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: Rwanda Focus
Infertility or the inability of a couple to become pregnant after 12 months of unprotected intercourse comes off as every woman's nightmare. The idea that one cannot bring forth an offspring to the world is shocking in as much as it is disheartening! As children, most girls dream of having a baby of their own something that is usually displayed in the way they play with dolls and not toy cars.
Source: Capital FM
A balloon arch frames the doorway on the other side of which waiters stand with drinks in hand; all in honour of Monica Oguttu and three others who, "have done the most to enhance the rights of women to obtain comprehensive reproductive health care".
THE number of pregnant women turning up to utilize formal system before and during delivery in Tarime has significantly increased, thanks to the Africa Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) for initiating a health project that has widely benefited thousands of rural women in the area.
Esther Madudu is one of the many midwives working in the rural areas of Africa who are facing many day to day challenges such as lack of electricity and running water, among other things.
A young mother – who only wants to be identified as Karren – beamed as she nursed her newborn baby at the University of Witwatersrand’s Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, in Hillbrow, South Africa.
Source: GBN
On April 5, 2013 the world began the 1,000-day countdown to the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline. Created in 2000, the MDGs spurred action from governments, international organizations, and civil society.In recent years, we have cut the global poverty rate in half,reduced the prevalence of deadly diseases, improved sanitation, narrowedthe gender gap, and more. Although we have made progress toward these Goals,there is still much to be done, especially for the girls and women of the Muslim world.
Source: Daily News
THE national website on gender issues clearly states that the government of Tanzania recognises that women's advancement and achievement of gender equality are a matter of human rights and a condition to social justice.
Source:Observer
Most urban areas have sex workers and Bugembe town council in Jinja is no different. But as Trevor Solomon Baleke has found out, majority of sex workers are struggling to successfully get the gospel of safe sex across to clients.
Source: The Point
In order to reduce both maternal morbidity & mortality rates in The Gambia, the Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of The Gambia, on behalf of their respective governments on 27th August 2012 signed an “agreement on the Maternal Health Improvement Program in The Gambia.”
Source: Daily Trust
In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) is a human reproductive technique that has not been totally embraced by Nigerians. But at the 10th anniversary press briefing held in Lagos, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre told Daily Trust that it is not just the ordinary Nigerian that is suffering from the ignorance, some elites have the same issues.
Source: Media Institute of Southern Africa
ONLY the poor and less influential women are most likely to die from unsafe abortions, women's rights activist, Seodi White, has said. White was presenting a paper in Zomba on Monday at a workshop for editors from different media houses in the country on unsafe abortions.The workshop was organised by the Media Institute of South Africa (Misa- Malawi) with funding from Ipas Malawi.