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Volume 5, Number 6
7 February 2005

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH

Ghana: Decentralization and the Health Logistics Systems
(Report)
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The study found that, in Ghana, greater decision space was related to better performance for financing and planning/budgeting; and worse performance was related to procurement, inventory control, storage, logistics management information systems, training, and client contact. Comparisons of results from Ghana are made to the results from Guatemala; conclusions are drawn as to which functions should remain centralized and which functions should be allowed a greater level of decision space.

Fingering the Aggressor: A Eugene Researcher's Observations Point to Young Women Who Initiate Physical Fighting
(News Article)
Related News Article: References Examining Assaults by Women on Their Spouses or Male Partnerzs: An Annotated Bibliography
Research finds that women age 18 were more than four times as likely as men to initiate physical aggression. The gap closed by age 26, when women were only slightly more likely than men to tee off. The lead researcher, Dr. Deborah Capaldi, contends that prevention and treatment programs for battered women often miss the mark because they fail to consider the realities of female aggression. The related bibliography examines 155 scholarly investigations (126 empirical studies and 29 reviews and/or analyses) that demonstrate that women are as physically aggressive, or more aggressive, than men in their relationships with their spouses or male partners. The aggregate sample size in the reviewed studies exceeds 116,000.

Sexual Behaviour: Related Adverse Health Burden in the United States
(Abstract)
Related News Article: U.S. Leads in Sexually Transmitted Disease Rate
Rates of early death and disability that can be attributed to sexual behavior are three times higher in the United States than other so-called developed nations, a new study finds. This finding precludes the AIDS epidemic in many African countries. American men still die more often as a result of having a sexually transmitted disease, researchers from the CDC said, but more cases are reported in American women.

Ukraine Contraceptive Availability Assessment
(Report)
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A variety of contraceptive methods are widely available in Ukraine through commercial pharmacies. Low-cost options exist, as do expensive brands, but a large segment of Ukrainian couples cannot afford to purchase contraceptives, and the public sector has no supplies to offer them. This report recommends that USAID donate contraceptives for a targeted segment of the population for the near- and medium-term while they advocate for the government provision of commodities in the long-term, update provider knowledge of contraceptive technology, and expand family planning service provision to include training of non-OB/GYNs, particularly in rural areas.

The Importance of Socio-Economic Context for Social Marketing Models for Improving Reproductive Health: Evidence from 555 Years of Program Experience
(Research Article)
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This study assesses which of several social marketing models is most effective for a given socio-economic context using a database of annual statistics about reproductive health oriented social marketing programs in over 70 countries. The results show that there has been a tendency to design reproductive health social marketing programs with a management structure that matches the local context. However, the evidence also shows that this has not always been the case. While socio-economic context clearly influences the effectiveness of some of the social marketing models, program maturity and the size of the target population appear equally important.

SPARHCS: Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security. A Tool for Assessment, Planning, and Implementation
(Tool)
SPARHCS - The Strategic Pathway to Reproductive Health Commodity Security - is a tool to help countries develop and implement strategies to secure essential supplies for family planning and reproductive health programs. SPARHCS is meant to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to initiate at the country level concerted efforts toward the goal of reproductive health commodity security. It is not a roadmap, or a fixed process. SPARHCS can be customized to a country’s specific needs and resources. It can be used for contraceptives alone, for contraceptives and condoms for HIV/STI prevention, or for a still broader set of reproductive health supplies. SPARHCS has been applied at regional, national and subnational levels; in countries more or less experienced in working on reproductive health commodity security; in countries not yet ready to phase out donor support or in countries planning for self-reliance; and in countries at different stages of health sector reform.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS

2 Cases of Rare Sex Disease Are Diagnosed in New York
(News Article)
A rare STD never before confirmed in laboratory tests in New York City has been diagnosed in two men, leading health officials to remind the public about practicing safe sex and to encourage doctors to be on the lookout for signs of the disease. The cases are among the first reported in the United States and match a strain of the disease that only began to surface in Europe in recent years.

Philippines: Family Planning Drive Sans Pills Won't Work, Say Critics
(News Article)
Three weeks before its scheduled launching nationwide, the Department of Health's P100-million Ligtas-Buntis campaign is being questioned by population management advocates.

