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Volume 3, Number 6
10 February 2003
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY
Bush
Criticised for Not Giving AIDS Money to Global Fund (news article)
Dr. Paul Zeitz, executive director of the Global AIDS Alliance,
said he was concerned about President Bush's plan: "The Global
Fund is the best hope yet for the fight against AIDS, and other
killer diseases, yet the president seems ready to let the fund down.
A large US government investment should be appropriately balanced
between multilateral and bilateral programmes, based on their respective
comparative advantages." He added: "The plan [of President
Bush] targets too few heavily affected countries . . . [and] ignores
the vital need for debt cancellation for priority countries."
Slovak
Government Officials Retaliate Against Romani Women and Legal Advocates
for Exposing Human Rights Violations (news article)
Law enforcement officials and medical personnel in hospitals are
reportedly threatening and retaliating against Romani women in Slovakia,
following the recent release of a report that documents grave human
rights violations in Slovakia's public hospitals.
Reproductive
Health and Health Sector Reform in Developing Countries: Establishing
a Framework for Dialogue 
(commentary)
There has been a marked lack of dialogue on policymaking between
the areas of reproductive health and reform of the health sector.
Policies in each area have been developed by different actors, pursuing
different objectives Consequently, disjointed policy-making has
tended to predominate. A framework is proposed for enhancing such
dialogue and collaboration between the two fields, with reference
to links between actors, an understanding of policy contexts, the
development of compatible aims and the need for institutional strengthening.
Africa:
'Zero Tolerance' for Genital Mutilation (news article)
Delegates from 30 African countries have vowed to eradicate female
genital mutilation (FGM) on the continent and declared 6 February
the international day on zero tolerance to FGM.
Related news article: UNICEF
Calls for Enforcing Ban on FGM
The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) called on governments to enforce
a ban on FGM. In a statement to coincide with the first ever International
Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM, UNICEF head Carol Bellamy said that
governments and communities must take urgent action to outlaw the
traditional custom which some 2 million girls undergo each year.
Catholic
Voices Join African Women's Sexual and Reproductive Rights Conference
(news article)
A delegation of Catholic women from Africa, Latin America and the
United States will lead a ground-breaking discussion on "Christianity
and Women's Rights."
Organisations
Pan Proposed HIV/AIDS Law (news article)
A proposed new law in South Africa to allow the compulsory testing
for HIV of alleged sexual offenders was widely criticised for being
an isolated measure that should form part of a broad package to
tackle the issues of sexual violence. The draft law which is based
on the recommendations of the SA Law Commission is sitting before
Parliament's justice committee. It provides that the victim of rape
can apply to have the person arrested for the crime, tested for
HIV and then be given the information. This would allow the victim
to make crucial decisions such as informing their sexual partners
or obtaining antiretroviral treatment to prevent infection.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
A
Multicenter Contraceptive Efficacy Study of Injectable Testosterone
Undecanoate in Healthy Chinese Men (research abstract)
This report describes a Phase II, multicenter, contraceptive efficacy
clinical trial using monthly injections of testosterone
undecanoate (TU) alone at a dose of 500 mg in healthy Chinese men.
The results showed that monthly TU injection at a dose of 500 mg
after an initial loading dose of 1000 mg can effectively, safely,
and reversibly suppress spermatogenesis in healthy Chinese men without
serious adverse effects.
Postcoital
Contraception in Turkey (PubMed absract)
The authors determined the knowledge status of women concerning
postcoital contraception when they turn to curettage in order to
terminate an undesired pregnancy. They found that nearly half of
women had avoided pregnancy before curettage by withdrawal before
ejaculation. After having an unprotected coitus or failure in contraceptive
methods 99.3% of the women indicated that they would report to health
institutes to utilize postcoital methods if they were familiar with
them.
Human
Herpesvirus 8: Seroprevalence and Correlates in Prostitutes in Mombasa,
Kenya (research abstract)
In a multivariate model, older age, fewer years of education, and
two markers of high-risk sexual behavior, namely, alcohol consumption
and gonorrhea, were each independently associated with HHV-8 seropositivity.
These results suggest that heterosexual transmission may contribute
to acquisition of HHV-8 infections in this African population of
prostitutes.
Preserving
Fertility in Early Cervical Ca with Radical Trachelectomy (research
article)
Radical vaginal trachelectomy is an alternative to radical hysterectomy
for women under 40 with early invasive cervical cancer who wish
to bear children. Although not proven as effective as radical hysterectomy,
recurrence rates for trachelectomy have been comparable.
