Volume 8, Number 15
14 April 2008

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ADOLESCENT HEALTH NEWS

Burkina Faso: Children educate children about HIV
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
2 Apr 2008

Africa: More HIV-positive children and pregnant women getting AIDS treatment
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
3 Apr 2008

South Africa: Spectre of Dying Children Renews Call for Action
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
8 Apr 2008

ADOLESCENT HEALTH RESEARCH

Consistent condom use in South African youth's most recent sexual relationships
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS and Behavior. 2008 May;12(3):431-440.
Moyo W | Levandowski BA | MacPhail C | Rees H | Pettifor A
Sexually active South African youth are at high risk for HIV infection but a low prevalence of condom use has been reported in this population. We examined correlates of consistent condom use with most recent sex partners among a nationally representative sample of youth 15-24 years old who reported having had sex in the previous 12 months (N = 6,649). Among men and women, having talked to a partner about using condoms was the most significant predictor of consistent condom use. However, youth who reported being in their most recent relationship for more than 1 year and who reported having had sex one or more times in the last month were more likely to report inconsistent condom use. HIV interventions should empower youth to talk about using condoms with their partners, encourage periodic testing for HIV, and reinforce condom use according to HIV status in long-term relationships.

HIV-related knowledge and stigma among high school students in Libya
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; North Africa)
International Journal of STD and AIDS. 2008 Mar;19(3):178-183.
El-Gadi S | Abudher A | Sammud M
This study aims to measure indicators of HIV-related stigma among students of high schools in the North West of Libya. The results will be part of baseline data and evaluation of the impact of successive interventions. Understanding the behaviour of risk groups in a society, such as young people, is essential in order to draw effective prevention strategies. Behavioural surveillance surveys have been shown to make an important and useful contribution to informing the response to HIV. This study was part of a large Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practice survey. A self-administrated questionnaire method was used. The response rates were high (83-92%). Despite high level of stigma shown by both boys and girls in the study, 91% of students supported providing free care to HIV infected individuals. The HIV intervention programmes for young people should operate within a comprehensive strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. The stigmatizing and the discriminatory perceptions of HIV infected individuals should be addressed as part of the education campaign.

FAMILY PLANNING NEWS

Philippines: Population plan may help ease food crisis – NGOs
(News Article; Asia)
9 April 2008
GMANews.TV

Vietnam: Family planning campaigns show sharp overall decline
(News Article; Asia)
6 April 2008
VietNamNet Bride

Philippines: Lawmaker optimistic over family planning budget
(News Article; Asia)
9 April 2008
Jimenez, F, GMANews.TV

Uganda: Smaller families, manlier men
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
7 April 2008
Oyaro, K, Inter Press Service

FAMILY PLANNING RESEARCH

Family planning in West Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Washington, D.C., Population Reference Bureau, 2008 Mar. [3] p.
Gribble J
For many years, donors and governments focused attention on family planning in West Africa to both improve maternal and child health and enhance economic development. However, as fighting HIV/AIDS became a priority in the region, family planning received much less attention. Most experts agree that sub-Saharan Africa is undergoing a transition to fewer births per woman, although the use of family planning has increased slowly and remains relatively low. Early age at marriage, the social desirability of many children, and limited access to education are some of the factors that keep fertility from decreasing more rapidly. Although family planning experts often take a regional view of family planning and refer to the West African region as a whole, this perspective runs the risk of masking the variations in prevalence, method mix, and user characteristics across countries. To compare West Africa to other regions, such averages are useful because they provide information at the macro level while other factors, such as the economy, governance, and disease, may be important determinants of contraceptive use at the individual level. However, when looking at the variation within a region, such as at the national or subnational levels or within specific groups, such as rural residents, the poor, or youth, we obtain a much clearer idea of how family planning efforts play out in different settings. This article is the first of two articles that examine trends and patterns in the use of family planning in West Africa. The second installment will focus on three countries within the region-Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali-to illustrate similarities and differences.

