7 October 2002, PopReporter

The Pop Reporter®

– Events – Archives – Subscribe – Modify Profile – Headline Sharing Program – The Pop Reporter en Español (Spanish)

Volume 2, Number 40
7 October 2002

FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY

Thailand Contemplates Comprehensive Reproductive Rights Law (news article)
During an August conference on women's health in Bangkok, Thai lawmakers and government officials took a major step toward developing a national reproductive rights law. If Thailand moves forward on this initiative and passes a comprehensive reproductive health law, it will be the first country in the region to enact such legislation.

Philippines Debates National Reproductive Health Law (news article)
A debate is raging in the Philippines over legislation requiring the federal government to outline a strategy that would improve Filipinos' access to reproductive health care and to review and repeal laws and policies that infringe on their sexual and reproductive rights. The bill is crucial for Filipino women's health because it would force the federal government to fund programs for contraceptive services and information.

Laos: One-Fifth of UNICEF Country Budget Allotted to Child, Maternal Health (news article)
Improving maternal and child health is a major priority for UNICEF in Laos, where the maternal mortality rate is the second highest in Asia and less than one-third of mothers receive prenatal care from a doctor, nurse, or midwife. Maternal and child health efforts account for about one-fifth of UNICEF's annual $5 million budget for the country. Four out of 10 children in Laos are malnourished and the same proportion experience stunted growth.

Zimbabwe: $96 Million Looted from HIV/AIDS Levy Fund (news article)
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor-General details the disbursement of funds, which were shrouded in procedural impropriety.

A Survey of STI Policies and Programmes in Europe: Preliminary Results (research abstract)
In this survey study, researchers found that Western European countries largely leave STI prevention and care to individual practitioners. While in western Europe access to condoms appears to be good, in the newly independent states there are many fewer condom outlets.

FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH

Age-Specific Prevalence of Infection with Herpes Simplex Virus Types 2 and 1: A Global Review (research abstract)
Information on age- and sex-specific prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 2 and 1 infections is essential to optimize genital herpes control strategies. This review summarizes data from peer-reviewed publications of type-specific HSV sero-epidemiologic surveys from around the world.

Improving Cycle Control in Progestogen-Only Contraceptive Pill Users by Intermittent Treatment with a New Anti-Progestogen (research abstract)
The safety and efficacy of the anti-progestogen Org 31710 in improving cycle control in healthy women using the desogestrel progestogen-only pill was investigated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Compared with controls, fewer subjects in the Org 31710 group reported irregular, frequent, or prolonged bleeding. The addition of Org 31710 once a month improved cycle control in women using daily treatment with 75 µg desogestrel.

Ovarian Function with a Novel Combined Contraceptive Vaginal Ring (research abstract)
Researchers found a new contraceptive ring to be a highly effective, reversible method of hormonal contraception. Ovulation, at least until the stage of a 13 mm dominant follicle, is prevented and as little as 3 consecutive days of the new contraceptive ring use interferes with follicle growth.

FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS

Researchers Looking to Stunt Menstruation (news article)
Ask women how they feel about the bleeding, cramping, mood swings and other aspects of their monthly menstrual cycle, and most will say, "Who needs it?" Now some researchers are saying women don't need to menstruate monthly, unless they want to become pregnant. Researchers are looking into ways to reduce the number of periods each year.

Biggest Study so far Backs Douching, Infection Link (news article)
Women who douche at least once a month are 40% more likely to have a mild bacterial infection of the vagina than women who do not douche at all, researchers report.

Women in Zimbabwe Reusing Female Condom, Despite Risks (news article)
The high cost of the female condom is forcing Zimbabwean women, particularly sex workers, to reuse the device to save money, despite the risks associated with reuse, AIDS activists have warned.

Wall Street Journal Examines Oral Contraceptive Yasmin's Reputation as Weight-Loss Aid (news article)
Although empirically unsupported, Berlex Laboratories' oral contraceptive pill, Yasmin, has developed a reputation as an effective weight-loss aid as well as a method of pregnancy prevention. It is not clear whether Yasmin offers any long-term weight benefits compared with other oral contraceptives.

IPPF European Network Subsidiary Company Enet Withdraws Nonoxynol-9 Condoms (news article)
Following the the WHO press statement to the effect that spermicides containing nonoxynol-9 do not protect against HIV and may even increase the risk of HIV infection in women using these products frequently, the IPPF European Network subsidiary company Enet, approved the withdrawal of the Nonoxynol-9 lubricated variant from its range of condoms.