FAMILY PLANNING / REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS
US
Seeks Cuts in Health Programs Abroad (news article)
Even as the Bush administration proposes a major funding increase
for global AIDS projects, it wants to cut millions of dollars from
programs promoting child and maternal health and fighting infectious
diseases in poor nations.
Syphilis
- An Old Enemy Is Back (news article)
Thought to be on its way out just four years ago, syphilis is back.
Outbreaks from Miami to Seattle concern health officials, who are
putting the public on alert. Syphilis sores increase the risk of
HIV transmission two- to five-fold, and the fact that people are
getting infected suggests the erosion of safe sex practices.
India:
Men Reject Family Planning Operations (news article)
In Gujarat state in 2000-2002, a mere 0.7% of the sterilization
procedures were performed on men. Experts working with family planning
are unanimous in pinning the blame on the patriarchal society.
South
Africa: Millions of Condoms Dished Out (news article)
The government has distributed 220 million free male condoms since
April of last year, and the figure could rise to 350 million by
the end of next month.
HIV / AIDS RESEARCH
Risk
of Prevalent HIV Infection Associated with Incarceration Among Injecting
Drug Users in Bangkok, Thailand: Case-Control Study (research
article)
This is a case-control study of sexual and parenteral exposures
to HIV infection among injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand
occurring before, during, and after the most recent incarceration.
It concludes that injecting drug users in Bangkok are at significantly
increased risk of HIV infection through sharing needles with multiple
partners while in holding cells before incarceration. The time spent
in holding cells is an important opportunity to provide risk reduction
counselling and intervention to reduce the incidence of HIV.
Breastmilk
RNA Viral Load in HIV-infected South African Women: Effects of Subclinical
Mastitis and Infant Feeding (PubMed abstract)
A low CD4 count during pregnancy and sub-clinical mastitis may raise
the risk of high viral loads in breast milk. The researchers found
no consistent associations between infant feeding mode and RNA viral
load in milk. Compared with 88 infants who remained uninfected,
6 infants who became infected with HIV after birth had been exposed
to higher breast milk viral loads, but that trend fell short of
statistical significance.
The
Impact of Migration on HIV-1 Transmission in South Africa: A Study
of Migrant and Nonmigrant Men and Their Partners (PubMed abstract)
This purpose of this cross-sectional study of 196 migrant men and
130 of their rural partners, as well as 64 nonmigrant men and 98
rural women whose partners are nonmigrant, was to determine risk
factors for HIV-1 infection in South Africa. They authors found
high rates of HIV among rural women, and the migration status of
the regular partner was not a major risk factor for HIV. Rural women
lack access to appropriate prevention interventions, regardless
of their partners' migration status.
India:The
Continuum of Care in Action (special report)
This report details a research collaboration that Horizons, the
International HIV/AIDS Alliance, and Family Health International
has launched a to examine the role that an integrated care and support
model can play in meeting the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS
(PLHA) and their families.
Impact
of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and Immunologic Status on
Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies Diversity in Human Immunodeficiency
Virus/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Patients (research abstract)
Related news article: HIV/AIDS
Coinfection: Antiretroviral Therapy Heightens Long-term Hepatitis
C Virus Diversity
Long-term use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may
be responsible for raising hepatitis C virus (HCV) loads in patients
coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These results
suggest that there is no immediate effect of HAART on HCV but that,
with prolonged HAART, immune restoration results in an increase
in HCV load and quasispecies diversity," researchers concludedResearchers
at Stanford University School of Medicine in California have detected
higher HCV viral loads and greater quasispecies diversity in such
individuals
HIV / AIDS NEWS
HIV/AIDS
in Africa: Implications of President Bush Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (opinion)
The authors discuss the implications of President Bush's plan, including
timing of funding, involvement of African professionals in the West,
and importance of public/private parternships.
Microbicide
Thwarts Spread of Monkey HIV (news article)
A microbicide applied to the vagina greatly reduces the transmission
of the monkey version of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Only 3
of 12 macaque monkeys who were given the microbicide before being
exposed to the virus became infected compared with 12 of 13 monkeys
that were not given the microbicide.
