The Pop Reporter®
– Events – Archives – Subscribe – Modify Profile – Headline Sharing Program – The Pop Reporter en Espaņol (Spanish)
Volume 3, Number 5
3 February 2003
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY
Bush
Promoting Plan to Combat HIV in Africa (news article)
President Bush said that he wants Congress to provide $15 billion
in the next 5 years to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and
the Caribbean.
Arroyo Stand on Population Issues
Cited (news article)
Lawmakers advocating population control lauded President Arroyo's
new format approach on population issues but dared her to substantiate
her stand by certifying as urgent two pending measures pushing for
a national reproductive health care policy and an integrated population
program.
India:
Govt Incentives to Couples to Adopt Family Planning (news article)
Fifty thousand couples in the state of Hyderabad will get a wedding
gift from the government -- a card with a poem wishing them a happy
and prosperous married life and a printed message on the need and
importance of family planning.
Benin:
Groups Welcome New Law Banning Female Genital Mutilation (news
article)
Rights groups have welcomed a new law, banning all forms of female
genital mutilation in Benin.
Getting
Married in China: Pass the Medical First (research article)
Couples in China must pass a medical examination before being allowed
to wed. The author, who was married in China, recounts her test
for marriage fitness, which consisted of a detailed family history,
a pelvic examination, and peeing in a cup in a public toilet. Ten
years later, she visited 10 hospitals across China and observed
examinations, examined records, and interviewed participants. Though
medical screening for marriage can be inconvenient and expensive,
potentially unethical, and subject to charges of eugenics, its benefits
include the chance to diagnose unrecognized diseases and provide
health education.
Circumcision
Opponents Use the Legal System and Legislatures (news article)
A group of attorneys contends that circumsicion is wrong as a matter
of law, medicine, and philosophy. Children of both sexes should
be entitled to "bodily integrity." A case set to go to
a jury trail appears to be the first to go to trail based on the
theory that the absence of an exhaustive medical briefing about
the risks and benefits of circumcision is tantamount to a lack of
informed consent.
China:
Condom Trade Should be Urgently Unbridled (editorial)
The author argures for China to open trade markets so that people
can enjoy the benefits of choice in their family planning methods.
Forced
Sterilization and Other Assaults on Roma Reproductive Freedom
(report)
Related press release: Romani
Women Subject to Forced Sterilization in Slovakia
This investigative report documents human rights violations against
Romani women in Slovakia, including about 110 cases where women
were forcibly or coercively sterilized, or had strong indications
that they had been sterilized.
Emergency
Contraception:Steps Being Taken to Improve Access 
(special analysis)
Emergency contraception has the potential to greatly reduce the
number of unintended pregnancies in the United States However this
potential remains largely unrealized. This article looks at what
is being done to resolve the significant logistical and political
barriers that currently prevent women from having timely access
to the method.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
Genital
Human Papillomavirus Infection: Incidence and Risk Factors in a
Cohort of Female University Students (research abstract)
The authors followed 603 female university students in Washington
State at 4-month intervals between 1990 and 2000 to determine incidence
data on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and risk factors for
transmission. Smoking, oral contraceptive use, and report of a new
male sex partner were predictive of incident infection.
Influence
of the Third Generation Pill Controversy on Prescriptions for Oral
Contraceptives among First Time Users: Population Based Study
(research article)
Women taking oral contraceptives containing gestodene or desogestrel
(third generation oral contraceptives) have a higher risk of venous
thrombosis than women taking a second generation pill. The authors'
aim was to determine whether this controversy has resulted in a
change in the proportion of women prescribed a third generation
oral contraceptive among first time users of any oral contraceptive
since 1995. Analysis of pharmacy dispensing data from a general
prescription drugs database in the northern Netherlands indicates
that the number of women prescribed the third generation pill decreased
dramatically after the pill scare in 1995; the decrease was most
notable for women under 25. The percentage of women prescribed a
third generation oral contraceptive continued to decline over the
following 6 years.
Drug
Points: Thromboembolism Associated with the New Contraceptive Yasmin
(research article)
Related news article: Researchers
Note Adverse Effect of New Oral Contraceptive
The Dutch spontaneous reporting system for adverse drug reactions
recently received five reports of thromboembolism as a suspected
adverse drug reaction to the new oral contraceptive Yasmin (ethinylestradiol
and drospirenone). The research article provides brief case studies
of each of the five reports.
