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
In a slum in Kampala, Uganda, 16-year-old Lydia dreams of becoming a doctor. But she worries that the amount of schooling she misses every time she has her period is scuppering her chances of success.
Source: Capital FM
Nairobi — Every time Rosemary Olale told anyone about her HIV status 10 years ago, tears would roll down her cheeks uncontrollably; she felt helpless... she felt hopeless.
Yesterday, the Government of Ugandan took a major step back in the fight against HIV.
Source: This Day Live
Statistics from the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency has revealed that in the last one year 1,702 pregnant women tested positive to HIV and had to be placed on prophylaxis.
Source: The Guardian
The 10-year-old girl who was raped but unable to terminate her pregnancy due to Senegal's ban on abortion has given birth to twin boys.
Source: DW
An HIV prevention bill passed by Ugandan lawmakers has caused an outrcy amongst those fighting for the rights of people living with HIV. The bill calls for mandatory HIV tests for pregnant women.
Source: Angola Press
Ngonguembo — At least 947 women from Ngonguembo municipality, northern Cuanza Norte province, were immunised against tetanus in April, under the vaccination campaign promoted by the local health authorities, aiming to prevent the referred disease in ladies in fertile age.
Source: The Reporter
I never considered my mother a gambler, but looking back to my earliest days in Ethiopia, I realize that the likelihood of my mother and me both dying during childbirth was alarmingly high. When I was born, the lifetime risk of a mother dying during pregnancy or childbirth in Ethiopia was about 1 in 14.
Source: The New Times
Even the healthiest pregnancy can pose serious health consequences such as infection, obstructed labour, high blood pressure, and severe bleeding. The use of a midwife is key to a healthy and safe pregnancy and childbirth but they often work in decrepit health facilities and lack required resources, supplies and equipment.
Source: Daily Independent
Six of the 10 countries that carry most of the burden of maternal deaths in the world are from Africa. This was highlighted from the newly-published report, "Trends in maternal mortality estimates 1990 to 2013".
Source: AlertNet
Nairobi — Pregnancy-related deaths in Ethiopia have fallen by nearly two-thirds, making it the African country that has most successfully lowered its maternal mortality rate thanks to its lifesaving investment in female health workers and girls' education, Save the Children said on Tuesday.