Malawi: Using the 'Man to Man' Approach to Stabilise Population Growth
(News Article)
Country-wide reproductive health care provider, Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM) says the "Man to Man" method helps many families in the country to stabilize population growth because men will play a pivotal role in planning the size of their families.

Vatican Cleric Fuels Condom Row
(News Article)
A senior Vatican cardinal has joined the growing number of influential Catholic Church figures questioning the official Vatican ban on condom use.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY

China to Punish Abortion of Females
(News Article)
Worried that a huge shortfall in the female population could cause social strife and affect the "quality" of the Chinese race, China has decided to make sex-selective abortions a criminal offense. Such abortions are already banned but earlier regulations have been easily flouted or poorly enforced. By criminalizing the ban, government officials hope to correct an imbalance in the ratio of males to females that seems to be growing wider by the year since China introduced its one-child policy in the late 1970s.

Djibouti: Government Ratifies Anti-FGM Protocol
(News Article)
The government of Djibouti has ratified the African Union's Maputo Protocol on female genital mutilation (FGM), which requires its member states to ban the practice. The protocol was ratified on Thursday by Djibouti's prime minister, Dileita Mohamed Dileita, at a two-day subregional conference on FGM in the presence of representatives of the AU, No Peace without Justice, an Italian NGO, and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

Does Funding for HIV and Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention Matter?: Evidence From Panel Data
(Abstract)
Since the onset of the AIDS epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has allocated several billion dollars for the prevention of HIV and other STDs. Using state-level data from 1981 to 1998, the authors found that greater amounts of prevention funding in a given year are associated with reductions in reported gonorrhea incidence rates in subsequent years. The authors conclude that funding for STD and HIV prevention, on the whole, appears to have a discernable impact on the incidence of STDs.

HIV/AIDS RESEARCH

‘My Fear is to Fall in Love Again…’ How HIV-positive African Women Survive in London
(Abstract)
This article examines the lives of female migrants from the Sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV in London. The analysis explores the ways in which the women's lives are shaped in complex ways by their sex and gender, by their status as migrants, and by their seropositivity. It examines the nature of their survival strategies, focusing mainly on the management of information, the use of health services, and the importance of spirituality in their lives. It highlights the paradox whereby these women have access to treatment that would be unavailable in their own countries but their survival depends on them remaining in a country few regard as ‘home’.

Identifying, Recruiting, and Assessing Social Networks at High Risk for HIV/AIDS: Methodology, Practice, and a Case Study in St Petersburg, Russia
(Abstract)
This article illustrates a methodology and a practical description for: (1) accessing high-risk social networks in a community population; (2) identifying and enumerating the membership of the social networks; (3) identifying the social leadership of the networks; and (4) establishing the HIV risk behavior levels of the recruited networks. To illustrate how social network methods can be applied in the field, the article provides case study reports of HIV prevention fieldwork practice targeting high-risk networks of young men who have sex with men and young heterosexual adults in St. Petersburg, Russia. Although there is an extensive conceptual literature on the influence of social networks on risk behavior, this article describes specific and practical techniques that can be used in the development of approaches for social network-based interventions.

Potential Public Health Impact of Imperfect HIV Type 1 Vaccines
(Abstract)
The potential public health impact of imperfect HIV type 1 vaccines was examined by use of deterministic mathematical models of virus transmission. Imperfect vaccines are defined as those that act to favorably alter the typical clinical course of disease in those immunized who acquire infection. Analyses suggest that, although imperfect vaccines would struggle to block transmission via cohort vaccination of those entering the sexually active age classes, they could have a substantial public health impact, as measured by reduced prevalence and mortality induced by AIDS, provided the case reproductive number of HIV-1 among vaccinated individuals was less than that among unvaccinated individuals.

Health Workers' Attitude and Perception Toward Routine Pre-Marital HIV Screening
(Abstract)
This descriptive cross-sectional study in Sub-Saharan Africa was conducted to determine the attitude and perception of health workers to routine pre-marital HIV screening. Most of the respondents (90%) agreed that pre-marital HIV screening is necessary and advantageous to couples intending to get married. Although more than half of the respondents (56.7%) believed that the screening exercise is associated with some disadvantages, as many as 68.3% were in support of its enforcement for all couple. Most (260, 86.7%) agreed that religious leaders and institutions have an important role to play in HIV control, and on the issue of whether or not the marriage should be contracted following a positive result in one or both partners, 60% of respondents felt that the decision should be made by the couple.

