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The Pop Reporter®

Volume 4, Number 27
6 July 2004

"The Pop Reporter" (R) Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs INFO Project. When you click on any link below, 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 INFO Project, Johns Hopkins University, or the US Agency for International Development. All links were verified at the date of mailing. 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.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH

Global Implications of U.S. Domestic and International Policies on Sexuality (report)
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Related news article: New Report Reveals Global Implications of US Policies on Sexuality
Related news article: U.S. Reproductive Health Policies Criticized At ECLAC Meeting
This report criticizes the Bush administration's policy toward the U.N. Population Fund, which it says has been "a constant target of religious right-wing groups in the United States." The report describes the administration as having an aversion to funding any program or organization that facilitates or counsels women about abortion.

The Determinants of Reproductive Health Service Provision by General Practitioners in Pakistan (research abstract)
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to identify the factors that influence the provision of reproductive health services by General Practitioners (GPs) working in the province of Sind, Pakistan. Of the GPs responding to the study questionnaire, only 25% reported providing reproductive health services in their clinics. The major determinants of reproductive health service provision were found to be the urban location of the GP clinic, being a female GP, postgraduate training in reproductive health and a good knowledge of reproductive health.

Selective Facilitation of Sexual Solicitation in the Female Rat By a Melanocortin Receptor Agonist (research abstract)
Related news article: Drug Boosts Sexual Desire in Female Rats
A drug that mimics PT-141, a pituitary hormone, can increase female rats' sexual appetite, researchers report. Although exactly where and how PT-141 works in the brain remains unclear, these results suggest that melanocortin receptors are important in regulating female sexual desire. The authors further propose that PT-141 may be useful for treating sexual desire disorders in women.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS

UC Scientist Gets $3.25M For Contraceptive Studies (news article)
A scientist at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center has received a seven-year, $3.25 million contract to study new contraceptives. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the first work assignment will study two nonhormonal contraceptive gels that can also protect women against sexually transmitted diseases.

Latin America and Caribbean to Adopt Text on Population and Development - UN (news article)
Breaking with recent practice, the United States is set to join in the consensus adoption of a declaration by Latin American and Caribbean countries reaffirming support for an international action plan on reproductive health and rights, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) said today.

High Protein Diet May Affect Female Fertility (news article)
Eating a high protein diet may make it more difficult for women to conceive, American researchers said. The researchers said that diets containing 25 percent protein disrupt the development of early mice embryos and may have a similar impact in humans.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY

U.S. Considering Restoring UNFPA Funding, Official Says (news article)
The United States is considering restoring funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), a senior U.S. State Department official said yesterday on condition of anonymity. Washington has withheld $34 million in annual contributions since 2002 because of allegations the fund indirectly supports forced abortion in China, which UNFPA vehemently denies.

From Here To Maternity (news article)
A small group of women in the tribal villages of Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, India, are part of an "entrepreneurial" venture of a Boston-based computer engineer. The deal is dramatic enough: if the women promise not to get pregnant, they get paid Rs 250 a month. They also get increments for following best practices like delaying pregnancy for a year. And, on the flip side, get laid off for having over four children. This radical scheme is showing results but is it sustainable?

HIV/AIDS RESEARCH

A Randomized Trial of Multivitamin Supplements and HIV Disease Progression and Mortality (research article)
Related editorial: Multivitamins, Nutrition, and Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Disease in Africa
Related news article: Multivitamin Found to Slow Pace of HIV
Results from observational studies suggest that micronutrient status is a determinant of the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. This research supports the conclusion that multivitamin supplements delay the progression of HIV disease and provide an effective, low-cost means of delaying the initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected women.

Trends in Antenatal Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevalence in Western Kenya and Eastern Uganda: Evidence of Differences in Health Policies? (research abstract)
The purpose of this study was to observe recent trends in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence in antenatal clinic attendees to determine if previously noted falls in HIV prevalence are occurring on both sides of the Kenyan-Ugandan border. An ecologic study was conducted at the district level comparing HIV prevalence rates over time using data available through reports published by the Kenyan and Ugandan Ministries of Health and UNAIDS. Ethnographic analysis revealed a wide mix of ethnic and language groups and circumcision rates on both sides of the border. All sentinel surveillance sites in Uganda showed trends towards decreasing HIV prevalence, with three of five sites showing statistically significant declines. In contrast, all of the surveillance sites in Kenya showed trends toward increasing HIV prevalence, with two of the five sites showing statistically significant increases. No obvious differences in ethnic groupings or their associated prevalence of circumcision appeared to explain these differences. This suggests that decreasing HIV prevalence in Uganda is not due to the natural course of the epidemic but reflects real success in terms of HIV control policies.