Female Circumcision Rush for Somali Refugees (news article)
Somali refugees preparing to move to the United States are rushing to circumcise their daughters, some as young as two years old, after learning the practice is illegal in their future home. According to humanitarian workers in Kenya refugee camps, an unusually large number of girls have been circumcised in recent weeks. The agencies working on the resettlement program "are aware of the problem and are working to figure out how to put a handle on it and do something about it," said a US Embassy spokesman in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.

HIV / AIDS RESEARCH

The Next Wave of HIV/AIDS: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, India, and China (research report)
Related news article: Intelligence Study Raises Estimate of AIDS Spread
A new report from the National Intelligence Council estimates that the number of people with HIV/AIDS will grow significantly by the end of the decade. The increase will be driven by the spread of the disease in five populous countries (Nigeria, Ethiopia, Russia, India, and China) where the number of infected people will grow from around 14 to 23 million currently to an estimated 50 to 75 million by 2010.

Knowledge On, and Attitude Toward, HIV/AIDS among Staff of an International Organization in Bangladesh (research article)
This study found that most members of the staff, particularly at lower level, had misconceptions about transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS. More than 40 percent of the respondents had the attitude that HIV-infected persons should not be allowed to work, while another 10 percent did not have any idea about it. The findings of the study suggest that the members of the Centre's staff have a satisfactory level of essential knowledge on HIV/AIDS, although half of them have poor attitudes toward persons with HIV/AIDS.

HIV / AIDS NEWS

Danger of AIDS Epidemic Underplayed in Bangladesh (news article)
Although the official figure of HIV infected people in Bangladesh is extremely low by any standard (a mere 188) there is a growing fear that, like India, Bangladesh may be sitting on a volcano with the danger of an impending AIDS epidemic.

South Africa: Free HIV Drug Distribution Begins (news article)
Rape survivors who are admitted to KwaZulu-Natal hospitals and community health centers will be given free AIDS drugs, effective immediately.

Cambodian AIDS Patients March to Demand Government Help (news article)
About 300 Cambodians with HIV protested in Phnom Penh Tuesday to demand more government help. The protesters walked to a conference center where 1,000 government ministers, provincial authorities and AIDS patients are attending a three-day meeting on combating the disease.

Fear of Social Backlash Hampers Zimbabwe's Fight Against AIDS Baby Deaths ( news article)
Efforts to reduce Zimbabwe's infant mortality rate are threatened because many pregnant women who are tested for HIV are too frightened to return to the clinic for the results, Health Ministry official Inam Chitsike said.

MTV Stages Seattle/Cape Town Gigs for AIDS Day (news article)l
The pop music channel MTV, bidding for a world audience of at least 2 billion people, announced plans yesterday for concerts in Cape Town and Seattle to mark World AIDS Day on December 1.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Perceptions of Mothers and Use of Breastmilk Substitutes in Dhaka, Bangladesh (research article)
Approximately, 90% of the mothers of low SES could not differentiate between infant formula and milk powder compared to 70% of the mothers of middle SES (p<0.001). The findings of FGDs revealed that some middle-class mothers thought that infant formula was the best food for their infants.

Home Management of Childhood Diarrhoea in a Poor Periurban Community in Dominican Republic (research article)
Forty-six percent of caregivers reported that one of their children had experienced diarrhoea within the last month. There was high reported use of ORS and knowledge of its preparation and principal function. However obstacles to its use included high rates of dietary restrictions during diarrhoea, positive view of the use of antibiotics, poor knowledge of preparation of sugar-salt solutions, and low attention given to clinical indicators as reasons for seeking professional treatment.

How Accurate is the Postnatal Estimation of Gestational Age? (research abstract)
The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of postnatal gestational age assessment of babies in North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka using different methods. It was concluded that postnatal assessment of gestational age by the Parkin's method is much closer to menstrual gestation than the classical Dubowitz method and is also easier and quicker to perform.

Integrating Quantitative and Qualitative Methods to Assess the Impact of Child Survival Programs in Developing Countries: The Case of a Program Evaluation in Ceara, Northeast Brazil (research abstract)
This article describes an outcome evaluation of a community health workers program in the state of Ceara, Northeast Brazil. The program integrated quantitative and qualitative methods to assess the impact of child survival interventions in reducing infant mortality and inadequate weight gain in children. By using multiple methods that combine quantitative and qualitative components, researchers can broaden their understanding of complex public health issues and direct use of data for decision making.

