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 Atlantic
The world has many coming-of-age traditions: sweet sixteens, bar mitzvahs, quinceañeras. But in one African country, 'initiation' is endangering the health of girls and boys.
Source: ANHRI
On Sunday February 23, 2014, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights held an event to launch its new report, entitled "Reclaiming and Redefining Rights: ICPD+20 Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Middle East and North Africa".
Source: Tanzania Daily News
Zanzibar — WHILE women face the risk of death during delivery, global efforts and individual countries have tried to minimize maternal mortality.
Source: Shabait.com
Asmara — The members of the NUEW in Gejeret sub-zone, Asmara, stated that governmental care for Fistula victims attests to the national commitment towards promoting women's health.
Source: BDlive
A SMALL contraceptive device installed under the skin will be made available free of charge to all women from next week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told MPs on Wednesday.
Source: PRI
For women in the African nation of Malawi, giving birth brings a high risk of death. The predominantly rural country has long had one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in the world.
Source: South Africa Info
South Africa will make transdermal implant contraceptives freely available in the country's public clinics from next week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced in Cape Town on Tuesday.
Source: This Day
The Lagos State Government has given the statistics of maternal mortality recorded in its public health facilities between 2010 and 2012 to be 714 women.
Source: The World Bank
Washington — The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved support to Togo that will help the country offer lifesaving health and nutrition services to over 1.3 million people, nearly 60 percent of whom are women and girl children under the age of five.
Source: The Independent
The rate at which Ugandan women are dying from unsafe abortion is alarming, Dr. Charles Kiggundu, one of Uganda's leading Gnaecologists and Obstetricians has said.
Low Level of Contraceptive Use in the Country Fuels High Rate of Unintended Pregnancy.