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: AWOKO
Women from different organizations in the country have gathered in Freetown to discuss unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions in Sierra Leone.
The two-day workshop held at YWCA is organized by Ipas in collaboration with WAADO.
Source: Xinhuanet
Despite marked progress in curbing the HIV epidemic, a high percentage of schoolgirls are still HIV positive in South Africa, latest figures revealed.
Source: The New Vision
Breastfeeding does not seem to protect babies against becoming overweight or obese children, according to a European study that included more than 10,000 mothers and babies.
"It's just a reality check that in itself, promoting breastfeeding, while a good thing that will have other health benefits,
Source: Democratic Alliance (Cape Town)
Reports that an estimated 45 000 learners fall pregnant each year stresses the need for an effective and holistic learner pregnancy policy.
I will be writing to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hope Malgas,
Source: South African Government
The Gauteng AIDS Council (GAC) which is a partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) and Civil Society Networks, local government, community based organisations like non-profit organisations (NPO) and non-governmental organisations (NGO) met earlier today to discuss priorities in stopping new HIV infections in the province and adopt a multi-sectorial plan for the financial year 2013/14 and beyond.
Source: finchannel.com
Royal Philips Electronics released its Fabric of Africa Trends Report on healthcare services across Africa, focusing specifically on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), maternal and child health and the strengthening of healthcare systems.
Source: IOL News
‘Few issues have so divided politicians, policymakers, education officials, school governing bodies, principals, teachers, learners and the public as what to do about teenage pregnancy.”
Source: UNAIDS
How much progress has the global AIDS response made in ensuring that women and girls live their lives free from violence? What are the next steps needed to strengthen the challenge to gender-based violence and its links to HIV? These critical questions dominated a high level consultation which took place in New York on 9 March during the 57thsession of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
Source: Vitals.nbcnews.com
More women are using birth control worldwide, but an unmet need for contraception persists, a new study shows.
Source: The Star
When a medical student was raped on a bus in India's capital, New Delhi in December last year, thousands were shaken out of their homes into the country's major city streets to protest the heinous act that also sparked a wave of condemnation from across the world.
Source: Vanguard
Abuja — The National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, has said 18 states of the federation were set for integration into basic HIV/AIDS services at the lowest level of health care delivery in the country.
Executive Director of the agency, Dr. Ado Mohammed, who disclosed this in Abuja,