Effectiveness and Safety of a Generic Fixed-Dose Combination of Nevirapine, Stavudine, and Lamivudine in HIV-1-Infected Adults in Cameroon: Open-Label Multicentre Trial (feature article)
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Related news article: Update: 1-Cheap Indian AIDS Pill as Good as Pricey Brands
Generic fixed-dose combinations have been prequalified by WHO to treat HIV-infected patients in resource-limited countries. Despite their widespread use they are, however, not yet recommended by some of the major donor agencies owing to scarcity of clinical data on effectiveness, safety, and quality. This research aimed to assess these issues for one of the most frequently prescribed treatments in Africa, a generic fixed-dose combination of nevirapine, stavudine, and lamivudine. The findings lend support to use and funding of a generic fixed-dose combination of nevirapine, stavudine, and lamivudine as first-line antiretroviral treatment in developing countries.

Challenges in the Search for an HIV Vaccine (research abstract)
A growing number of vaccine modalities are being investigated in pre-clinical and phase I/II clinical trials. However, a number of major scientific challenges still remain. It is widely believed that the ideal vaccine should elicit both neutralizing antibodies and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) against diverse isolates of HIV, but the precise correlates of immunity have not been defined. Recombinant live vector-based vaccines and plasmid DNA vaccines have been shown to induce CTL, either alone or in combination, and these CTL-based vaccines have shown partial protective efficacy in nonhuman primates challenge studies. An immunogen that elicits broadly reactive neutralizing antibodies, however, has yet to be developed.

Priorities for Antiretroviral Therapy Research in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 2002 Consensus Conference in Zambia. (research abstract)
A conference was held in Lusaka, Zambia, in January 2002 to discuss priority areas for antiretroviral therapy (ART) research in Zambia, with participants drawn from a broad cross section of Zambian society. State-of-the-art reviews and 6 intensive small group discussions helped to formulate a suggested research agenda.

Acceptability of a Microbicide Among Women and Their Partners in a 4-Country Phase I Trial (research abstract)
The authors analyzed qualitative and quantitative data for 98 HIV-negative, low-risk women in Malawi, Zimbabwe, India, and Thailand who participated in a safety and acceptability study of BufferGel, a vaginal microbicide to determine the across-country acceptability of vaginal microbicides among women and their partners. Acceptability was high in all sites (73% of women approved of the microbicide).

Colloquium Report: Improving the Health of School Age Children in an Era of HIV/AIDS in Durban, South Africa (research abstract)
Increased morbidity and mortality due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa necessitates the examination of policies for the protection and support of school age children. At a colloquium held in Durban participants from government and non-government health and education sectors briefed delegates on key policies and programmes for promoting the health and mental health of school age children. In the discussions that followed four critical issues emerged: intersectoral collaboration, accountability, retraining middle management, and a more comprehensive strategy to support pupils and teachers infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Modeling the Effects of Different Infant Feeding Strategies on Infant Survival and Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (research abstract)
The authors investigated how, under various conditions, the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through breastfeeding compares with the risk of death from artificial feeding. Results from the simulation model indicate that compared with artificial feeding, breastfeeding during the first 6 months by HIV-positive mothers increases HIV-free survival by 32 per 1000 live births. After 6 months, as the age-specific mortality rate and risk of death caused by replacement feeding both decline, replacement feeding appears to be safer.

Health Care Reform and the Crisis of HIV and AIDS in South Africa (report)
South Africa's transition to a democracy--characterized by a liberal constitution, a bill of rights, and attempts to pursue reconciliation rather than revenge--has been widely admired as a paradigm shift in human relationships from seemingly inevitable conflict to a negotiated peace. The challenge of narrowing racial disparities in health care is a formidable one for the new government. The high rates of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and full-blown AIDS add another layer of complexity. In this review the author evaluates health care reform and responses to the pandemic of HIV and AIDS.

