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Status Of Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights In Zambia: Violence Against Women And Hiv/Aids Prevention And Treatment, Population Council Jan 2017

Status Of Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights In Zambia: Violence Against Women And Hiv/Aids Prevention And Treatment, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In 1994, the International Conference on Population and Development affirmed that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are human rights. The Government of the Republic of Zambia has fully committed to fulfilling the SRHR of all people by ratifying 11 international instruments of law. This brief is Part 3 of a three-part series entitled “Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Zambia,” reporting on progress, gaps, and existing challenges in SRHR. Using a human rights–based approach, the Government of Zambia and collaborators, with technical facilitation by the Population Council, conducted an assessment of the status of SRHR …


Understanding Married Women's Vulnerability To Hiv Infection In Egypt: An Exploratory Study, Doaa Oraby, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab Jan 2016

Understanding Married Women's Vulnerability To Hiv Infection In Egypt: An Exploratory Study, Doaa Oraby, Nahla G. Abdel-Tawab

Reproductive Health

This study examines the behavioral, sociocultural, economic, programmatic, and legal factors that aggravate Egyptian women’s vulnerabilities to HIV/AIDS. The study concludes that in low-prevalence settings like Egypt, targeted interventions are the most strategic and cost-effective: for example, HIV awareness-raising with a special focus on the preventive role of consistent, correct condom use, and creating a cadre of peers that could provide psychosocial support and HIV counseling to migrant workers. Furthermore, premarital and antenatal care programs should include HIV awareness-raising and provider-initiated counseling and testing after screening of women to identify those at risk for HIV infection. Concurrently, efforts should be …


Positive Action For Hiv In Schools In Kenya, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi, Monica Wanjiru, Sheila Bayley, John Kiunjuri, Mary Omondi, Rob Burnet, Bridget Deacon Jan 2012

Positive Action For Hiv In Schools In Kenya, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi, Monica Wanjiru, Sheila Bayley, John Kiunjuri, Mary Omondi, Rob Burnet, Bridget Deacon

Reproductive Health

The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of using comic books, role models, and edutainment to communicate HIV and AIDS messages to in-school young people in Kenya, with a view to improving their knowledge about the epidemic, enhancing communication about it, and promoting positive attitudes and behavior among them. The study was implemented by the Population Council in eight secondary schools in Nairobi, as part of the APHIA II Operations Research Project in collaboration with the AIDS Control Unit in the Ministry of Education, Well Told Story, and the National AIDS/STI Control Programme. The study found that …


Expanding Access To Comprehensive Reproductive Health And Hiv Information And Services For Married Adolescent Girls In Nyanza Province, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Francis Obare, Ben Ochieng, Wilson Liambila, Erick Oweya, Ian Askew, Rob Burnet, Bridget Deacon, Aisha Mohamed Jan 2012

Expanding Access To Comprehensive Reproductive Health And Hiv Information And Services For Married Adolescent Girls In Nyanza Province, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Francis Obare, Ben Ochieng, Wilson Liambila, Erick Oweya, Ian Askew, Rob Burnet, Bridget Deacon, Aisha Mohamed

Reproductive Health

The objectives of this operations research study, conducted by the Population Council’s APHIA II Operations Research Project in Kenya, were to: 1) identify and design a set of interventions that promote the uptake of comprehensive reproductive health (RH)/family planning (FP) and HIV prevention services and information among married adolescent girls; and 2) expand access to comprehensive RH/FP and HIV prevention services and information among this population. The study demonstrated that the combined use of interactive media and community health worker visitation, health information provision, and referrals, is an effective means of reinforcing RH/FP and HIV messages, and of increasing access …


Focus On Male Youths In Addressing Alcohol And Drug Abuse Risk In The Context Of Hiv Prevention Among Young People, Population Council Jan 2011

Focus On Male Youths In Addressing Alcohol And Drug Abuse Risk In The Context Of Hiv Prevention Among Young People, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Research evidence shows that people who abuse alcohol are more likely to engage in behavior that puts them at risk of HIV infection, including having unprotected sex. In 2010, the Population Council’s APHIA II Operations Research Project collaborated with the Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa Centre in Kenya on research to identify factors associated with alcohol and drug use among out-of-school youth in Kibera, to identify specific factors contributing to HIV risk, and to assess the impact of an intervention to link youths with an alcohol and drug abuse problem to counseling and rehabilitation services. A key …


Using Youth-Friendly Communication Approaches To Communicate Hiv/Aids With Young People Is Feasible And Acceptable, Population Council Jan 2011