Likely Stakeholders in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS in Blantyre, Malawi
(Abstract)
This study explored potential partners for pregnant women in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and pregnant women's perceptions towards selected potential HIV prevention efforts. The researchers found that antenatal women in Blantyre, Malawi obtain health information on HIV/AIDS from the radio (96.3%), health workers (82.2%), religious gatherings (66.7%), friends (54.8%), and newspapers (39.3%). Most intend to be accompanied by their own mother and sister for delivery (52.4% and 15.4%, respectively). Almost all (99%) planned to breast feed, with 91.8% reporting an intended breastfeeding period of at least 6 months. About 97% of married women reported a desire to tell their spouse in case of HIV sero-positive results, while 65.1% had ever discussed about HIV with spouse, and only 5.2% had ever attended antenatal clinic with their spouse.

Determinants of the Impact of Sexually Transmitted Infection Treatment on Prevention of HIV Infection: A Synthesis of Evidence from the Mwanza, Rakai, and Masaka Intervention Trials
(Abstract)
Community-randomized trials in Mwanza, Tanzania, and Rakai and Masaka, Uganda, suggested that population characteristics were an important determinant of the impact of STI treatment interventions on incidence of HIV infection. This study confirmed that the low trial impact in Rakai and Masaka could be explained by low prevalences of curable STI resulting from lower-risk sexual behavior in Uganda. The mature HIV epidemics in Uganda also contributed to the low impact on HIV incidence. The strategy of STI treatment also was unimportant, since syndromic treatment and annual mass treatment showed similar effectiveness in simulations of each trial population.

A Rapid Assessment of Community-Wide HIV/STI Intervention in China
(Abstract)
This study developed, applied, and evaluated a rapid tool for assessing community-wide intervention (CWI) in China. A total of 120 county level respondents in charge of county-wide responses to HIV/STI throughout China were selected randomly and surveyed using a structured inventory consisting of three tiers of indicators developed via consensus group techniques. The respondents were asked to rate each of the indicators against a five grade (1–5) scale. The overall average rating of CWI in China was 2.85. The instrument developed proved to be reliable, useful, and easily applicable in common communities.

HIV/AIDS NEWS

India: Defence Forces Rope in Religion against AIDS
(News Article)
Religious teachers in the army have now been tasked with a unique mission: to spread the message of AIDS/HIV during religious discourses. While each army battalion has a religious teacher, a senior military official said their role is not only to maintain communal harmony, but also to act as counsellors and facilitators. The religious teachers in the defense forces have already been trained to spread the message through discourses.

Global AIDS Treatment Efforts Not on Track
(Press Release)
The WHO released its "3 by 5" progress report on January 26, 2005 congratulating itself on progress made in the drive to fight the HIV pandemic. But only 700,000, or 12%, of the nearly six million people in need of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment in developing countries have access to it today.

Condom Cartoons Help Promote AIDS Awareness
(News Article)
AIDS education is no joke, but some condom cartoons are getting attention, and proving that perhaps the best way to make people understand is with a good laugh. The condoms are called the Three Amigos -- Shaft, the tall black condom; Stretch, the short, blue condom; and Dick, the lanky blonde condom. They star in 20 public service announcements produced under a joint Canadian-South African that uses comedic sketches to promote the message that condoms protect against HIV/AIDS.

Pakistani Journalists Produce a Breakthrough Radio Program on HIV/AIDS
(News Article)
A group of journalists in Pakistan has produced a series of radio programs on HIV/AIDS in their country that feature stories previously unheard of on Pakistani radio. The programs, in both the Urdu and Pashto languages, include stories about men and women who are living with HIV/AIDS, as well as interviews with medical experts and religious leaders.

Kenya Admits Failure in Distributing AIDS Funds
(News Article)
Kenya's Health Ministry acknowledged Wednesday that it had failed to distribute $54 million meant to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, a day after a U.S. ambassador said the delay amounted to a death sentence. Health Ministry spokesman Richard Abura blamed the delay on conditions set by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, including contracting an agency to ensure the money was well spent and hiring 78 accountants to manage the funds.