Myths
About Oral Contraceptives (review article)
This article reviews four commonly held myths about the pill and
evidence from literature supporting and countering them.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS
UK
Warns of Ectopic Risk with 'Morning-After' Pill (news article)
Britain's Chief Medical Officer has warned that women who delay
taking the so-called "morning-after" pill to prevent pregnancy
could increase their chances of having an ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy.
Philippines
to Give Pills and Condoms to Couples Who Want Them (news article)
Despite pressure from the dominant Roman Catholic Church, the Philippine
government is to revive its family planning program by giving artificial
contraceptives to couples who want them.
Licorice
Caution Issued to Oral Contraceptive Users (news article)
Women who are taking oral contraceptives should avoid eating too
much licorice, the German National Chemists Association advised.
New
Zealand Scientists Find Key to Fertility and Contraception (news
article)
New Zealand research could enable women to take a safe fertility
pill and have twins or triplets. Double the dosage and the result
would be a contraceptive with no side-effects, if technology being
developed by AgResearch in New Zealand bears fruit.
Chinese
Men Buy Just Three Condoms a Year (news article)
Men in AIDS-threatened China buy roughly three condoms a year, and
the ones they purchase are highly likely to have defects.
Sperm
May Rely on Heat to Find Egg (news article)
Like heat-seeking missiles drawn to the warmth of a targeted engine,
sperm steer toward an egg using temperature sensors, researchers
in Israel report. The site where fertilization occurs is warmer
than other sites in the female genital tract. And because they can
sense this temperature difference, sperm cells can find their way
to the egg.
HIV / AIDS RESEARCH
Disclosure
of HIV Infection: How Do Women Decide To Tell? (research abstract)
This article examined women's level of disclosure of HIV infection
and how these disclosure decisions are made. The sample consisted
of 322 predominantly African-American, single, HIV-infected women
in the southern US. Findings showed that the majority of the women
had disclosed to some sex partners, close family and friends, and
health care professionals. However, for a group of women, disclosure
of HIV infection is a difficult issue supporting the need for health
education and counseling.
Frequent
Daily Use of Nonoxynol-9 May Increase the Risk of HIV Infection
(review article)
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends thatnonoxynol-9 not
be used for protection against any sexually transmitted infections
(STIs). After extensive literature review, experts also recommended
against the use of nonoxynol-9 for pregnancy prevention in women
at high-risk of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection, citing
frequent daily use may increase HIV risk by disrupting vaginal epithelium.
HIV / AIDS NEWS
Bush
AIDS Plan to Include Condoms and Abstinence (news article)
The $15-billion AIDS plan for Africa and Haiti announced by President
Bush will include condoms and generic drugs as well as faith-based
efforts and abstinence education.
China
Survey Finds 1 in 6 Haven't Heard of AIDS (news article)
As the AIDS virus continues to spread throughout China,survey findings
show that most of the population does not know what causes the disease
or how to prevent it. About 17% had never even heard of it.
US
Drive Against Teenage Sex Takes Lessons from Uganda (news article)
Uganda's success in reducing HIV infection rates is being highlighted
by members of President George Bush's team in their push for sexual
abstinence on the part of teenagers in the US.
Botswana
Aims to Bring Safe Sex Closer to Home (news article)
Botswana plans to treble its distribution of condoms in a bid to
curb the spread of AIDS in the country, which has one of the world's
highest infection rates.
Major
AIDS Group Files Complaint Against Drug Giant in South Africa
(news article)
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the largest AIDS organization in the
United States, filed a complaint with South Africa's Competition
Commission against GlaxoSmithKline over the company's drug pricing
and AIDS policies in South Africa, which it described as "having
a stranglehold on key AIDS drug patents" and exercising "unfettered
monopoly pricing on these life-saving medications."
Central
American Health Secretaries, Drug Companies Reach Agreement to Lower
Cost of AIDS Drugs (news article)
Five major pharmaceutical companies reached an agreement with Central
American health secretaries to reduce the cost of AIDS drugs for
the region by up to 55%.