Using Youth-Friendly Communication Approaches To Communicate Hiv/Aids With Young People Is Feasible And Acceptable, Population Council

Reproductive Health

HIV remains a major concern in Kenya among all segments of the population, including adolescents. New ways of delivering HIV information and services are therefore needed, especially to reach young people and encourage them to take up counselling and testing to know their sero-status. The APHIA II Operations Research Project collaborated with the Ministry of Education, Well Told Story, and the National AIDS and STD Control Programme to implement a project to enhance communication in schools about HIV and create demand for early counseling and testing. The project also sought to create a supportive environment in schools for young people …


Exploring The Links Between Drug Use And Sexual Vulnerability Among Young Female Injecting Drug Users In Manipur, Archana Oinam Jan 2008

Exploring The Links Between Drug Use And Sexual Vulnerability Among Young Female Injecting Drug Users In Manipur, Archana Oinam

Reproductive Health

Given the high prevalence of HIV in Manipur, India and the critical role that female injecting drug users play in the transmission of HIV infection, it is becoming increasingly important to understand the sexual behaviors and drug use experiences of this group. This report describes the health status and patterns of treatment-seeking of female injecting drug users aged 15–34 in Manipur, and explores the factors underlying their vulnerability to HIV, including limited in-depth awareness of safe sexual behaviors and drug use practices, and limited self-perception of HIV risk. The report recommends development of IEC materials that address these information gaps …


Improving Reproductive Health And Hiv Prevention Among Married Adolescents In Amhara, Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Tekle-Ab Mekbib Jan 2008

Improving Reproductive Health And Hiv Prevention Among Married Adolescents In Amhara, Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Tekle-Ab Mekbib

Reproductive Health

The objective of this project is to improve reproductive health (RH), prevent new HIV infections, and promote mutual faithfulness through addressing the HIV and reproductive risk among married adolescents, who are a large, vulnerable, and neglected category of Ethiopian youth. The Population Council partnered with Ethiopia Ministry of Education, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Ethiopian Muslim Development Agency to implement the project in Amhara region. The program used religious structures to spread messages about early marriage, HIV, and reproductive health. Local women leaders were trained as mentors of married adolescent girls, convening clubs through which HIV/RH information was conveyed, …


New Findings From Intervention Research: Youth Reproductive Health And Hiv Prevention, Family Health International Jan 2004

New Findings From Intervention Research: Youth Reproductive Health And Hiv Prevention, Family Health International

Reproductive Health

On September 9, 2003, FRONTIERS/Population Council, Horizons/Population Council, and YouthNet/Family Health International co-sponsored a technical meeting in Washington, DC, “New Findings from Intervention Research: Youth Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention.” Approximately 150 HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and youth development experts from a diversity of organizations and backgrounds participated. The purpose of the meeting was to disseminate newly available research findings on how to change youth reproductive health/HIV knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in developing countries. The meeting also sought to stimulate discussion on lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for future youth programs and research. This meeting report summarizes the presentations and …


Cultural Norms And Behavior Regarding Vaginal Lubrication During Sex: Implications For The Acceptability Of Vaginal Microbicides For The Prevention Of Hiv/Stis, Sarah Braunstein, Janneke Van De Wijgert Jan 2003

Cultural Norms And Behavior Regarding Vaginal Lubrication During Sex: Implications For The Acceptability Of Vaginal Microbicides For The Prevention Of Hiv/Stis, Sarah Braunstein, Janneke Van De Wijgert

Reproductive Health

This paper presents the results of an extensive review of the literature pertaining to the relationship between vaginal lubrication and the acceptability of microbicides, spermicides, and male and female condoms. The review highlights the need for research that better elucidates norms, preferences, and practices regarding lubrication during sex within and across countries. The second part of the report presents the results of the first phase of a qualitative study on lubrication during sex showing that diverse personal and cultural factors shape preferences and practices and may ultimately affect the acceptability of microbicides. The immediate challenge is to provide women with …


Diverse Realities: Understanding Sexually Transmitted Infections And Hiv In India, Sarah Hawkes, K.G. Santhya Jan 2001

Diverse Realities: Understanding Sexually Transmitted Infections And Hiv In India, Sarah Hawkes, K.G. Santhya

Reproductive Health

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV, currently have high salience on the health care agendas of many countries, including India. Strategies for their control are ideally based on a number of well-recognised principles. These include: assessments of the burden of disease; the availability of interventions at policy and programme levels, to influence behaviour change and technical ‘solutions’; and the calculated cost-effectiveness of these interventions. In the case of India, data to inform these principles are often lacking in the case of STI control. In this paper we have reviewed the evidence base for STI control in the Indian context. The …


