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 Vision
Breasts being the sensitive issue that they are will always be the hardest body part to touch on without drawing undue suspicions from readers.
Source: UN News Centre
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced it will support programmes in eight African countries over the next three years to boost access to reproductive health services for millions of adolescent girls.
Source: AlertNet
PRESS RELEASE
Eight African countries will get support to improve access to reproductive health education and services for millions of adolescent girls, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said on Friday.
Source: Voice of America (Washington, DC)
The 1st International Conference on Maternal, Newborn and Child Health in Africa got underway Thursday in Johannesburg. Organizers say while much has been done to reduce mortality rates, those rates still remain very high.
Source: Vanguard
As a mother do you still enjoy the act of breastfeeding? Nothing can beat that feeling that you breast fed your own baby. From experience, breast feeding promotes bonding between you and your baby.
Source: New Era
WINDHOEK - Professor Sheila Tlou, the UNAIDS regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa heaped praise on Namibia’s First Lady Penehupifo Pohamba, saying because of her prompt action, the High Level Taskforce for Women, Girls Gender Equality and HIV (HLTF) has formed a partnership agreement with the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA).
Source: SouthAfrica.info
President Jacob Zuma met with Academy Award-winning actor and activist Charlize Theron in Pretoria on Monday.
Source: The New Vision
Every year, millions of mothers die while giving birth. In Uganda, at least 16 women die daily while giving birth due to complications of pregnancy and childbirth and 76 newborns in every 1,000 do not reach the age of one.
Source: Voice of America (Washington, DC)
Malaria infections, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, are responsible for the deaths of some 200,000 newborns and 10,000 new mothers each year. The parasitic illness can also cause miscarriage and premature birth, increasing the risk of death.
Source: Huffington Post
On June 25th of this year, we launched a new report on the progress achieved to date through the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (Global Plan).
Source: CNN
As the world celebrates the long-awaited addition to the British royal family, it is worth taking some time to reflect on the women around the world for whom childbirth is not such a joyous, beautiful and celebrated occasion.