HIV/AIDS NEWS

Romanian HIV/AIDS Crisis 'Will Engulf Europe' (news article)
An explosion in HIV/AIDS infection on the fringes of the European Union could engulf Europe in an AIDS crisis as big as Africa's, a leading aid organisation has warned. A UN report out this week will show that Eastern Europe now has the fastest rate of growth in HIV/AIDS in the world. Previous estimates had suggested 230,000 people in the region were newly infected in 2003, but revised figures put the number more than 50 per cent higher, at 360,000. As many as 1.9 million people in the region could now be living with the virus.

Independent Assessment Of Global Fund Mostly Positive (news article)
An expert on assessing effectiveness of foreign aid presented his research on the efficacy of the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The three diseases kill more than 6 million people annually. In a presentation at the Center for Global Development, senior center fellow Steven Radelet outlined seven challenges he believes the Global Fund faces, but overall said "the fund is worth very strong support going forward." The fund has approved grants totaling $3 billion in 128 countries since its creation in January 2002.

UNAIDS Report To Show Lower HIV/AIDS Estimates Because of Changes in Data Collection, Estimation Methods (news article)
HIV/AIDS estimates in a new UNAIDS report scheduled to be released before next month's XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, are expected to be lower than those reported in 2002 primarily because of changes in estimates for sub-Saharan Africa. The UNAIDS report, which will include HIV prevalence estimates for 2003, will show "notably lower" estimates for Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe and will show "notably higher" estimates for Senegal, accordng to Neff Walker, senior adviser on statistics, modeling and projections at UNAIDS, and colleagues.

WHO Says "3x5" Goal For AIDS Treatment Achievable (news article)
The World Health Organization said yesterday it believes it will achieve its goal of treating 3 million HIV-positive people with antiretroviral drugs by 2005 thanks to global campaigns and efforts by individual governments.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Predicting Preschooler Obesity at Birth: The Role of Maternal Obesity in Early Pregnancy (research abstract)
Related news article: Study: Obese Mom Doubles Risk To Child
Children born to obese women are more than twice as likely to be overweight by age 4, according to a new study that indicates prevention efforts should begin at--or even before--birth.

Breastfeeding Patterns and Exposure to Suboptimal Breastfeeding Among Children in Developing Countries: Review and Analysis of Nationally Representative Surveys (research article)
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Related news article: Breastfeeding Low in Developing Nations
WHO researchers studied 94 developing countries and found only 40 percent of infants under six months old are fed only on breast milk, and more than 5 percent are not breast-fed at all. Suboptimal breastfeeding is associated with higher mortality among infants and young children in the developing world. Conclusions: Compliance with breastfeeding recommendations in developing countries is low, and more attention should be given to increasing breastfeeding--especially exclusive breastfeeding--and to monitoring trends.

WHO Systematic Review of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Methodological Issues and Challenges (research abstract)
In order to contribute to mapping the global burden of reproductive ill-health, WHO conducted a systematic review of incidence and prevalence of maternal mortality and morbidity. The reporting quality of the assessed studies was generally low with definitions for conditions and the diagnostic methods often not reported. The authors conclude that there are unique challenges and issues regarding the search, critical appraisal and synthesis of epidemiological data in this systematic review of prevalence/incidence studies and suggest that more methodological studies and discussion to advance the field will be useful.

Cesarean Delivery Rates and Neonatal Morbidity in a Low-Risk Population (research abstract)
This retrospective cohort study used vital and administrative data for 748,604 California singletons born without congenital abnormalities in 1998-2000. A total of 282 institutions was classified as average-, low-, or high-cesarean delivery hospitals based on their cesarean delivery rate for mothers without a previous cesarean delivery, in labor at term, with no evidence of maternal, fetal, or placental complications. Neonatal mortality, diagnoses, therapeutic interventions, and neonatal length of stay were compared across these hospital groupings. Results indicate that neonatal morbidity is increased in infants born to low-risk women who deliver at both low- and high-cesarean delivery-rate hospitals.

