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Volume 2, Number 14
8 April 2002
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY
South Africa's Constitutional Court
Says Government Must Provisionally Provide Key AIDS
Drug (news article)
South Africa's AIDS program suffered another legal
defeat Thursday when the Constitutional Court upheld
a ruling forcing the government to immediately begin
distributing a key drug to HIV-infected pregnant women.
Epidemiology
of HIV in China (editorial)
Two Chinese health officials define the scope of their
country's HIV epidemic, estimating that "perhaps
more than 600,000" are infected.
Vietnam:
Policies On Drugs, Prostitution Hurt Anti-AIDS Efforts,
Report Says (news article)
Government and public prejudice toward intravenous
drug users and prostitutes hurts efforts to control
the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Honduras Ordered to Pay Damages to
AIDS Patient (news article)
Court orders government to pay woman US$740,000 who
contracted HIV through a blood transfusion at a public
hospital.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
Biphasic
Versus Monophasic Oral Contraceptives for Contraception:
A Cochrane Review (review abstract)
Conclusions are limited by the identification of only
one trial, the methodological shortcomings of that
trial, and the absence of data on accidental pregnancies.
However, the trial found no important differences
in bleeding patterns between the biphasic and monophasic
preparations studied. Because no clear rationale exists
for biphasic pills, and because extensive evidence
is available for monophasic pills, the latter are
preferred.
Hepatitis
C Virus Infection in Young, Low-Income Women: The
Role of Sexually Transmitted Infection as a Potential
Cofactor for HCV Infection (research abstract)
Infection with HSV-2 may be a co-factor for sexual
transmission of hepatitis C.
The
Pill May Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer According
to a Large Study of Younger Women 
(press release)
Compared to women who have never used the pill, pill
users had a 26% increased risk of developing breast
cancer. The level of risk increased with age at use,
with pill users over 45 at highest risk.
Reasons for the Low Level of IUD Use in El Salvador
(research article)
HTML
or PDF
Three main barriers impede IUD use in El Salvador:
rumors and myths about the method; insufficient attention
to the method during counseling sessions; and insufficient
provider experience with it.
Half
of Bangladeshi Women Who Discontinue Pill Use Attribute
Their Decision to Side Effects (research digest)
Helping community health workers and health care providers
improve their counseling techniques and involving
men in family planning decisionmaking can better prepare
women for possible side effects, as well as managing
them. Such a strategy can help improve duration of
use.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS
Cloning
Pregnancy Claim Prompts Outrage (news article)
A woman is eight weeks pregnant with a clone, claims
a controversial scientist. Cloning experts say such
a pregnancy would be "grossly irresponsible."
Chinese
Woman Receives Whole Ovary Transplant (news article)
The organ is reported to be functioning well and could
allow a pregnancy, but experts say suitable donors
will be hard to find.
Nigeria:
Nation Records 200,000 Abortions Yearly - Research
(news article)
About 200,000 cases of abortion are recorded annually
in the country, according to a release by a program
sponsored by the US Agency for International Development
(USAID).
New Anti-Herpes Compounds Developed
(news article)
For the first time in decades, researchers have developed
new compounds that attack the herpes simplex virus
(HSV) in a different way than existing drugs.
HIV / AIDS RESEARCH
Researchers
Explore New Anti-HIV Agents (research perspective)
Current anti-HIV drugs inhibit reverse transcriptase
and nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
Anti-HIV drugs under development include agents that
interfere with other steps in the HIV life cycle,
as well as second-generation nonnucleoside reverse
transcriptase inhibitors.
HIV / AIDS NEWS
AIDS Vaccine Combo Enters 2nd Human
Testing Phase (news article)
A pair of AIDS vaccines that have proven safe in initial
trials will be tested on larger numbers of British
volunteers in the second stage of clinical development.
Pennies a Day Can Stop Spread of
AIDS (commentary)
Jimmy Carter and Bill Gates Sr. write that the US
should continue to increase its health aid and take
a lead role in ending AIDS.
HIV
Drug Under Review as Firm Withdraws FDA Application
(news article)
Nevirapine manufacturer withdraws its application
to the US Food and Drug Administration for use in
preventing mother to child transmission of HIV.
Southern
Africa: Food Shortages Could Increase HIV/AIDS Deaths
(news article)
The severe food shortages experienced by many southern
African countries and the resultant poor nutrition
could contribute to a rise in HIV/AIDS-related deaths
in the region.
Interventions
Needed to Prevent HIV Spread Through Breastfeeding,
Even When Antiretrovirals Used, Study Says (news
article)
Gains in reducing HIV infection during pregnancy are
being reversed due to breastfeeding. Perhaps reducing
breastfeeding to six months and continuing to provide
antiretrovirals to nursing mothers and uninfected
infants can protect against transmission.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Does
Breastfeeding Affect the Health of HIV-Positive Women?