India:
AIDS Campaign Not to be Condom-centric (news article)
Newly appointed Health Minister Sushma Swaraj has said that the
media campaign in her country against AIDS cannot be condom-centric
because the disease does not spread only through unsafe sex.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Neonatal
Encephalopathy and Cerebral Palsy: Defining the Pathogenesis and
Pathophysiology (executive summary report)
Related press release: Obstetrician-Gynecologists
and Pediatricians Say Most Newborn Brain Injuries Do Not Occur During
Childbirth
The majority of newborn brain injuries are not caused by problems
during labor and delivery, according to a report that has been endorsed
by medical experts from several major US organizations. Most often
cerebral palsy and brain swelling, known as encephalopathy, are
the result of problems that occurred before labor.
Risk
Factors for Ectopic Pregnancy: A Comprehensive Analysis Based on
a Large Case-Control, Population-based Study in France (research
abstract)
This case-control study was associated with a regional register
of ectopic pregnancy between 1993 and 2000 in France. The main risk
factors for ectopic pregnancy were infectious history and smoking.
Other risk factors were age, prior spontaneous abortions, history
of infertility, previous use of an intrauterine device, and prior
medical induced abortion.
Subfecundity
as a Correlate of Preeclampsia: A Study within the Danish National
Birth Cohort (research abstract)
By using interview data collected during the second trimester of
pregnancy (1998-2001) from women participating in the Danish National
Birth Cohort, the authors examined the association between subfecundity
and preeclampsia. They found that a long time to pregnancy was associated
with preeclampsia, supporting the hypothesis that some factors delaying
clinically recognized conception may also be in a causal pathway
for preeclampsia.
Accuracy
of Fetal Growth Indicators as Surrogate Measures of Steroid Hormone
Levels during Pregnancy (research abstract)
This study evaluates the use of fetal growth characteristics as
surrogate measures for steroid hormone exposures during pregnancy.
The strongest and most consistent association observed was between
birth weight and estriol levels. Despite a positive correlation
and strong associations with high estriol levels, the predictive
performance of birth weight as a proxy for estriol levels was poor.
Observed associations with these surrogate measures may not be a
reflection of pregnancy hormone exposure and should be interpreted
with caution.
Male
Biased Mortality among 1-2 Year Old Children in Rural Malawi
(research abstract)
Related news article: Malawian
Boys at Greater Risk of Dying Than Girls (news article)
Boys in Malawi have twice the risk of dying in their first few years
as do girls-an observation researchers describe as both surprising
and unexplainable.
Contraception
During Breastfeeding (review article)
This article reviews the Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM), a
method that capitalizes on the natural contraceptive effect of breastfeeding,
as well as the advantages and disadvantages of other birth control
methods for the nursing woman.
Inappropriate
Antibiotic Prescription to Children with Acute Respiratory Infection
in Brazil (research article)
A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 6 state capitals of Brazil.
A representative sample of facilities was selected in each state.
In each facility, consultations were observed and children reassessed
following standard guidelines. Health worker's diagnosis and treatment
were compared with a gold standard and inappropriate antibiotic
prescriptions noted. Overall, antibiotics were inappropriately prescribed
in 9.2% of acute respiratory infection cases. However, inappropriate
prescription of antibiotics varied geographically in Brazil.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS
Study
Finds No Link Between Taking Folic Acid and Having Twins (press
release)
New results from a study involving almost a quarter of a million
women in China show that taking folic acid to reduce the risk of
neural tube birth defects does not increase a woman's chances of
giving birth to twins.
MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Delayed
Application of Condoms Is a Risk Factor for Human Immunodeficiency
Virus Infection among Homosexual and Bisexual Men (research
abstract)
The objective of this analysis was to identify risk factors for
recent HIV infection among homosexual and bisexual men in Ontario,
Canada, during 1998-2001. Independent risk factors for HIV infection
were receptive anal sex (RAS) without condoms and delayed application
of condoms during RAS. Delayed application of condoms for RAS may
result in contact with preejaculatory fluid. The authors suggest
this behavior, which to date has received little attention, may
pose as much risk for HIV infection as fully unprotected RAS.