A clinical study of transdermal contraceptive patch in Thai adolescent women
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. 2008 Feb;19(2):137-141.
Piyasirisilp R | Taneepanichskul S
The objective was to study cycle control, compliance and safety of a transdermal contraceptive patch in adolescent Thai women. Fifty-eight healthy women were assigned to receive 3 cycles of contraceptive patch (ethinyl estradiol 20 microg and norelgestromin 150 microg /day). All participants aged 16-20 years were invited to participate from the family planning clinic at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Data were collected on adverse effects, perceived advantages and disadvantages, body weight, blood pressure, patch detachments and compliance. Data were analyzed using mean, percentage and student's t-test. The participants' average age was 19.4 years, height 158.8 cm, weight 51.8 kg, BMI 20.8 Kg/m2. The most location of patch application was the abdomen and the most adverse event was breast tenderness (31.0%) followed by application site reaction, nausea vomiting and headache respectively. The breast symptom was mild in severity. The participants reported decrease in dysmenorrhea and shorter duration of bleeding. There were no significant changes in body weight and blood pressure. The improvement of their facial acne was reported. There were no pregnancies during use and the adhesion of the contraceptive patch is excellent. Partial patch detachment was reported in only 6.9%. No completed patch detachment was found. The present study found an overall positive impression of a new transdermal contraceptive patch. The good compliance and few side effects were demonstrated. The adhesive patch contraceptive was excellent.

GENDER and HEALTH NEWS

Swaziland: Every third woman sexually abused as a child, says report
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
9 Apr 2008
IRIN

Somalia: Raising awareness against FGM in Puntland
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
7 Apr 2008
IRIN

Bangladeshi women receive fistula surgery at UN-run medical training session
(News Article; Asia)
9 April 2008
UN News Centre

GENDER and HEALTH RESEARCH

Case-control study of risk factors associated with hepatitis C virus infection among pregnant women in hospitals of Karachi-Pakistan
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Tropical Medicine and International Health. 2008 Jun;13(6):1-8.
Khan UR | Janjua NZ | Akhtar S | Hatcher J
The objective was to identify risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women seeking antenatal care in tertiary care hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. We enrolled 119 cases and 238 controls. Cases were enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA III) positive pregnant women for antibodies to HCV; controls were anti-HCV ELISA negative pregnant women. The mean age of study subjects was 26 years (SD 5) ranging from 15 to 50 years. The mean number of pregnancies for cases was 4 (SD 3) and for controls was 3 (SD 2). Among cases an average number of injections in any month was 40%, history of hospitalization was 61% and household contact with jaundice or hepatitis was 35%. In the final multivariable logistic regression model, five or more gestations (aOR = 1.99; 95% CI = 1.08-3.33), greater than or equal to 1 injection (aOR = 2.33; 95% CI = 1.38-3.91) per month, hospitalization (aOR = 1.78; 95% CI = 1.01-2.99) and household contact with jaundice/hepatitis (aOR = 3.32; 95% CI = 1.89-5.83) were independently associated with HCV. Iatrogenic exposure (health care injections, hospitalizations and gestations) is the major risk factor for transmission of HCV among pregnant women.

Therapeutic human papillomavirus vaccines: Current clinical trials and future directions
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy. 2008 Apr;8(4):421-439.
Hung CF | Ma B | Monie A | Tsen SW | Wu TC
Cervical cancer is the second largest cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. It is now evident that persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is necessary for the development and maintenance of cervical cancer. Thus, effective vaccination against HPV represents an opportunity to restrain cervical cancer and other important cancers. The FDA recently approved the HPV vaccine Gardasil for the preventive control of HPV, using HPV virus-like particles (VLP) to generate neutralizing antibodies against major capsid protein, L1. However, prophylactic HPV vaccines do not have therapeutic effects against pre-existing HPV infections and HPV-associated lesions. Furthermore, due to the considerable burden of HPV infections worldwide, it would take decades for preventive vaccines to affect the prevalence of cervical cancer. Thus, in order to speed up the control of cervical cancer and treat current infections, the continued development of therapeutic vaccines against HPC is critical. Therapeutic HPV vaccines can potentially eliminate pre-existing lesions and malignant tumors by generating cellular immunity against HPV-infected cells that express early viral proteins such as E6 and E7. This review discusses the future directions of therapeutic HPV vaccine approaches for the treatment of established HPV-associated malignancies, with emphasis on current progress of HPV vaccine clinical trials. Relevant literature is discussed. Though their development has been challenging, many therapeutic HPV vaccines have been shown to induce HPV-specific antitumor immune responses in preclinical animal models and several promising strategies have been applied in clinical trials. With continued progress in the field of vaccine development, HPC therapeutic vaccines may provide a potentially promising approach for the control of lethal HPV-associated malignancies.

