Global Health, at the Wilson Center on September 24.
Source: Spy Ghana
The Regional Advisor of World Vision, Miriam Iddrisu, has noted that unequal power relations between men and women often limit women's control over sexual activity and their ability to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
Source: Spy Ghana
The Regional Advisor of World Vision, Miriam Iddrisu, has noted that unequal power relations between men and women often limit women's control over sexual activity and their ability to protect themselves against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.
Source: IBS News
Pregnant at 15, Samantha Yakubu* is in a fix. The 16-year-old boy she claims was responsible for her pregnancy has refused to accept her version of events, insisting that he was "not the only one who slept with her".
Source: Foreign Policy In Focus
The Ebola crisis has highlighted the need for much deeper investment in the health, education, and empowerment of women and girls in West Africa.
Source: United Nations Population Fund
UNITED NATIONS, New York — As the world intensifies its response to the Ebola crisis in West Africa, the needs of pregnant women must be addressed urgently to save the lives of mothers and infants, warns UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.
Source: The Star
THE Catholic Church has opposed a tetanus vaccination campaign scheduled to start next week that targets women between the ages of 19-49 years, claiming it is a secret government plan to sterilise women and control population growth.