Low Back Pain During Pregnancy (research abstract)
Low back pain (LBP) during pregnancy is a common problem affecting quality of life, yet only 32% of women disclose this problem to prenatal care providers. In this study, six hundred forty-five (68.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 65–72%) respondents reported experiencing LBP during their current pregnancy. The prevalence was not affected by gestational age (P = .56). LBP during the current pregnancy was predicted by age (younger women were more likely to develop it; P = .004), history of LBP without pregnancy (P = .002), during menstruation (P = .01), and during a previous pregnancy (P = .002). The majority of respondents reported that LBP during pregnancy caused sleep disturbances (58%; 95% CI 54–62%) and impaired daily living (57%; 95% CI 53–62%). Average pain was moderate in severity. Nearly 30% of respondents stopped performing at least one daily activity because of pain and reported that pain also impaired the performance of other routine tasks. Only 32% (95% CI 28–36%) of the respondents with LBP during pregnancy informed their prenatal care providers of this problem, and only 25% (95% CI 21–28%) of prenatal care providers recommended a treatment.

Operative Vaginal Delivery and Neonatal and Infant Adverse Outcomes: Population Based Retrospective Analysis (research article)
Related news article: Vacuum-assisted Birth as Safe as Forceps Delivery
Neonatal mortality was comparable between vacuum and forceps deliveries in US births in this population-based study. The authors conclude that although vacuum extraction does have risks, it remains a safe alternative to forceps delivery.

Systematic Review of the Incidence and Consequences of Uterine Rupture in Women With Previous Caesarean Section (review article)
This systematic review evaluated the incidence and consequences of uterine rupture in women who have had a delivery by caesarean section. Compared with elective repeat caesarean delivery, trial of labor increased the risk of uterine rupture by 2.7 (95% confidence interval 0.73 to 4.73) per 1000 cases. Conclusions: Although the literature on uterine rupture is imprecise and inconsistent, existing studies indicate that 370 (213 to 1370) elective caesarean deliveries would need to be performed to prevent one symptomatic uterine rupture.

Natural History of Bacterial Vaginosis and Intermediate Flora in Pregnancy and Effect of Oral Clindamycin (research abstract)
The authors sought to describe the natural history of abnormal vaginal flora in pregnancy and estimate the efficacy of oral clindamycin in eradicating it and preventing relapse in this subanalysis of a randomized trial of oral clindamycin for abnormal vaginal flora in pregnancy. Results indicate that oral clindamycin eradicates bacterial vaginosis and intermediate flora in 90% of treated pregnant women, whereas 31% of untreated women undergo spontaneous resolution by 20 weeks of gestation.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS

Scots Breastfeeding Help 'Best' (news article)
New mothers in Scotland are more likely to receive effective breastfeeding help while they are in hospital than mothers elsewhere in the UK. Unicef UK figures show that Scotland has proportionally more births in maternity units which have achieved "baby friendly" accreditation. Within the UK, breastfeeding levels are low compared with Europe and much of the rest of the world, and there is a strong cultural and social context which can determine whether a woman chooses to breastfeed.

Nigeria: Breast-Feeding: Is Extended Leave the Solution? (news article)
Pediatricians, medical doctors, health workers, nutritionists, some state health commissioners, World Health Organization (WHO) officials, breast-milk substitute manufacturers associations and officials from the Federal Ministry of Health converged in Lagos, Nigeria to discuss breastfeeding and the possibility of increasing maternity leave for women from three to six months to enable them to exclusively breastfeed their babies. The workshop, organised by the Centre for Health, Population and Nutrition (CHEPON) also focused on the need to properly educate rural women, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS on how to breast-feed their babies without transmitting the virus to their child. According to a WHO representative in Nigeria, Dr. Mohammed Belhocine, breast feeding is one of the most cost effective interventions to improve child survival. In recognising this, for many years now UN agencies, governments, non-governmental institutions, professionals and scientists have emphasised the importance of breast feeding for the optimal growth and development of children.

Singapore's Infant Survival Rate Among the Best (news article)
Singapore newborns have one of the best survival rates in the world. In fact, Singapore ranks 222 out of 225 countries for its infant mortality rate--defined as the number of deaths of babies under one year of age, out of every 1,000 live births. There were just 3.57 deaths out of 1,000 live births here last year. Only Iceland, Sweden and Japan have done better. Even the United States, United Kingdom and Australia rank in at 6.75, 5.28 and 4.83 respectively, according to the CIA world factbook 2003.

MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

Masculinity, Infertility, Stigma and Media Reports (research abstract)
Compared with women men have higher rates of morbidity and mortality and are less likely to seek out and employ medical services. Several authors have drawn on social constructionist models, such as the concept of hegemonic masculinity, to account for these gender differences in risk and behaviour. In this study discourse analysis was employed to analyse newspaper accounts of a reported decline in sperm counts in order to study the way in which infertility and masculinity were represented and constructed in the media. The results indicate a construction of fertility as being in crisis and of male infertility as associated with impotence. These results are consistent with concepts of hegemonic masculinity and suggest that men are offered a highly restricted set of options in terms of perceiving and representing their bodies and their health. The current "crisis" represents a contemporary manifestation of long-standing anxieties about the nature of masculinity and the role and function of men.

Role of Postoperative Radiotherapy After Pelvic Lymphadenectomy and Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy: A Single Institute Experience of 415 Patients (PubMed abstract)
Related news article: Radiation After Prostate Surgery Prolongs Lives
In this retrospective study, radiation treatment seemed to benefit prostate cancer patients with a usually poor prognosis. The percentage of men who survived eight years free of recurrence was markedly higher among those who received early radiation therapy (69 percent) than among patients given "salvage" or no radiation therapy (31 percent). The results, however, are less than definitive because of the retrospective nature of the study. Large ongoing clinical trials will be necessary to more conclusively determine the benefits of radiation treatment.

MEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Indian Men Are Not Interested In Safe Sex (news article)
At a campaign launch to increase use of condoms, India's Health Ministry warned that Indian men have an "abysmal" lack of interest in safe sex and are shunning the use of condoms. According to a recent survey, condom sales dropped from 305 million condoms in 2001 to 289 million in 2002 and 275 million in 2003. Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said condoms provide the "perfect answer" to two of India's "biggest challenges": HIV/AIDS and the population explosion. About 4.58 million of India's billion plus population are infected with HIV, second only to South Africa with 5 million, and a recent study warned the figure could skyrocket if urgent action is not taken.

Swaziland Debate Over Male Circumcision (news article)
Male circumcision as a method to the reduce risk of HIV infection is being hotly debated in Swaziland this week after a prominent politician announced that his four sons had been circumcised, contrary to Swazi tradition. MP and former House Speaker, Marwick Khumalo, told his constituents that he wondered why circumcision was not being seriously debated as an HIV reduction method: "All male children should be circumcised," he said. "To show my seriousness, I have taken all my sons for circumcision." Traditionalists in Swaziland frown upon circumcision as it is not a traditional practise. According to Dr Alan Brody, national director of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), studies on the effectiveness of the procedure have produced differing statistics: "Depending on the report you read, the possibility of infection is reduced by 25 per cent to 50 per cent in the circumcised male. This is significant. The male child is best circumcised at an early age, preferably in infancy."

Plant May Improve Male Virility--Scientists (news article)
Men trying to boost their fertility may soon receive help from an unusual source--a plant grown for centuries in East Africa and the Middle East. The leaves of the khat plant, which is also known as qat, are chewed for the feeling of euphoria they produce. But scientists have discovered that they also contain chemicals that help sperm mature and fertilise an egg. "We envisage the development of products that could be taken by individuals, either couples who might be having trouble conceiving or even those who have just decided to try to conceive, and who have no obvious problems," Professor Lynn Fraser told a fertility conference in Berlin on Monday. The chemicals could also be used as additives to sperm in fertility treatments, she added.

POPULATION RESEARCH

Population Growth and Deforestation: A Critical and Complex Relationship (research article)
According to the Population Reference Bureau, during the last two decades, agricultural expansion, logging, development, and other human activities caused the deforestation of more than 120,000 square kilometers each year. In contrast, an area only one-tenth that size was regained due to reforestation efforts and natural re-growth. This is the continuation of an historical process that has left the world with less than half of its original forests. While population growth and density are unquestionably related to forest cover trends, there is no simple way to describe or predict that association. Not surprisingly, the relationship is as complex as the regional and cultural variations in human societies and the changes in those societies over time. Nonetheless, important patterns are beginning to develop from the many studies that have been undertaken and the evolving debate around them. An overview of studies conducted in the 1980s and 1990s reveals a strong relationship between population growth and deforestation in Central America, East and West Africa, and South Asia, but a much less clear association in Amazonia (South America) and Central Africa. In a number of more developed countries, such as the United States, China and Russia, forest cover has been recovering for some time after extensive earlier deforestation.