Termination
of a Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Vasectomy Techniques
(PubMed abstract)
This paper presents the issues involved in the decision to terminate
a multicenter, randomized controlled trial to evaluate a fascial
interposition component of a vas occlusion procedure for male sterilization.
MEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Testosterone
Replacement Therapy Faces Scrutiny (news article)
A task force of prominent scientists from a variety of specialties
will meet in Washington, DC, to begin reviewing whether testosterone
replacement therapy in older men should be studied in a clinical
trial.
Planned
Parenthood Reaching Out to Men (news article)
Planned Parenthood clinics - better know for providing counseling,
birth control, and abortions - are making a concerted
effort to expand their patient care to the other gender in the family-planning
equation: men.
POPULATION RESEARCH
Britain:
Social Trends, 2003 edition
(report)
Related news article: Britain:
Ageing Population Trend Heightens Pension Fears
Fears of a looming pensions crisis are today reinforced by a report
predicting that the number of people aged 65 or over will overtake
the number under 16 in 11 years.
POPULATION NEWS
World
Is Not Overpopulated: UN (news article)
The myth of overpopulation this century is to be buried by a UN
report that will show that average fertility rates will decline
to Western levels by 2050.
Uganda:
Control Population Growth - US (news article)
The American government said Uganda should employ concerted effort
towards controlling its rapid population growth like it did to bring
down HIV/AIDS prevalence and provide free primary education to school-going
children.
Indonesian
Family Planner Warns of 400 Million Population By 2053 (news
article)
Indonesia's family planning board has warned that the population
could double over the next 50 years to more than 400 million people
if the government's contraceptives for the poor programme is neglected.
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Fetal
Growth and Subsequent Risk of Breast Cancer: Results from Long Term
Follow Up of Swedish Cohort (research article)
Women who were large for gestational age at birth are at increased
risk of developing breast cancer before the age of 50. Using a longitudinal
cohort of more than 5000 women with data on several birth characteristics,
the authors found that their length and head circumference at birth,
adjusted for gestational age and adult risk factors, were strongly
associated with breast cancer before (but not after) menopause.
Reproductive
Choice and Women Living with HIV/AIDS
(report)
This report summarizes available information concerning barriers
and discrimination that WHA face in exercising their full sexual
and reproductive rights concerning pregnancy. It is based on an
extensive review of the literature and interviews with key informants
in Australia, India, Kenya, South Africa and Thailand.
Validity
of Self-reported Mammography: Examining Recall and Covariates among
Older Women in a Health Maintenance Organization (research abstract)
Self-reports of screening are frequently used in place of chart
abstraction, particularly in outpatient settings, because they are
generally less expensive and frequently provide the only information
available. In a sample of 949 women aged 50-80 years, the majority
of women had had a mammogram within the previous 2 years according
to self-reports and records, but self-reported rates exceeded record
rates by 8.2%. Being a college graduate and having a first-degree
relative with breast cancer were significantly associated with accurate
recall.
International
Collaborative Ovarian Neoplasm Trial 1: A Randomized Trial of Adjuvant
Chemotherapy in Women With Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer (research
abstract)
Four hundred and seventy-seven patients with early stage ovarian
cancer in 84 centers in five countries were randomly assigned to
receive either adjuvant chemotherapy immediately following surgery
or no adjuvant chemotherapy until clinically indicated. Women who
received adjuvant chemotherapy had better overall survival than
women who did not. Adjuvant chemotherapy also improved recurrence-free
survival.
WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Westerners
Mishandle Female Circumcision Issues (news article)
Female genital mutilation and its intrinsic relationship to human
rights and democracy issues were the focus of a recent presentation
by University sociology professor Elizabeth Boyle. "If we want
countries to develop representative governments and have countries
enforce the rule of law, I don't know if it is appropriate to pass
laws that go against the popular sentiment of those countries,"
Boyle said.
YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH
Suffering
in Silence: The Links between Human Rights Abuses and HIV Transmission
to Girls in Zambia
(report)
Related news article: Zambia:
Sexual Abuse of Young Girls Fuels HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Widespread sexual abuse of young girls could stall progress in HIV/AIDS
prevention among young Zambian adults, a recent Human Rights Watch
report has warned.