India Begins Its First Preventive AIDS Vaccine Trial
(Press Release)
Today began India's first-ever human clinical trial of an investigational vaccine candidate designed to prevent HIV/AIDS.

AIDS Deaths in South Africa 'Three Times Higher than Official Figures'
(News Article)
Related News Article: Identifying Deaths from AIDS in South Africa
Related News Article: South Africa: Death Certificates 'Inaccurate Guide' to AIDS Numbers
The number of people dying of Aids in South Africa is more than three times higher than government figures suggest, the country's medical research council said. Many people who died from HIV/AIDS were recorded as having died of related illnesses such as pneumonia and tuberculosis, the council said. The stigma still attached to the disease had helped keep figures artificially low. In research published in the journal AIDS, the article's authors estimate that more than 112,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses in 2000-01, almost three times the number given by South Africa's department of home affairs.

Chile: Caught between Morality and Science
(Feature Article)
Efforts to increase the use of condoms in Chile have not halted the growth of the disease, and the Catholic Church’s preaching of abstinence has not done the job either.

India: Sex Education Steers Truckers Away from AIDS Highway
(Feature Article)
This feature article relates HIV/AIDS prevention efforts aimed at truckers in India.

Ecuadoreans Cry for Help in a Region Prone to HIV
(Feature Article)
HIV is more prevalent along the southwestern coast of Ecuador than in other parts of the country for reasons that aren't clear. The director of the government's AIDS program along this part of the coast has said: "If we don't get programs of prevention and education going, we're going to have a generalized problem that parts of the Caribbean and Africa do."

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

HCV and HIV Co-infection in Pregnant Women Attending St. Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso)
(Abstract)
In this hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV co-infection study, 547 pregnant women with less than 32 weeks of amenorrhoea, attending an antenatal clinic in Ouagadougou were enrolled; 10.6% were HIV positive and 3.3% were anti-HCV positive. Only 1.3% had a documented HIV and HCV co-infection. HCV-RNA was found in 27.8% of patients who had anti-HCV antibodies. The higher-than-expected rate of co-infection in Burkina Faso seems to demonstrate a correlation between these two infections, which could influence the evolution of HIV and HCV diseases.

Gender Differences in Perinatal HIV Acquisition Among African Infants
(Abstract)
Researchers investigated gender-specific risks of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) at birth and at 6 to 8 weeks among infants born to HIV-infected African women. Overall, 966 boys and 998 girls were enrolled. The rate of HIV transmission at birth was 9.5%. However, at birth, significantly more girls (12.6%) than boys (6.3%) were infected with HIV. This association remained significant after controlling for maternal viral load and other factors. Among infants who were uninfected at birth, 8.7% acquired HIV by 6 to 8 weeks; of these infants, more girls acquired HIV (10%), compared with boys (7.4%).

Risk Factors for Ectopic Pregnancy in Lagos, Nigeria
(Abstract)
The purpose of this study was to determine the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in Lagos. The incidence was 23.1/1000 (1:43) deliveries and was responsible for 48.5% of gynecologic emergencies. Age, marital status, socioeconomic status, and parity were not significant risk factors for ectopic pregnancy. An early age of sexual debut increased the risk of ectopic pregnancy almost two-fold, whereas a late age of sexual debut was protective. History of multiple lifetime sexual partners, induced abortions, pelvic inflammatory disease, STD, miscarriage, and pelvic surgery independently and significantly increased the risk of ectopic pregnancy.

MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

Attitudes Toward Male Fertility Control: Results of a Multinational Survey on Four Continents
(Abstract)
A survey of more than 9,000 males aged 18–50 years was performed in nine countries on four continents in 2002. The objective was to compare, on a cross-cultural basis, the knowledge, attitudes and acceptability of MFC among men and assess their willingness to use such a method. Between 50% and 83% of the male respondents currently use contraceptive methods, and 55% to 81.5% reported that both partners participate in selecting the method of contraception employed. Overall acceptance of hormonal MFC was high (more than 55%), with 28.5% to 71.4% of survey participants of various nationalities expressing the willingness to use such a method.