Home-made
AIDS Drugs Make Debut in China (news article)
China's first batch of home-made AIDS drugs will arrive in Henan
Province, which has the country's largest AIDS population, from
their production base in Shanghai. Zhang Junjie, who is in charge
of the AIDS drug project, said a cocktail therapy using the domestically
made drugs will cost around 5,000 yuan (US$602) per patient every
year - compared with 100,000 yuan (US$12,000) for imported drugs.
The Ministry of Health reported in June that China has 1 million
HIV/AIDS victims.
Swaziland:
Uphill Struggle for Safe Sex Campaign (news article)
The first survey of Swazis' sexual behaviour and attitudes toward
HIV/AIDS has found that high awareness of the pandemic has not translated
into less risk-taking behaviour, and that HIV-positive people remain
unwilling to admit their status.
South
Africa: Development of HIV Vaccine Given a Boost (news article)
The money is being given to the South African AIDS Vaccine Initiative
(SAAVI), the body responsible for the development and testing of
HIV vaccines in the country. SAAVI, the presidential lead programme
of the Medical Research Council (MRC) has described the contribution,
as the largest ever by a corporate company. SAAVI said Eskom had
contributed more than R37-million to date to the development of
the initiative.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Surviving
Pregnancy and Childbirth in Mali (report)
Related press release: Rights
Groups Target Maternal Death in Mali
The Malian government needs to step up its efforts to protect the
lives of pregnant women, rights groups charge. The most visible
cause of maternal mortality in Mali is the poor state of the health-care
infrastructure, which leaves adequate obstetric care out of reach
for many women.
Community
Participation for Perinatal Health in Istanbul (research abstract)
The authors report on a 10-step structured process that was used
to work with a community in Istanbul, Turkey. Over the course of
the project community members learned how to identify community
health problems, and to design, implement, and evaluate interventions
to address those problems. Participants have developed ongoing support
networks and have begun to advocate for better perinatal health
services in the community.
The
Role of Public Health Programmes in Reducing Socioeconomic Inequities
in Childhood Immunization Coverage (research abstract)
The Matlab Maternal and Child Health/Family Planning Project (MCH-FP)
surveyed 4238 respondents in an intervention area that received
outreach and 3708 respondents in a comparison area in rural Bangladesh.
Regression methods were used to assess the degree to which various
socioeconomic indicators predicted the probability of vaccine receipt
in each area. Low parental schooling, small dwelling size, and female
gender were significantly associated with incomplete vaccination
in the comparison area, where only limited government services existed.
Residence in the MCH-FP outreach area greatly reduced, and in some
cases eliminated, the effects of socioeconomic barriers to vaccine
receipt.
Effect
of Maternal HIV on Childhood Mortality: Malawi (research summary)
Children born to mothers with HIV infection in rural Malawi had
a three times higher death rate than children of seronegative mothers.
The researchers could not attribute higher mortality to HIV infection
alone.
Abuse
During Pregnancy and Stress Because of Abuse During Pregnancy and
Birthweight (research abstract)
The study concluded that stress because of abuse during pregnancy
was associated with both LBW and lower mean birthweight after adjusting
for behavioral, psychosocial, demographic, and medical variables.
Postnatal
Human Herpesvirus 8 and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection
in Mothers and Infants from Zambia (research abstract)
The specific route and timing of human herpesvirus (HHV) 8 infection
in regions where Kaposi sarcoma is endemic are not known. HHV-8
infection and any risk factors that may be associated with HHV-8,
including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection, were
monitored during the 12-month postdelivery period for 416 mothers
and 485 infants from Lusaka, Zambia. The present study indicates
that transmission of HHV-8 to infants can occur early and is likely
via multiple routes.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS
New
Therapy Could Prevent Premature Births (news article)
Hormone therapy could prevent more than one-third of premature births
in women who have a history of giving birth early. Researchers found
weekly injections of 17-alpha-hydroxprogesterone caproate, or 17P,
reduced the risk of early births by 42 percent. The progesterone-type
hormone, which has been used for years to treat other conditions,
such as infertility, caused no major negative effects during the
study. The treatment could mean fewer cases of cerebral palsy and
developmental problems in premature babies.
MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
The
Association of Age and Semen Quality in Healthy Men (research
abstract)
Related news article: Study
Shows His 'Biological Clock' Is Ticking Too
A study suggests that as healthy men age, their sperm begin to slow
down and lose sight of their goal--swimming in circles rather than
sprinting for the female egg.