Studies Disagree (research digest)
This digest reviews the two contradictory studies
(one in Kenya, the other in South Africa) assessing
the effect of breastfeeding on women's health.
Stereologic
Examination of Placentas from Mothers Who Smoke During
Pregnancy (research abstract)
A reduction of the estimated volume, the surface area,
and the length of villous capillaries was observed
in placentas of mothers who smoked cigarettes, providing
the missing link between low-birth weight babies and
smoking.
Related News Article: Study Reveals
Link Between Smoking, Birth Weight
Quality
of Maternity Care for Adolescent Mothers in Mbabane,
Swaziland (PubMed abstract)
On admission to the labour ward, verbal communication
and interaction between the midwife and the adolescent
were minimal, and none of the adolescents was encouraged
to bring a social support person to remain with them
during labour. During the progress of labour, nearly
50% of the adolescent mothers developed complications,
and approximately 27% had a lower-segment Caesarean
section.
The Unhappy Event: The Risk of Poor
Birth Outcomes in Kenya (research summary)
Analysis of the 1993 Kenyan Demographic and Health
Survey links first pregnancy, malnutrition, and lack
of adequate health care as major risk factors for
poor birth outcomes.
Drug
Therapy and Adverse Drug Reactions to Terbutaline
in Obstetric Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study
in Hospitalized Women (research abstract)
In Mexico City, pregnant women treated with drugs
to inhibit uterine contractions experienced a high
frequency of minor adverse reactions.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS
Breast-feeding May Counter HIV Prevention
Efforts (news article)
While medication can help prevent the spread of HIV
from infected mothers to their babies, breast-feeding
(a common and often necessary practice in developing
countries) may reverse those gains, according to the
results of a study of African women and their children.
Episiotomies
Involve Painful Recoveries (news article)
Recent studies have found that women who have episiotomies
have greater risks of complications than those who
do not.
MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Challenging
the Stereotypes: Men, Withdrawal, and Reproductive
Health in Lebanon (PubMed abstract)
The most important reason for the continuing practice
and popularity of withdrawal in Lebanon is fear of
side effects from other methods.
Candid Camera: Putting Men in the Picture? (research
summary)
South Asian Masculinities Film Project produced a
set of four films aimed at raising awareness of HIV/AIDS
among adolescents and violence against girls in the
region.
alpha-Methylacyl
Coenzyme A Racemase (AMACR) as a Tissue Biomarker for Prostate Cancer
(research abstract)
AMACR was shown to be overexpressed in prostate cancer
using independent experimental methods and prostate
cancer specimens. AMACR may be useful in the interpretation
of prostate needle biopsy specimens that are diagnostically
challenging.
Related News Article: New Gene Test
May Help Detect Prostate Cancer (news story)
Scientists are hoping that a new gene test will help
identify men with prostate cancer.
MEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Men Face Abuse as Often as Women:
UK Researcher (news story)
Men are just as likely as women to be victims of domestic
abuse, but are too embarrassed to talk about it.
Intentional Unsafe Sex Among Gay
Men Common: CDC (news story)
Researchers find that 14% of men in one study population
reported intentionally having unsafe sex at least
once during the past 2 years.
POPULATION RESEARCH
Examining
Changes in the Status of Women and Gender as Predictors
of Fertility Change Issues in Intermediate-Fertility
Countries
(research report)
The author proposes a gender perspective to explain
fertility transitions as a theoretical point of view
that has been missing in the debate over the causes
and trends of fertility decline in developing countries.
Education
and Future Fertility Trends, With Special Reference
to Mid-Transitional Countries
(research report)
The author identifies the implications of past and
projected changes in the educational composition of
populations for the future course of fertility in
countries that have entered the mid- and later phases
of fertility transition (three to five births per
woman).
POPULATION NEWS
Abortion,
Correlation Between Poverty, Fertility Rates Among
Issues Discussed as Commission Concludes Debate on
National Experience in Population Matters (press
release)
Family planning, correlation between poverty and fertility
rates, abortion, reproductive health and rights education,
and HIV/AIDS were high on the agenda of the Commission
for Population and Development. Various country experiences
were discussed.
South
Korea: Population Exceeds 48 Million (news article)
As of January 1, 2002, the total population of South
Korea was estimated at 48.2 million, up 0.6 percent
from 2001.
Yugoslavia Conducts Census (news
article)
Officials began conducting the first census since
the former Yugoslavia began to break up a decade ago
in a series of wars that brought major demographic
changes to the region.