YOUTH HEALTH NEWS
Historic
Resolution on Child and Adolescent Health Passed During the 111th
Session of the WHO Executive Board (news articles)
The WHO Executive Board passed an important resolution on child
and adolescent health and development on 24 January 2003. The resolution
recognizes the importance of child and adolescent health and development
for the achievement of international targets such as the UN Millennium
Development Goals.
PROFILES / SPECIAL REPORTS / RESOURCES
Synergy
APDIME Toolkit (electronic toolkit)
The Synergy APDIME Toolkit is an electronic, user-oriented, one-stop
shop of HIV/AIDS programming resources. Developed in collaboration
with the University of Washington, the Toolkit contains five modules
covering Assessment, Planning, Design, Implementation Monitoring,
and Evaluation (APDIME). Each module outlines a comprehensive step-by-step
method and links to hundreds of USAID and partner resources for
programming.
The
PLHA-Friendly Achievement Checklist: A Self-assessment Tool for
Hospitals and Other Medical Institutions Caring for People Living
With HIV/AIDS (PLHA)
(checklist)
The PLHA-friendly Achievement Checklist is intended as a self-assessment
tool for managers to use in gauging how well their facility (hospital,
clinic, or department) reaches, serves, and treats HIV-positive
patients. The Checklist is designed in a simple format that can
be readily adapted for each unique context. Users of the Checklist
can use hospital records, survey data, observation or simply "guesstimates"
to rate their own institution.
Managing
HIV/AIDS in the Workplace: A Guide for Government Departments
(report)
This publication is designed to guide departments in South Africa
on the minimum requirements to effectively manage HIV/AIDS in the
workplace and ensure a coordinated public service response. It is
expected to assist departments in planning, developing, implementing,
monitoring and evaluating workplace HIV/AIDS policies and programs.
Writing
for Change (resource) (French
| Spanish)
Writing for Change is designed primarily for people working in the
not-for-profit sector, including researchers, scientists, project
managers, team members, campaigners, fundraisers, social activists
and writers. The resource is thought to be one of the most comprehensive
available, running at about 900 pages per language. Writing for
Change is unique as a training resource because it contains major
sections devoted not only to the core skills of writing, but also
to the two crucial specialised areas of writing - scientific papers
for publication in journals and documents to help campaign or persuade.
French version:
Spanish version:
Games
for Adolescent Reproductive Health: An International Handbook
(handbook)
The handbook outlines how to games can be used to provide youth
with information and skills about sex and sexuality to protect them
from HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), AIDS,
unwanted pregnancy, abortion, rape, and emotional and physical violence.
It includes contributions from adolescent health experts around
the world, including relevant theory, 45 games to play, card sets
to photocopy and cut out, and tips on how to create your own games.
Men
in Jordan Get Involved in "Together for a Happy Family"
(newsletter)
This newsletter provides an overview of the project "Together
for a Happy Family," which ran from March 1998 to March 2000
and was the first-ever national multimedia campaign in Jordan to
involve men in family planning.
Adapting
to Change Learning Program on Population, Reproductive Health and
Health Sector Reform (newsletter)
From the World Bank Institute, this is the January 2003 issue of
the newsletter "Adapting to Change Learning Program."
Exploring
Gender Perspectives in Population and Health Programs: Workshop
Findings and Recommendations
(report)
This report of the IGWG workshop includes the workshop methodology,
its findings, and recommendations for integrating gender considerations
in population and health project designs.
PATH's
Reproductive Health Outlook (RHO): Winter 2002/2003 Edition
(resource)
The RHO website is designed for reproductive health program managers
and decision-makers working in developing countries and low-resource
settings. RHO provides up-to-date summaries of research findings,
program experience, and clinical guidelines related to key reproductive
health topics.
Gender-Based
Violence and Reproductive Health & HIV/AIDS: Summary of a Technical
Update
(report)
This report summarizes the proceedings of a meeting that explored
the integration of gender-based violence in reproductive health
and HIV programs. It includes examples of different programmatic
approaches and the challenges of integrating GBV into existing programs.
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 United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
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.
Information & Knowledge for Optimal Health (INFO) Project
111 Market Place Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: 410-659-6300 Fax: 410-659-6266 Security & Privacy Policy