Infant Feeding and Blood Cholesterol: A Study in Adolescents and a Systematic Review (PubMed abstract)
Related news article: Breast May be Best for Cardiovascular Health
Breastfeeding may be good for long-term cardiovascular health, according to a study carried out by researchers at St. George's Hospital Medical School in Tooting, England. By comparing infants, children, adolescents, and adults who were breastfed in early life with those who had been formula-fed, the researchers suggested that breastfeeding may have long-term benefits for cardiovascular health. The study found that cholesterol levels appear to be lower in adults who had been breastfed compared with those who were formula-fed.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS

US Centers for Disease Control: Baby Caught West Nile Virus from Mom's Milk (news article)
US health officials confirmed last week that a Michigan infant has the West Nile virus and probably got it from the breast milk of his infected mother.

Test Shows Aspirin Can Help Prevent Pre-Eclampsia (news article)
A Spanish researcher has developed a test that identified 93 percent of women who may be susceptible to pre-eclampsia, which can lead to premature births and risk the lives of mothers, and has offered evidence that aspirin given early can prevent the condition. According to the World Health Organization, pre-eclampsia and eclampsia occurs in about 10 percent of women worldwide and is responsible for 12 percent of pregnancy-related deaths, especially in developing countries.

MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

How Work-place Conditions, Environmental Toxicants and Lifestyle Affect Male Reproductive Function (research abstract)
The authors examine how male reproductive function might be impacted by various factors.

Genital Shedding of Herpes Simplex Virus among Men (research abstract)
Epidemiologic studies suggest that most sexual transmission of genital herpes occurs when persons shed virus but lack lesions. The shedding rate among men with genital HSV-2 was significantly higher than among men with genital HSV-1 infection. The frequency of viral shedding in men with genital herpes is comparable with that in women, researchers found.

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Zoledronic Acid in Patients with Hormone-Refractory Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma (PubMed abstract)
Related news article: Drug May Help after Prostate Cancer Spreads to Bone
A new drug may help fight the pain and skeletal damage that occurs when prostate cancer spreads to the bone, according to the results of a new study. The drug, zoledronic acid, is a member of a family of medications called bisphosphonates that help regulate the process of bone renewal.

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes in Men is Associated with Hypothalamo-Pituitary Derangement and with Impairment in Semen Quality (research abstract)
The objective of the study was to investigate the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis and sperm structure at the transmission electron microscope (TEM) level in men affected by insulin-dependent diabetes. The study found that the reduced response of gonadotrophins to GnRH in diabetic men may indicate a decreased acute releasable pool of pituitary gonadotrophins. The results of TEM examination showed that sperm from men with diabetes presented severe structural defects in comparison with sperm from controls.

MEN'S HEALTH NEWS

STD Surprisingly Tied to Low Prostate Cancer Risk (news article)
In an unexpected outcome, Finnish researchers found that men who have been infected with chlamydia appear to have a reduced risk of prostate cancer.

Male Pill Tester's Side-effect Agony (news article)
A volunteer tester for the male Pill is demanding an inquiry after suffering side-effects which he fears may put his life at risk. The man says he has lost 40 per cent of his lungs and at one point developed such a serious rheumatoid problem that he could hardly walk, tie shoelaces, or sleep.

New Treatments for Prostate Trouble (news article)
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is the medical term for the enlargement of the prostate. As men age, the prostate grows, and as it does it puts pressure on the urethra and bladder, which causes the urinary symptoms that men experience. For years the standard treatment was surgery, and while the surgery is still performed today, advances in medication and alternative therapies have given doctors options in treating this common and irritating condition.

POPULATION RESEARCH

Algorithm for Decomposition of Differences Between Aggregate Demographic Measures and Its Application to Life Expectancies, Healthy Life Expectancies, Parity-Progression Ratios and Total Fertility Rates (research article)
The authors propose a general algorithm for the decomposition of differences between two values of an aggregate demographic measure in respect to age and other dimensions. The application of the algorithm enables a numerical decomposition of the differences between total fertility rates and between parity progression ratios by age of the mother and parity. Empirical examples are based on mortality data from the USA, the UK, West Germany, and Poland and on fertility data from Russia.

POPULATION NEWS

Australia: Immigration Only Answer to Population Fall (news article)
On current population projections, immigration will be the only thing preventing the Australian population from declining in about 30 years time, federal Multicultural Affairs Minister Gary Hardgrave said. "The reality we are grappling with today is a declining fertility rate which, since the mid 70s, has been well below the rate needed for population replacement."

Britain Census Says Million Are Missing (news article)
The results of Britain's national census, announced last week, held a surprise for statisticians: almost a million people, most of them young men, are missing.