HIV/STD
Risks in Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Do Not Disclose Their
Sexual Orientation - Six US Cities, 1994-2000 (research report)
Related news article: 'Closeted'
Men May Play Key Role in STD Spread: CDC
To better understand the prevention needs of young Men having Sex
with Men (MSM), CDC analyzed data from the Young Men's Survey (YMS)
to compare HIV/STD risk differences between nondisclosers and disclosers.
Compared with disclosers, nondisclosers had similar high risks for
other STDs, reported less sexual behavior with men, reported less
use of HIV testing services, and, among those who were HIV infected,
were less likely to be aware of their infection.
Increased
Seminal Plasma Lead Levels Adversely Affect the Fertility Potential
of Sperm in IVF (research abstract)
Related news article: Lead
Linked to Male Infertility
Men who are exposed to high levels of lead may be at an increased
risk of becoming infertile.
Circumcision
Practice Patterns in South Korea: Community Based Survey (research
abstract)
The results of this cross sectional survey indicated a positive
attitude toward circumcision in South Korean men, linking it with
hygienic practices. The authors concluded that circumcision in South
Korea depends on the perpetuation of cultural beliefs that support
it.
MEN'S HEALTH NEWS
European
Men Get New Pill to Rival Viagra (news article)
A new anti-impotence pill went on sale in Europe. British and German
men will be the first to receive the drug, which its makers claim
lasts longer and acts faster than Pfizer Inc's famous blue tablets.
Battered
Husbands Often Afraid to Admit Abuse (news article)
Men are battered by their partners more than 800,000 times a year,
according to surveys cited by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. According to a controversial, landmark study co-authored
by Richard Gelles, a University of Pennsylvania dean and psychologist,
women are seven times more likely than men to be injured in domestic
violence, but women hit men as often as men hit women.
POPULATION RESEARCH
Half
a Century of Unparalleled Demographic Change: the Asia-Pacific Experience
(research article)
The past 50 years of demographic change in Asia and the Pacific
has altered the region's demographic landscape forever. This article
examines the rapid and unparalleled pace at which this change has
occurred as well as the accompanying developments in the economic,
social, cultural, and political fabric of the countries in the region.
On
Monotonic Convergence to Stability
(research article)
The paper introduces, for age-distribution population vectors, a
class of distances to the stable equivalent; each of these distances
converges monotonically to zero as the population approaches stability.
It is shown that the very feature of monotonic convergence agrees
with demographic potential of age specific stabilization measures.
Domestic
Violence in Rural Uganda: Evidence from a Community-Based Study
(research article)
In a survey of 5109 women of reproductive age in the Rakai District
of Uganda, 30% of women had experienced physical threats or physical
abuse from their current partner (20% during the year before the
survey). Three of five women of these reported three or more specific
acts of violence during the preceding year, and just under half
reported injuries as a result. Analysis of risk factors highlights
the roles of the male partner's alcohol consumption and his perceived
HIV risk in increasing the risk of male-against-female domestic
violence. Nearly 20% of women reported verbally abusing, physically
threatening, or physically abusing their current male partner during
the previous year.
POPULATION NEWS
Tumbling
Birth Rate Raises Alarm in Singapore (news article)
Singapore's birth rate fell to a 14-year low last year, government
statistics showed, as the tiny island republic wrestles with a steady
drop in fertility rates.
India's
Lost Girls (news article)
A marriage crisis is hitting thousands of men in parts of rural
India which are running out of potential brides. The traditional
preference for boys instead of girls has led to widespread abuse
of modern pre-natal scans, which can be a death sentence for unwanted
girls.
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Hormonal
Content and Potency of Oral Contraceptives and Breast Cancer Risk
among Young Women (research abstract)
In this US population-based case-control study, the authors evaluated
whether the excess risk associated with recent oral contraceptive
use is ubiquitous for all pill types or attributable to specific
oral contraceptive preparations. Study findings suggest that newer
low-potency/low estrogen dose oral contraceptives may impart a lower
risk of breast cancer than that associated with earlier high-potency/high-dose
preparations.
Prevalence
of Breast Cancer in Women with Breast Complaints. Retrospective
Analysis in a Population of Symptomatic Patients (PubMed abstract)
The aim of the present study was to analyze the correlation, if
any between breast complaints and the risk of having or developing
breast cancer (BC) in a population of self-selected women. A series
of 2,561 patients was reviewed. The majority of the women with breast
complaints did not have BC, and their risk of cancer onset was not
dissimilar to that reported for the general population.