Intimate partner violence and women's physical and mental health in the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence: An observational study
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Lancet. 2008 Apr;371(9619):1165-1172.
Ellsberg M | Jansen HA | Heise L | Watts CH | Garcia-Moreno C
This article summarises findings from ten countries from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence against women. Standardised population-based surveys were done between 2000 and 2003. Women aged 15-49 years were interviewed about their experiences of physically and sexually violent acts by a current or former intimate male partner, and about selected symptoms associated with physical and mental health. The women reporting physical violence by a partner were asked about injuries that resulted from this type of violence. 24 097 women completed interviews. Pooled analysis of all sites found significant associations between lifetime experiences of partner violence and self-reported poor health (odds ratio 1.6 [95% CI 1.5-1.8]), and with specific health problems in the previous 4 weeks: difficulty walking (1.6 [1.5-1.8]), difficulty with daily activities (1.6 [1.5-1.8]), pain (1.6 [1.5-1.7]), memory loss (1.8 [1.6-2.0]), dizziness (1.7 [1.6-1.8]), and vaginal discharge (1.8 [1.7-2.0]). For all settings combined, women who reported partner violence at least once in their life reported significantly more emotional distress, suicidal thoughts (2.9 [2.7-3.2]), and suicidal attempts (3.8 [3.3-4.5]), than non-abused women. These significant associations were maintained in almost all of the sites. Between 19% and 55% of women who had ever been physically abused by their partner were ever injured. In addition to being a breach of human rights, intimate partner violence is associated with serious public-health consequences that should be addressed in national and global health policies and programmes. WHO; Governments of the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and UK; Rockefeller Foundation; Urban Primary Health Care project of the Government of Bangladesh; Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation with Developing Countries (SAREC/Sida); United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA); and Trocaire.

Prevalence of female genital cutting among Egyptian girls
(Report; North Africa)
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2008 Apr;86(4):269-274.
Tag-Eldin MA | Gadallah MA | Al-Tayeb MN | Abdel-Aty M | Mansour E
Female genital cutting (FGC) is the collective name given to traditional practices that involve partial or total cutting away of the female external genitalia whether for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons. In Egypt, the result of the Demographic Health Survey in 2000 revealed that 97% of married women included in the survey experienced FGC. The aim of this study is to measure the prevalence of FGC among schoolgirls in Egypt. Multistage random technique was applied for site selection. First, Egypt was divided into five geographical areas; Greater Cairo, Lower Egypt, Upper Egypt, Sinai and Suez Canal Region. Second, from each governorate, two educational districts were selected randomly (except Luxor). In each of the selected districts, the schools were divided into primary, preparatory and secondary schools. In each education stage, the schools were divided into rural, urban, government and private. The total number of females interviewed was 38 816. The prevalence of FGC among schoolgirls in Egypt was 50.3%. The prevalence of FGC was 46.2% in government urban schools, 9.2% in private urban schools and 61.7% in rural schools. Educational levels of mother and father were negatively associated with FGC (P less than 0.001). The mean age of the time of FGC was 10.1 plus or minus 2.3 years. FGC prevalence is lowering, yet more active education at the grass-roots level is needed to create change.

HIV/AIDS and STIs NEWS

Kenya: ARVs - This is Bad News
(Editorial; Sub-Saharan Africa)
4 Apr 2008
The Nation

St. Kitts and Nevis: National AIDS secretariat promotes use of female condom
(News Article; Central America and the Caribbean)
4 Apr 2008
SKNVibes

