Title: The need for a reproductive health framework. Abstract.

POPLINE Document Number: 270909

Author(s):

Sai FT
Nassim J

Source citation:

[Unpublished] 1988 Oct. Paper presented at The Christopher Tietze International Symposium on Women's Health in the Third World: The Impact of Unwanted Pregnancy, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 29-30 October, 1988. 4 p.

Abstract:

"Reproductive health" is an all inclusive idea that goes beyond fertility regulation and maternal and child health to include all aspects of sexuality and reproductive health. Reproductive health policy and programs recognize that men, adolescents, and the unmarried need to be included. Information and services need to be available to women at all stages of their development so that their health is improved and maintained. Unfortunately this availability is restricted by discrimination against women that stem from cultural sex roles which proclaim male superiority. Practices to control female sexuality deny their reproductive rights, freedoms, and choices. Sexual discrimination along with violence inherent in poverty stricken areas can lead to female stunted growth, chronic anemia, and infections. The consequences are excessively high maternal mortality rates (i.e. 1/4 of all deaths of women are caused by maternal mortality). Many women who survive childbirth or abortion suffer serious injury or infection which lead to longterm health problems or infertility. Factors that increase maternal mortality and morbidity are early or late childbearing, many births and births spaced too closely together. Unwanted pregnancies that lead to clandestine abortions account for 25-50% of all maternal mortalities. 1 in 4 pregnancies worldwide ends in abortion, and 1 in 3 woman in Latin America have had an abortion. To improve reproductive health, particularly for women, the following steps are recommended: an integrated approach to reproductive health care that makes it a priority within primary health care, changes in laws and attitudes to improve the health status of women who are subject to adolescent marriages and harmful traditional practices, involving women in the community and in the planning and implementation of policies, better health services, nutritional services, and educational services for children (especially girls) and pregnant women on topics of sexually transmittable diseases and infections, and finally better research and documentation in all of these areas.

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Reproduction
Sex Role
Maternal Mortality
Abortion
Health Services
Women's Status
Health
Educational Activities
Needs
Primary Health Care
Maternal Health
Recommendations
Women
Social Behavior
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Demographic Factors
Population
Fertility Control, Postconception
Family Planning
Delivery of Health Care
Socioeconomic Factors
Economic Factors
Education
Behavior