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.
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Source: Times of Zambia
IN the evening, they roam around bars to catch a glimpse of night life as they hook up with both young and older men who buy alcohol for them.
Source: The Conversation Africa
Benin’s parliament has voted to legalise abortion in most circumstances. This is a groundbreaking move by the west African country given that 92% of women of reproductive age on the continent live in countries which have restrictions – some moderate, some severe – on abortions. Moina Spooner, from The Conversation Africa, asked reproductive health expert, Ramatou Ouedraogo, to unpack the significance of this ruling.
Source: This Day Live
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of Nigeria is 814 (per 100,000 live births). The lifetime risk of a Nigerian woman dying during pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum or post-abortion is one in 22, in contrast to the lifetime risk in developed countries estimated at one in 4900.
Source: Front Page Africa
An international non-governmental organization, the ‘Sons and Daughters of Thunder Liberation Center Liberia’, has unveiled plans for the construction a rehabilitation center for women addicted to drugs and other harmful substances.
Source: Namibian
THE B2Gold mine and Omake Charity Organisation donated over 1 000 packets of sanitary pads to girls in the Okakarara constituency last week.
Source: New Era
The Alliance of Christian Churches in Namibia (ACCN) has suggested government hold a referendum over the contentious issue of abortion. Reverend Dolly Nengushe, who is the executive chairperson of the ACCN board of trustees, believes the process of a referendum will help gauge the views of all parties involved.
Source: EqualTimes (EN/FR)
As soon as you enter the workshop, you can see bags containing a large quantity of sanitary towels. On this September morning, 1,300 locally produced pads are ready to be delivered.
Source: This Day
The federal government has said that it is commencing the distribution of a new innovative HIV test kits for testing of pregnant women in the country.
Source: This Day
In this report, Sunday Ehigiator examines how proper financing of maternal medicines-drugs and medication, can help reduce the high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria given that many pregnant women still can’t afford or lack access to quality healthcare and drugs, before, during and after labour.
SOURCE: FRONT PAGE AFRICA
Women need the support of everyone from the community to government during their Menstrual Period and the need to help them advance hygiene sanitation during such time cannot be overemphasized.
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION
In healthcare systems where resources are limited, it’s common for some conditions to be overlooked or misdiagnosed. This is especially true if the patient doesn’t have obvious symptoms, and if tests are unaffordable. Sometimes, healthcare providers look at a group of symptoms to reach a likely diagnosis. This so-called syndromic management is less accurate than laboratory-based diagnostics.