Executive
Director Says Slowing Population Growth Rate Is Tribute
to Success of Cairo Conference: Cautions Against Complacency
(press release)
The fact that the world's population has not grown
as fast as previously projected is an affirmation
of the vision and success of the Programme of Action
of the International Conference on Population and
Development, says UNFPA director Thoraya Obaid.
Kampala
Fertility Very High (news article)
If wealth was determined by the number of children
one bears, then Uganda would be the fifth richest
country in the world. According to a new report by
the US-based Population Reference Bureau, Uganda has
the fifth highest fertility rate globally.
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Hormone
Replacement Therapy and the Risk of Invasive Epithelial
Ovarian Cancer in Swedish Women (research abstract)
Certain types of hormone replacement therapy may increase
the risk of ovarian cancer in women who take the drugs
after menopause. Those taking the drugs for more than
10 years seem to be at the greatest risk for ovarian
cancer.
Related News Article: Hormone Therapy
Linked to Risk of Ovarian Cancer
WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Violence
Against Women High on African Agenda (news article)
Throughout East Africa, human rights and women's lobby
groups have achieved a measure of success in pushing
for the recognition and legal protection of women's
rights.
YOUTH RESEARCH
Reproductive
Health Knowledge and Use of Services Among Young Adults
in Dakar, Senegal (research abstract)
A household survey of young adults discovered misconceptions
about FP methods and that only one-third of men and
women aged 15-19 could correctly identify the time
of the menstrual cycle when a women is most likely
to get pregnant. Contraceptive use at time of first
premarital sexual experience was less than 30%.
The
Association Between Impulsiveness and Sexual Risk
Behaviors in Adolescent and Young Adult Women
(PubMed abstract)
Higher impulsiveness was significantly associated
with early age of first sexual intercourse, higher
number of sexual partners, non-use of contraception
and condoms, and prior Chlamydia infection.
Knowledge
of Possible Pregnancy at First Coitus: A Study of
In-School Adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria (research
abstract)
This paper confirms earlier findings that most Nigerian
adolescents do not know the consequences of sex.
Challenging
Masculine Stereotypes: Focus on Brazil (research
summary)
Poor young men were interviewed in Brazil to find
out what factors influence them to have gender equitable
attitudes.
Lean Times - Adolescent Nutrition
in Bangladesh (research summary)
This research finds that malnourished youth are the
norm in rural Bangladesh: Around half of both boys
and girls are stunted, and anemia is nearly universal,
at 94 percent in male and 98% of female youth.
YOUTH NEWS
Street
Children: Trafficking, Risky Jobs Common, Philippine
Agency Says (news article)
About 44,000 street children in the Philippines face
threats from sexual trafficking.
Related News Article (Spanish): Más
de 40 Mil Menores Viven en las Calles de Filipinas
West
Africa: Six Countries Devise Travel Document To Combat
Trafficking (news article)
Beginning July 1st, documents for traveling children
will confirm the names of the adult traveling with
them, as well as the adult providing shelter at the
child's destination.
Uganda:
RDC Blames STDs On Alcohol (news article)
Deputy Resident Commissioner blames the high prevalence
of STDs among the youth on alcohol.
BOOKS / BOOK REVIEWS
Book on Kids' Sexuality Causes Furor
(news article)
A month before its publication, a provocative book
about children's sexuality is being prompting angry
calls for action against its publisher.
PROFILES / SPECIAL REPORTS
Women
in Tajikistan
This report finds that the economic transition taking
place in Tajikistan has had a greater negative impact
on women and women's health than on the health and
well-being of men. The report urges program and project
planners to adopt a gendered approach when developing
economic and social programs.
Women's
Health Fact Sheets
This site provide links to a number of fact sheets
developed by the World Health Organization on women's
health, ranging from essential obstetric care to emergency
contraception and violence against women.
Sexually
Transmitted Infections: Online Minicourse
This course is designed for reproductive health and
other health care providers, particularly in resource-poor
settings, who are interested in learning "the
basics" of STIs/RTIs prevention, management,
and counseling.
Myanmar:
The HIV/AIDS Crisis (report)
HIV prevalence is rising rapidly in Burma/Myanmar,
fueled by population mobility and poverty. One in
50 adults is estimated to be infected, and infection
rates in sub-populations with especially risky behaviour
(such as drug users and sex workers) are among the
highest in Asia. Worse is to come, but how much worse
depends on the decisions that Myanmar and the international
community take in the coming months and years.
Follow-on
Project for Improving Maternal Child-Health in the
Huallage Valley of Peru: A Collaborative Project with
Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and the Ministry
of Health-Region San Martin
(605 Kb) (project report)
World
Vision: Third Annual Review Report - Ballia Rural
Integrated Child Survival Project, Uttar Pradesh,
India
(529 Kb) (project report)
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