Contradictions in Nigeria's Fertility Transition: The Burdens and Benefits of Having People (research abstract)
Nigeria appears to be experiencing a transition to lower fertility. Based on ethnographic research, this article shows how Nigerians navigate a paradoxical political-economic and cultural context, wherein they face powerful pressures both to limit their fertility and to have relatively large families. The main argument advanced here is that Nigerians' fertility behavior must be understood in the context of the ways that parenthood, children, family, and kinship are inextricably intertwined with how people survive in a political economy organized around patron­clientism.

POPULATION NEWS

Two Population Experts Win UN Awards (news article)
Demographer John C. Caldwell, who focuses on Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and physician Catherine Hamlin of the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, a pioneer in women's childbirth injuries, have won the United Nations Population Awards. Mr. Caldwell, the Emeritus Professor of Demography in the Research School of Social Sciences at the Australian National University in Canberra, has published more than 300 articles. His work to frame the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa as a demographic, epidemiological and socio-cultural phenomenon is considered to be without peer. The Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, which Australian-born Dr. Hamlin co-founded, specializes in treating obstetric fistula, a devastating childbirth injury that leaves a woman incontinent. The hospital provides free medical care to more than 1,200 women annually and has treated over 25,000 women. It also offers literacy classes and physiotherapy to help women rejoin their communities once they are cured.

China: Hong Kong Population to Reach 8.38 Million in 30 years (news article)
Hong Kong's population will rise to 8.38 million by 2033, according to the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department. A 23 per cent increase in population, from the current 6.8 million, is forecast. The increase will be mainly driven by new migrants moving into the city.

Turkmenistan Boasts World-Beating Baby Boom (news article)
Turkmenistan has claimed its population increased by 43 per cent over nine years. The claims were dismissed by western diplomats as part of a propaganda campaign. The government claims that the population has risen from 4.5 million at the last census in 1995 to 6.4 million in June 2004. An official at the state institute for statistics and information attributed this increase to "stability, increased prosperity and reduced child mortality and emigration." However, observers charge that ministers, who face draconian punishments for failure, only tell the President, Niyazov, what he wants to hear on themes ranging from the economy to HIV.

WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

The Women's Health Initiative Could Not Have Detected Cardioprotective Effects of Starting Hormone Therapy During the Menopausal Transition (research abstract)
Related news article: Flaws Seen in Major U.S. Study on HRT
A major U.S. government trial whose findings prompted many women to drop hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was fundamentally flawed, claims a critical new study. Because most of the participants in the trial were older women, HRT may still prevent heart disease and ease menopausal symptoms in younger women, says the new research. The study concludes that randomized controlled trials are urgently needed to test cardioprotection in women starting treatment during the menopausal transition.

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Media Reinforces Gender Inequity In Mideast, Conference Says (news article)
Gender inequality in the Middle East is compounded by the media's poor coverage of women's issues, according to several journalists who participated in an Amnesty International workshop in Cairo. "The Middle East constitutes the second-lowest average (14 percent) following Africa when it comes to women's coverage in the news compared to a (global) average of 20 percent," said Zeina Awad, a researcher who spoke at the three-day event that ended Monday. Most of the 30 journalists attending the conference agreed that television shows, newspapers and radio stations gave too little attention to women-related stories, and those that did receive attention rarely provided the kind of information that could dispel gender stereotypes.

Mozambique: Chissano Addresses Pan-African Women's Meeting (news article)
Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano praised the struggle waged by the Pan-African Women's Organisation (PAWO) in the struggle to overcome absolute poverty and illiteracy, the fight against AIDS, and other issues that affect the majority of African countries. Speaking in Maputo at the opening of a PAWO meeting, which is preparing the organisation's ninth congress, Chissano said that no country in the world can achieve development without respecting human dignity, and condemned those countries that still deny human rights to women. He noted that African women still face enormous challenges, and that women and children are the main victims of poverty and armed conflict.

YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH

The Adverse Health and Social Outcomes of Sexual Coercion: Experiences of Young Women in Developing Countries (report)
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Related report: Non-Consensual Sex Among Youth
Although evidence from developing countries is limited, the research that is available suggests that significant numbers of young women have experienced coercive sex. Studies in diverse settings in Africa, Asia and Latin America reveal that forced sexual initiation is not uncommon in all of these settings. Moreover, many women suffer repeated episodes of sexual violence, and a considerable number also report incidents of childhood abuse. Many young victims of abuse fear disclosure because they feel they may be blamed for provoking the incident or will be stigmatized for having experienced it. Therefore, many suffer such incidents in silence.

Nothing Left to Lose: The Legacy of Armed Conflict and Liberia’s Children (report)
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Related news article: Abuses Continue Against Liberian Children, Group Warns
Related press release: Liberia Dangerous for Children Months After War Ends
Postwar Liberia remains a dangerous place for children and adolescents, who are often the victims of abuse and exploitation, the Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict said this week in a new report. The report compiles information from a variety of sources to document ongoing violations of Liberian children’s security and rights. It also makes urgent recommendations to all parties that participated in armed conflict, the UN Security Council, UNMIL, international donors, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and others to take immediate action to protect Liberian children from further abuse and devastation as reconstruction in Liberia moves forward.

Forced Sexual Relations Among Married Young Women in Developing Countries (report)
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Recent research in developing countries suggests that a considerable number of young women may experience forced sex within marriage, but most women may not report these experiences due to shame, fear of reprisal or deep-rooted unequal gender norms. The consequences of domestic violence can be severe. In fact, intimate partner violence is one of the leading causes of death among women 15-44 years of age.

Sexual Coercion: Young Men's Experiences as Victims and Perpetrators (report)
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Case studies presented at an international consultative meeting in September 2003 in New Delhi challenged the common assumption that only women are victims of violence, and shed light on the experiences of young males as victims of sexual coercion. These case studies for the first time also discussed the perspectives of young males as perpetrators of violence against young women.

Trauma and Coping in Somali and Oromo Refugee Youth (research abstract)
This article describes war-related trauma history, immigration factors, and other problems confronting Somali and Oromo refugee youth in the United States. It concludes that many young Somali and Oromo immigrants to the United States experience life problems associated with war trauma and torture, but many others are coping well. The findings suggest a need to develop age-appropriate strategies to promote the health of refugee youth to facilitate their successful adaptation to adult life in the United States.

YOUTH HEALTH NEWS

Southern Africa: Focus on Sex Education - An Antidote to HIV/AIDS (news article)
A major survey of South African youth, conducted by the University of Witwatersrand's Reproductive Health Research Unit, found that one in every 10 South Africans age 15 to 24 is HIV-positive, the vast majority of them young women, many of whom were coerced into their first sexual encounter. Conclusions: Investing in education, especially for girl children, can be a powerful antidote to HIV infection, raising living standards and opportunities. And with many parents unwilling to talk to their children about safe sex, the importance of structured and appropriate sexual health classes at school becomes all the more important.

SPECIAL REPORTS/PROFILES/RESOURCES

2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic (report)
Related press release: New UNAIDS Report Unveils Latest Global Epidemic Trends
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UNAIDS warns that the number of people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, has risen in every region of the world, and that last year five million people became newly infected with HIV--more people than any previous year. These findings are contained in the 2004 UNAIDS Report on the global AIDS epidemic, released in advance of the XV International AIDS Conference, to be held in Bangkok from 11-16 July 2004. The new report represents the most accurate picture of AIDS to date due to more comprehensive country surveillance data and improved methods for estimating HIV rates.

Building Blocks: Africa-Wide Briefing Notes on Supporting Older Carers (report)
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In the latest publication in a series of seven, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance and HelpAge International discuss the impact of HIV/AIDS on older people and the contributions older people are making to the care of orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

Risk and Protection: Youth and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa (report)
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Related press release: New Resource Documents HIV Risk and Protection for African Youth
Despite lacking essential information and services, many youth in Sub-Saharan Africa are trying to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unplanned pregnancies, a new report from The Alan Guttmacher Institute shows. Still, half of new HIV infections in 2003 occurred among young people aged 15-24. This new report provides a regional overview--with information for 24 countries--of adolescents' knowledge of HIV/AIDS and behaviors that put them at risk or protect them from infection. It also outlines the key areas where policies and programs must be improved to provide young people with greater support.

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