HIV/AIDS and STIs RESEARCH

Estimating incidence from prevalence in generalised HIV epidemics: Methods and validation
(Research Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
PLoS Medicine. 2008 Apr;5(4):e80.
Hallett TB | Zaba B | Todd J | Lopman B | Mwita W
HIV surveillance of generalised epidemics in Africa primarily relies on prevalence at antenatal clinics, but estimates of incidence in the general population would be more useful. Repeated cross-sectional measures of HIV prevalence are now becoming available for general populations in many countries, and we aim to develop and validate methods that use these data to estimate HIV incidence. Two methods were developed that decompose observed changes in prevalence between two serosurveys into the contributions of new infections and mortality. Method 1 uses cohort mortality rates, and method 2 uses information on survival after infection. The performance of these two methods was assessed using simulated data from a mathematical model and actual data from three community-based cohort studies in Africa. Comparison with simulated data indicated that these methods can accurately estimates incidence rates and changes in incidence in a variety of epidemic conditions. Method 1 is simple to implement but relies on locally appropriate mortality data, whilst method 2 can make use of the same survival distribution in a wide range of scenarios. The estimates from both methods are within the 95% confidence intervals of almost all actual measurements of HIV incidence in adults and young people, and the patterns of incidence over age are correctly captured. It is possible to estimate incidence from cross-sectional prevalence data with sufficient accuracy to monitor the HIV epidemic. Although these methods will theoretically work in any context, we have able to test them only in southern and eastern Africa, where HIV epidemics are mature and generalised. The choice of method will depend on the local availability of HIV mortality data.

HIV voluntary counseling and testing and behavioral risk reduction in developing countries: A meta-analysis, 1990 -- 2005
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
AIDS and Behavior. 2008 Mar;12(3):363-373.
Denison JA | O'Reilly KR | Schmid GP | Kennedy CE | Sweat MD
The effectiveness of HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in reducing HIV risk behaviors in developing countries was assessed using meta-analytic methods. A standardized protocol was used for searching, acquiring, and extracting study data and meta-analyzing the results. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. VCT recipients were significantly less likely to engage in unprotected sex when compared to behaviors before receiving VCT, or as compared to participants who had not received VCT [OR 1.69; 95%CI 1.25-2.31]. VCT had no significant effect on the number of sex partners [OR 1.22; 95%CI 0.89-1.67]. While these findings provide only moderate evidence in support of VCT as an effective prevention strategy, neither do they negate the need to expand access to HIV testing and counseling services. Such expansion, however, must be accompanied by rigorous evaluation in order to test, refine and maximize the preventive benefits of learning one's HIV infection status through HIV testing and counseling.

AIDS and the scientific governance of medicine in post-apartheid South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
African Affairs. 2008 Apr;107(427):157-176.
Nattrass N
AIDS policy in post-apartheid South Africa has been shaped by persistent antipathy towards antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). This hostility was framed initially by President Mbeki's questioning of AIDS science and subsequently by direct resistance to implementing prevention and treatment programmes using ARVs. Once that battle was lost in the courts and in the political arena, the Health Minister, Tshabalala-Msimang, continued to portray ARVs as 'poison' and to support alternative untested therapies. Demographic modelling suggests that if the national government had used ARVs for prevention and treatment at the same rate as the Western Cape (which defied national policy on ARVs), then about 171,000 HIV infections and 343,000 deaths could have been prevented between 1999 and 2007. Two key scientific bodies, the Medicines Control Council (MCC) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) fall under the ambit of the national Department of Health. Although notionally independent, both have experienced political interference as a consequence of their scientific approach towards AIDS. AIDS policy improved after the Deputy President was given responsibility for coordinating AIDS policy in 2006. However, the undermining of the scientific governance of medicine is a legacy that still needs to be addressed.

Can variation in HIV/STD-related risk be explained by individual SES? Findings from female sex workers in a rural Chinese county
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Health Care for Women International. 2008 Mar;29(3):316-335.
Fang X | Li X | Yang H | Hong Y | Stanton B
Low socioeconomic status (SES) has been linked to HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) at a macro level because the majority of new cases of HIV infection in the world have been reported in underdeveloped or developing countries. However, empirical data on the relationship between individual SES and HIV/STD related risk have been mixed. Employing quantitative data from 454 female sex workers (FSWs), this study was designed to examine the profile of the study sample in terms of their individual SES, HIV/STD-related sexual risk across work locations with different social, cultural, and economic conditions; and to examine the relationship between work location and HIV-related risk behaviors, controlling for individual SES. We have shown in the current study that both SES and HIV/STD-related risk behaviors significantly differed by work location. However, the difference in individual SES was not sufficient to explain the difference of HIV/STD-related risk across the work locations. The findings underscore the need for effective prevention intervention efforts targeting FSWs in rural areas. Based on the findings, we also suggest that HIV/STD intervention efforts among FSWs should take the social and cultural contextual factors of their working environment (and sexual risks) into consideration.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS

Ghana: MTN Foundation launches project to save pregnant women and babies
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
7 Apr 2008
Amankwah AA, Public Agenda (Accra)

Nigeria: Why Women, Children Die in Country
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
7 Apr 2008
Agha E, This Day (Lagos)

South Africa: Ethekwini aims to reduce infant, maternal deaths
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
6 Apr 2008
Ntuli S, Bua News (Tshwane)

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Paediatric HIV and neurodevelopment in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Tropical Medicine and International Health. 2008 Jul;13(7):1-8.
Abubakar A | Van Baar A | Van de Vijver FJ | Holding P | Newton C
The objective was to determine the degree of motor, cognitive, language and social-emotional impairment related to HIV infection in children living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Literature searches using MEDLINE and PsycINFO. Additionally, the reference lists of previous reviews were checked to ensure that all eligible studies were identified. Cohen's d, a measure of effect size, was computed to estimate the level of impairment. Six reports met the inclusion criteria. In infancy a consistent delay in motor development was observed with a median value of Cohen's d = 0.97 at 18 months, indicating a severe degree of impairment. Mental development showed a moderate delay at 18 months, with a median value d = 0.67. Language delay did not appear until 24 months of age, d = 0.91. Less clear findings occurred in older subjects. Although HIV has been shown to affect all domains of child functioning, motor development is the most apparent in terms of severity, early onset, and persistence across age groups. However, motor development has been the most widely assessed domain while language development has been less vigorously evaluated in SSA, hence an accurate quantitative estimate of the effect cannot yet be made.

Preterm infants of educated mothers have better outcome
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Acta Paediatrica. 2008 May;97(5):568-573.
Wang LW | Wang ST | Huang CC
The aim was to determine the developmental trajectories of very-low-birthweight (VLBW) infants during the first 2 years of life, and investigate the most contributory predictors of diverse trajectories. This prospective cohort study enrolled 887 VLBW infants from January 1999 to December 2002 with regular follow-up at corrected age of 6, 12, 18 and 24 months. Sociodemographic and medical data were collected, and the outcome measures consisted of neurological assessment and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II. Five trajectories of cognitive development based on the mental developmental indices from the age of 6 to 24 months were determined, including average-stable (group A, 20.1%), average-decline to borderline delay (group B, 34%), borderline delay-catch-up to average (group C, 20.2%), borderline delay-decline to significant delay (group D, 17.2%) and significant delay-stable (group E, 8.5%). Using group A as the reference category, the authors determined 6-month neurological status and maternal education as the most significant predictors for various trajectories (p less than 0.01). Infants with transient or definite neurological abnormality and/or low maternal education had higher odds of displaying the disadvantageous trajectories (group B, D and E; odds ratios, 1.79-46.4). VLBW infants with neurological abnormalities and/or low maternal education had high risk of developmental decline and might benefit from early intervention.

Inequity in maternal health-care services: Evidence from home-based skilled-birth-attendant programmes in Bangladesh
(Report; Asia)
Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2008 Apr;86(4):252-259.
Anwar I | Sami M | Akhtar N | Chowdhury ME | Salma U
The objective was to explore use-inequity in maternal health-care services in home-based skilled-birth-attendant (SBA) programme areas in Bangladesh. Data from a community survey, conducted from February to May 2006, were analysed to examine inequities in use of SBAs, caesarean sections for deliveries and postnatal care services according to key socioeconomic factors. Of 2164 deliveries, 35% had an SBA, 22.8% were in health facilities and 10.8% were by caesarean section. Rates of uptake of antenatal and postnatal care were 93% and 28%, respectively. There were substantial use-inequities in maternal health by asset quintiles, distance, and area of residence, and education of both the woman and her husband. However, not all inequities were the same. After adjusting for other determinants, the differences in the use of maternal health-care services for poor and rich people remained substantial [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.51 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.68-3.76) for skilled attendance; OR 2.58 (95% CI: 1.28-5.19) for use of caesarean sections and OR 1.53 (95% CI: 1.05-2.25) for use of postnatal care services]. Complications during pregnancy influenced use of SBAs, caesarean-section delivery and postnatal care services. The number of antenatal care visits was a significant predictor for use of SBAs and postnatal care, but not for caesarean sections. Use of maternity care services was higher in the study areas than national averages, but a tremendous use-inequity persists. Interventions to overcome financial barriers are recommended to address inequity in maternal health. A greater focus is needed on the implementation and evaluation of maternal-health interventions for poor people.

Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report. Actions and progress
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
New York, New York, UNICEF, 2008 Apr. 48 p.
United Nations Children's Fund, UNAIDS, WHO
This report focuses on three major themes. First, strengthening communities and families is crucial to every aspect of a child-centred approach to AIDS. Support by governments, NGOs and other actors should therefore be complementary to and supportive of these family and community efforts, through, for example, ensuring access to basic services. Second, interventions to support children affected by HIV and AIDS are most effective when they form part of strong health, education and social welfare systems. Unfortunately, because maternal and child health programmes are weak in many countries, millions of children, HIV-positive and -negative alike, go without immunization, mosquito nets and other interventions that contribute to the overall goal of HIV-free child survival. A final theme of this report is the challenge of measurement. Documenting advances and shortfalls strengthens commitment and guides progress. A number of countries have data available on the 'Four Ps', and targeted studies are being developed to assess the situation of the marginalized young people who are most at risk but often missed in routine surveys.

Revisiting the impact of a reproductive health intervention on children's height-for-age with evidence from rural Bangladesh
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Economic Development and Cultural Change. 2008 Apr;56(3):619-656.
Chaudhuri A
In this article, the author analyzes the effect of the FPHSP program on the health status of the currently living child population under the age of 10 years, using each child as the unit of analysis. Health status of children is measured using height-for-age. Height-for-age is an age and gender standardized measure that is conventionally used as an indicator of long-term health or nutritional status in children. The children are further divided into two age groups, ages 0-5 and 6-10, to examine the nature of the program effect. This study finds that children living in the treatment area are significantly healthier than children living in the control area. Further, the program significantly affects the younger children who are directly targeted by the program. No significant program impact is evident for children who have aged out of the program.

POPULATION/FERTILITY/DEMOGRAPHY NEWS

UN forum examines positive impact of urbanization on development
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
UN News Service

Is India falling into the Malthusian trap?
(Feature Article; Asia)
9 Apr 2008
Punnathara CJ, Sify
URL not working- VM. Worked today--Theresa

Tibet's population put at 2.84 million in government survey
(News Article; Asia)
9 Apr 2008
People's Daily Online

POPULATION/FERTILITY/DEMOGRAPHY RESEARCH

Urban population, development and the environment 2007 [Wallchart]
(Fact Sheet; Global)
New York, New York, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2008 Mar. [2] p. (ST/ESA/SER.A/274)
United Nations
The wall chart on Urban Population, Development and the Environment 2007 displays information on various aspects of population, environment and development, including changes in urban populations and their relationship with development and the environment. The wall chart include information for 228 countries or areas as well as data at the regional and sub-regional levels.

Rural population, development and the environment 2007. [Wallchart]
(Fact Sheet; Global)
New York, New York, United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2008 Mar. [2] p. (ST/ESA/SER.A/275)
United Nations
The wall chart on Rural Population, Development and the Environment 2007 displays information on various aspects of population, environment and development, including changes in rural populations and their relationship with development and the environment. The wall chart include information for 228 countries or areas as well as data at the regional and sub-regional levels.

Infertility-related perceptions and responses and their associations with quality of life among rural Chinese infertile couples
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy. 2008 May;34(3):248-267.
Lau JT | Wang Q | Cheng Y | Kim JH | Yang X
An anonymous cross-sectional survey interviewed 192 infertile couples consulting a family planning clinic in rural China. Of them, over 30% believed that childless couples could not live well, 80% desired to have a child very badly, over 60% pressured themselves or spouse due to infertility, and over 50% felt pressured when having sex. Furthermore, 19.8% of men and 37.5% of women felt that infertility is humiliating for women. A multivariate analyses showed that a lower income, a worsened spousal relationship, infertility related perceptions, pressuring oneself or spouse due to infertility, and a strong desire for children were significantly associated with a lowered quality of life. Gender differences were also observed.

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Volume 8, Number 1514 April 2008