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: The New Times
Janet Umutoni, a mother of a 2-year-old baby has made endless trips to hospital. Her child is always falling sick despite the several trips. She only discovered recently the root cause of her child's frequent poor health. She didn't exclusively breast feed her baby for the first six months after birth.
Source: The Star
One of the saddest paradoxes in sub-Saharan Africa is that many women die when they are giving life.
Newborn and maternal mortality rates are unacceptably high in Africa, according to Amref.
Source: Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)
Muheza — LIVING the life of a vulnerable child is something many people would not wish to have. But how many people really know the exact pain of living in that environment?
Source: The New Times
Mothers have been advised to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months in a bid to help the children grow healthily.
Source: United States Agency for International Development (Washington, DC)
USAID, the United States Agency for International Development, and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, two of the longest-serving development agencies addressing population concerns, announced today new efforts to strengthen their collaboration to advance reproductive health, including voluntary family planning, worldwide.
Source: PR Newswire (New York)
Legislation is a key component in galvanizing efforts to improve Maternal Health, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) as a foundation on which humanity and future generations lie.
Source: VOA
A new report from Kenya's ministry of health reveals 465,000 women had abortions last year, the vast majority in unsafe conditions -- despite more liberal abortion laws.
Source: AllAfrica
Mothers in Bweyogerere have reason to smile, with the launch of a new mother to child health ward, set to replace the single room unit they had.
Source: AllAfrica
Gusau — The Zamfara State government has pledged to sponsor a bill to the state House of Assembly for a review of maternity leave for women in the state.
Source: AllAfrica
Mara — CHILDREN'S Dignity Forum (CDF) is implementing an ambitious project aimed at saving schoolgirls from the menace of female genital mutilation (FGM), early marriages and HIV/AIDS in Mara Region.
Source: The New Vision
Miriam is 26 years old and she has a 6months old baby. She got to know that she is infected when she was four months pregnant. She was so scared for her life and her baby's life.