Nigeria: Family Planning Saves Lives – We Need to Spread the Message to Men and Women

1 JULY 2021
By Tijani Salami

A year ago, I met a 26-year-old breastfeeding mother who was a graduate student. She was married with three children; the youngest was just eight months old. She started using oral contraceptives after the return of her menses following the birth, but she hid the pills from her husband. When he discovered them, he forced her to throw them away.

Not long after that, she conceived again. Three months later, she had a miscarriage caused by stress. She was admitted into hospital with infection and blood loss. Thankfully, she survived, and her husband has since changed his attitude towards contraceptive use.

Continued: https://allafrica.com/stories/202107010580.html


Kenya – Research on causes of unsafe abortion will reduce related deaths

Research on causes of unsafe abortion will reduce related deaths
The Constitution of Kenya is already clear on the situations abortion is permitted.

by Daniel Otieno, Star Blogs
14 January 2020

Several factors are responsible for the rising cases of unsafe abortion in sub-Saharan Africa.

First and foremost is that governments have not invested in systematic reviews of the main contributors that make young women procure unsafe abortion. In addition, peer pressure, abandonment by a spouse, limited knowledge on the situations abortion is permitted, inaccessibility to family planning methods and unintended pregnancy contribute to rising cases of unsafe abortion.

Continued: https://www.the-star.co.ke/opinion/star-blogs/2020-01-14-research-on-causes-of-unsafe-abortion-will-reduce-related-deaths/


South Africa – Reproductive Justice: The missing issue in party manifestos for 2019 Election

Reproductive Justice: The missing issue in party manifestos for 2019 Election
Women outnumber men in South Africa, yet most political parties only pay lip service to issues of reproductive health and justice in their election manifestos. Control over their own bodies and health is the first step towards gender equality and development for South African women and girls.

By Louise Carmody and Marion Stevens
5 May 2019

In every election period, political parties commit to improving service delivery, the economy, and tackling the enormous wealth, race and gender inequalities within South Africa. At 51% of the population, and 55% of the electorate, women outnumber men, yet politicians rarely address policies towards increasing their access to sexual and reproductive health services, especially in poor communities.

This gap highlights the lack of reproductive justice in South Africa, which requires the right to bodily autonomy, the right to decide whether or not to have a child, and the right to parent children in safe and healthy environments. Having the ability to exercise and control reproductive decisions and to access necessary sexual and reproductive healthcare is critical for women and girls to achieve gender equality and development.

Continued: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-05-05-reproductive-justice-the-missing-issue-in-party-manifestos-for-2019-election/


Youth Friendly Sexual & Reproductive Health Services a Must! Data shows 14 million Indian girls marry before 18 years

Youth Friendly Sexual & Reproductive Health Services a Must! Data shows 14 million Indian girls marry before 18 years

Updated: March 24, 2019
By Vandana Chavan, Member of Parliament

A 2015 UNESCO report on “Emerging Evidence, Lessons and Practice in Comprehensive Sexuality Education” (CSE) suggests that CSE has far-reaching benefits for SRH, particularly in reducing STI’s and unintended pregnancies.

India, with the second largest population in the world of 1.3 billion, is also home to the world’s largest adolescent and youth at 365 million. Over 50 per cent of the country’s population is under the age of 25. An analysis of the United Nations World Population Prospects 2017 by Bloomberg revealed that by 2027, India with its current increase in the proportion of working age people, also known as the demographic dividend, will have the largest workforce in the world.

Continued: https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/health/youth-friendly-sexual-reproductive-health-services-a-must-data-shows-14-million-indian-girls-marry-before-18-years/1525491/


What’s driving high pregnancy rates in Kenyan schools

What's driving high pregnancy rates in Kenyan schools

November 26, 2018
by Michael Mutua, The Conversation

During Kenya's national schools exams, an alarming number of girls were reported to be pregnant or in labour, and so couldn't take the exam. In just one county, 72 girls taking the exams were pregnant while 38 gave birth before the test. The Conversation Africa's Moina Spooner asked Michael Mutua to shed light on why so many girls are falling pregnant and what measures there are to support them.

What is the prevalence of pregnancy in schools in Kenya?

Cases of pregnancy among young girls is high. Teen pregnancy and motherhood rates stand at 18%. About one in every five adolescent girls (aged 15 to 19) has either had a live birth, or is pregnant with her first child. Rates increase with age: from 3% among girls at 15 years old, to 40% among girls at 19 years.

Continued: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-11-high-pregnancy-kenyan-schools.html


Opinion: Many Cubans using abortion as birth control

Opinion: Many Cubans using abortion as birth control
Abortion can sometimes carry major health risks. The lack of availability of either condoms or contraceptive pills means that many Cuban women undergo several abortions in their lives, the blogger Yoani Sánchez writes.

13.08.2018
Author Yoani Sánchez

She is only 20 years old but has already had four abortions. The young Cuban woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, is not an isolated case.

In some countries in Latin America, women can spend many years behind bars because they have had an abortion or even because they are suspected of having undergone the procedure. In countries such as Chile and Argentina, a debate about abortion is taking place on the streets and in public discourse. However, in Cuba discussion on the subject is taking place — if at all — on social networks and the websites of the independent press.

Continued: https://www.dw.com/en/opinion-many-cubans-using-abortion-as-birth-control/a-45070097