Epidemiologic
Classification of Human Papillomavirus Types Associated with Cervical
Cancer (research abstract)
Related news article: Study
Identifies Major Viruses Tied to Cervical Cancer
Researchers have identified 18 types of human papillomavirus that
have been linked to cervical cancer. While most of the types were
already known, three more have been added to the list of "probable"
carcinogens.
Hypoestrogenemia
of Hypothalamic Origin and Coronary Artery Disease in Premenopausal
Women: A Report from the NHLBI-sponsored WISE study (research
abstract)
Related news article: Low
Estrogen Linked to Heart Risk in Young Women
Women with relatively low levels of estrogen in their bodies before
menopause appear to be at higher risk for clogging of the heart
arteries than their peers with higher levels of estrogen.
Gynecologic
Care for Women With HIV Infection (research abstract)
This article reviews the gynecologic conditions encountered among
women with HIV and outlines elements of their gynecologic care.
WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Kenya:
Hundreds of Girls Run Away to Evade FGM (news article)
As the world marked the international day against FGM on 6 February,
hundreds of girls in Kenya's Rift Valley Province were running away
from home to escape the practice, according to media and human rights
sources.
Reversing
Female Circumcision (news article)
Female genital mutilation is practised in about 30 African countries.
BBC News Online talks to Comfort Momoh, the only midwife working
in the UK who reverses the procedure.
Some
Ovarian Cancer Survivors Can Retain Fertility (news article)
Women with a certain type of ovarian cancer can be treated with
surgery and chemotherapy and still go on to have healthy children
later.
High
US Mastectomy Rate Reported in Landmark Trial (news article)
American women with early-stage breast cancer were 21% more likely
to undergo mastectomy, compared with those from the United Kingdom.
Now Living Longer with Ovarian Cancer
A woman with ovarian cancer is now more likely than ever to live
for years after her diagnosis. Based on analyses of information
collected on roughly 33,000 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer,
the investigators discovered that the chance of a woman living two
years after her diagnosis has increased 25% between 1973 and 1997,
while the chance of her living five years after diagnosis went up
15%.
YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH
Adolescent
Reproductive Health in Asia
(research article)
Sexual and reproductive health of adolescents has emerged as an
issue of concern in Asia. This is based on two demographic trends
in the region: the widening gap between sexual maturity and age
at marriage, and the continuing prevalence of adolescent marriage
and low contraceptive use during adolescence.
Pregnancy
Desire Among Disadvantaged African American Adolescent Females
(research abstract)
This study examined the prevalence and correlates of wanting to
become pregnant among a sample of 462 sexually active nonpregnant
African American adolescent females. Significant correlates with
pregnancy desire included having a male partner who desired pregnancy,
having a boyfriend at least 5 years older, having low self-esteem,
perceiving greater perceived barriers to condom use, and perceiving
low family support
Exploring
Family Factors and Sexual Behaviors in a Group of Black and Hispanic
Adolescent Males (research abstract)
One hundred seventy-eight subjects were selected from a convenience
sample of 431 adolescents who participated in a 1996 Youth Survey.
Having a sibling who was a teen parent was significantly associated
with engaging in sexual intercourse among Hispanics. Among Blacks,
having a father who was a teen dad was significantly associated
with sexual intercourse.
Reproductive
Health Perceptions, Beliefs and Sexual Risk-taking Among Youth in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PubMed abstract)
This study outlines a profile of sexual risk factors and the underlying
sexual and reproductive health perception and beliefs among youth
(aged 15-24 years) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
PROFILES / SPECIAL REPORTS / RESOURCES
Making
Decisions about Contraceptive Introduction: A Guide for Conducting
Assessments to Broaden Contraceptive Choice and Improve Quality
of Care
(manual)
This report is intended to serve as a field guide to assist family
planning and reproductive health policy-makers and program managers
to make informed decisions regarding steps necessary to expand the
range, access and quality of contraceptive options available to
community members.
Population
and Housing Census: Strategies for Reducing Costs
(report)
UNFPA, in partnership with other collaborating agencies, organized
an international conference to review budgetary and funding issues
related to conducting censuses This report contains a summary of
the papers presented and their discussions, along with the conclusions
and recommendations made
The
Demographic Dividend: A New Perspective on the Economic Consequences
of Population Change (report)
This report examines the history of the debate on how population
growth affects national economies and synthesizes current research
on the topic.
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