South Africa: Providers Should Encourage Sexually Active Youth To Use Condoms, Frontiers In Reproductive Health Jan 2001

South Africa: Providers Should Encourage Sexually Active Youth To Use Condoms, Frontiers In Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

To assess the effectiveness of youth centers in reaching adolescents with reproductive health information, life skills, and services, the Reproductive Health Research Unit in KwaZulu Natal and the Population Council conducted an assessment of 12 youth centers and their affiliated peer education programs. The centers were run by the KwaZulu Natal Department of Health, the loveLife program, and the Youth and Adolescent Reproductive Health Program. Researchers also examined young people’s use of condoms as protection against pregnancy and HIV/AIDS. Data sources for this study, conducted in 2000, were an inventory of youth center services, interviews with center staff and clients, …


Assessing The Potential Demand For And Effectiveness Of Integrating Sti/Hiv Management Services With Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council's Clinic-Based Family Planning Services, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Ian Askew, Hazel M.B. Dube, Caroline S. Marangwanda, Sithokozille Simba, Ahmed Latif Jan 1999

Assessing The Potential Demand For And Effectiveness Of Integrating Sti/Hiv Management Services With Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council's Clinic-Based Family Planning Services, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Ian Askew, Hazel M.B. Dube, Caroline S. Marangwanda, Sithokozille Simba, Ahmed Latif

Reproductive Health

HIV/AIDS is a threat to individual lives and the national economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, despite efforts to contain its spread. The region also suffers from high levels of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs), some of which increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. The control of RTIs is therefore seen not only as an important reproductive health care strategy, but as a key strategy in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. Most national health care programs in the region are actively seeking cost-effective ways of implementing an RTI management program that would reduce and prevent RTIs and HIV. …


Integrating Sti And Mch/Fp Services, Population Council Jan 1999

Integrating Sti And Mch/Fp Services, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The integration of STI and HIV/AIDS information and services into existing MCH/FP programs has been strongly supported in recent years, following recommendations from the 1994 Cairo ICPD. Moreover, it is now widely accepted that early detection and management of STIs can reduce the incidence of HIV infection. Thus, there are powerful incentives to increase efforts to broaden the capacity of MCH/FP programs to provide STI prevention and management information and services for their clients, both as a comprehensive reproductive health service and as a preventive measure for reducing the transmission of HIV. As described in this brief, the Africa OR/TA …


Demand For And Cost-Effectiveness Of Integrating Rti/Hiv Services With Clinic-Based Family Planning Services In Zimbabwe, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Ian Askew, Caroline S. Marangwanda, Sithokozille Simba, Hazel M.B. Dube, Rick Homan, Barbara Janowitz, Ahmed Latif, Peter R. Mason Jan 1999

Demand For And Cost-Effectiveness Of Integrating Rti/Hiv Services With Clinic-Based Family Planning Services In Zimbabwe, Baker Ndugga Maggwa, Ian Askew, Caroline S. Marangwanda, Sithokozille Simba, Hazel M.B. Dube, Rick Homan, Barbara Janowitz, Ahmed Latif, Peter R. Mason

Reproductive Health

The current spread of HIV/AIDS poses a major threat to individual lives and national economies in many sub-Saharan African countries. The region also has some of the highest levels of other reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in the world. Some of these RTIs increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV infection. Thus, the control of RTIs is seen not only as an important reproductive health care strategy to alleviate symptoms of infection and long-term gynecological, obstetric, and neonatal complications, but also as a key strategy in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS. As a result, all national health care programs in …


Reproductive Decisionmaking In The Context Of Hiv/Aids In Ndola, Zambia, Naomi Rutenberg, Ann E. Biddlecom, Frederick A.D. Kaona Jan 1999

Reproductive Decisionmaking In The Context Of Hiv/Aids In Ndola, Zambia, Naomi Rutenberg, Ann E. Biddlecom, Frederick A.D. Kaona

Reproductive Health

Family planning (FP) programs are increasingly being considered as a logical focal point for STD and HIV/AIDS prevention services because they serve large numbers of women at risk, address the sensitive issue of sexual behavior and fertility control, and the methods for preventing unwanted pregnancy and disease can be the same. FP programs, by providing contraceptive methods, are currently one of the few sources of assistance in the sub-Saharan African region for preventing perinatal transmission of HIV, while the promotion of barrier methods contributes to the prevention of heterosexual transmission. Given this potential, research is needed to understand how the …