UK: Census Highlights Ageing Population Concerns (news article)
The census of Britain has revealed that for the first time there are more people aged over 60 than under 16 and the number of over-85s has increased 500 per cent since 1951 to 1.1 million.

WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

A Population-based Prospective Study of Chlamydia Trachomatis Infection and Cervical Carcinoma (research abstract)
Related news article: Chlamydia Infection May Boost Cervical Cancer Risk
Women who become infected with chlamydia appear to be at an increased risk of developing cervical cancer.

Randomized Trial of Breast Self-Examination in Shanghai: Final Results (PubMed abstract)
Related news article: Breast Self-Exam Won't Cut Cancer Death Risk: Study
This study was conducted to determine whether providing an intensive program of breast self exam instruction will reduce the number of women dying of breast cancer. The study found that teaching women to perform breast self-exams does not lower their risk of death from cancer and may lead to unnecessary biopsies. The authors stress that the findings should not discourage women from checking their breasts for tumors; rather, that women who do self-exams should practice regularly and understand that they may have a higher risk of having a breast biopsy for a benign tumor should they detect a lump.

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Study Finds Women's Mental Health Benefits Just as Much as Men's in Marriage (media release)
During the 1970s, there emerged a view of marriage as an institution that promotes the mental health of men at the expense of women. When a range of types of mental disorders are considered, however, marriage reduces the risk of mental disorders for both men and women. Although married men and women risk different types of disorders, this has nothing to do with them being married.

More Evidence Aspirin May Prevent Ovarian Cancer (news article)
Previous research has suggested that women who take aspirin may reduce their risk of developing ovarian cancer, and a new examination of the interaction between aspirin and ovarian cancer cells adds further support to this conclusion.

YOUTH RESEARCH

An Evaluation of an Abstinence Education Curriculum Series: Sex Can Wait (research abstract)
Related news article: Abstinence Based Program Effective
A non-directive abstinence based sex education program developed at the University of Arkansas has been shown to work with high school students. Its developers attribute its success to the respect it shows to adolescents' natural drive toward autonomy. It does not include lessons on contraceptives.

News from the Frontline: Sexually Transmitted Infections in Teenagers Attending a Genitourinary Clinic in South East London (research abstract)
Related news article: Very High STD Rate Seen in Southeast London Girls
Adolescent girls in southeast London are three times more likely to have gonorrhea, chlamydia, or some other sexually transmitted infection than older women who visit genitourinary medicine clinics for check-ups, study findings show.

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection: A Sexually Transmitted Infection of Adolescence? (research abstract)
Related news article: Earlier Sex Linked to Herpes Infections
People who began having sexual intercourse at age 15 or younger are more likely to be infected with the herpes simplex virus-1 than someone who had intercourse for the first time at age 20 or older. Among reproductive health clinic attendees, someone who had sexual intercourse for the first time at age 15 or younger was almost three times as likely to register positive for an HSV-1 infection as someone whose intercourse occurred at age 20 or older.

PROFILES / SPECIAL REPORTS

Condoms Count: Meeting the Need in the Era of HIV/AIDS (report)
This new PAI report documents the failure of the donor community--and many of the countries most affected by AIDS--to adequately support programs that promote and distribute male and female condoms. At least 8 billion condoms are needed annually for protection against HIV/AIDS in developing countries and Eastern Europe, but wealthy countries contribute less than one billion condoms, fewer than a decade ago, says the new report from Population Action International.

Facing the HIV/AIDS Pandemic (report)
Even as HIV continues its relentless spread across the globe, most countries still lack the will, the commitment, and the resources to create effective HIV/AIDS programs, according to the newest Population Bulletin.

Universal Sexuality Education in Mongolia: Educating Today to Protect Tomorrow (report)
There are now more than a billion young people between the ages of 10 and 19 in the world. A considerable effort must be made within countries to provide young people with the information and skills they will need to negotiate their way through a changing culture and to protect their sexual health. This report explores Mongolia's efforts to implement a reproductive health and sexuality education program.

When you click on any link, your Internet browser will access a Web site not connected to "The Pop Reporter.®" Information accessed through these links and contained in this issue of "The Pop Reporter®" does not necessarily state or reflect the views of the Population Information Program, Johns Hopkins University, or the U.S. Agency for International Development.

All links were verified at the date of posting. Your computer and/or network configuration regarding Java script, cookies, and other security issues may not allow you to view certain Web sites. Consult your computer technician if you are having problems.

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: The INFO Project

Volume 2, Number 40 7 October 2002