Sexual Role and Transmission of HIV Type 1 among Men Who Have Sex with Men, in Peru
(Abstract)
In Latin America, men who have sex with men (MSM) have traditionally practiced role segregation that is, the adoption of a fixed role (insertive or receptive) rather than a versatile role (both practices) during anal sex. This study of MSM in Lima, Peru, demonstrated the potential effects of role segregation on the trajectory of the HIV-1 epidemic. In Lima, 67% of MSM reported segregated roles in their recent male partnerships. A population of MSM with identical contact rates but complete role versatility would have twice the prevalence of HIV-1 infection throughout the epidemic's first 3 decades. Preferential mixing among versatile MSM does not change overall prevalence but affects which individuals become infected.

Increasing Male Involvement in Family Planning Decision Making: Trial of a Social-Cognitive Intervention in Rural Vietnam
(Abstract)
Researchers tested a social-cognitive intervention to influence contraceptive practices among men living in rural communes in Vietnam. There were 651 eligible married men in the 12 villages chosen. A significant positive movement in men's stage of readiness for IUD use by their wife occurred in the intervention group, with a decrease in the proportions in the precontemplation stage from 28.6% to 20.2% and an increase in action/maintenance from 59.8% to 74.4%. There were no significant changes in the control group. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed higher pros, lower cons, and higher self-efficacy for IUD use by their wife as a contraceptive method.

MEN'S HEALTH NEWS

US: Officials Fear Babies Contracted Herpes During Circumcisions
(News Article)
New York City health officials are investigating the death of a baby boy who was one of three infants to contract herpes after a rabbi circumcised them. Ten days after Rabbi Yitzhok Fischer performed religious circumcisions on twins last October, one died of herpes and the other tested positive for the virus, according to complaint filed by the health department in Manhattan Supreme Court. Under Jewish law, a mohel (someone who performs circumcisions) draws blood from the circumcision wound. Most mohels do it by hand, but Fischer uses a rare practice where he uses his mouth.

South Africa: Men Encouraged to Play Lead Role in Preventing HIV/AIDS
(News Article)
This week is National Condom Awareness Week, and throughout the country NGO's and the Department of Health will be promoting the message that condom use prevents AIDS. In fact men, and fathers in particular, will be targeted with this message.

U.S. Company Hopes to Launch World's First Implantable Male Contraceptive
(News Article)
A private American company hopes to revolutionize birth control by launching the world's first implantable male contraceptive.

Deal Could Lead to Male Birth Control Pill
(News Article)
A Norwegian company seeking to develop a male birth control pill has signed a licensing agreement with the University of Massachusetts Medical School covering research that could lead to a drug to block sperm's ability to swim and fertilize an egg.

POPULATION RESEARCH

Patterns of Movement and Risk of HIV Infection in Rural Zimbabwe
(Abstract)
The relationship between movement, risk behaviors, and prevalence of HIV was assessed from a general population of adults in 12 rural communities in Manicaland province in eastern Zimbabwe. HIV prevalence varied with socioeconomic development. In community centers, prevalence among women was 49.9%, compared with 24.7% in the least-developed subsistence-farming areas. Mobility was not associated with risk of HIV infection, except for those who migrated between rural locations. Rural-urban migration does not appear to be responsible for maintaining the high HIV prevalence in rural Zimbabwe, but rates of HIV infection may be affected by rural-rural migration.

POPULATION NEWS

Cash Not Enough to Encourage Taiwan Parents to Have More Children
(Feature Article)
Cash subsidies are not enough to encourage parents in Taiwan to have more children, experts have said.

China Reduces Rural Population Under Poverty Line by 3 million in 2004
(News Article)
China has helped three million people in rural areas out of poverty, the largest number over the past four years.

WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

Triaging Patients with Post-abortion Complications: A Prospective Study in Nepal
(Research Article)
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This research sought to assess and evaluate the safety, acceptability, and effectiveness of maunal vacuum aspiration services in Nepal. Two groups of patients were compared: 529 patients treated in the MVA unit and 236 who were treated instead in the main operation theatre owing to the unavailability of services in the MVA unit. The MVA group received contraceptive counselling and services and had significantly shorter stays in hospital. However, the direct cost incurred by the patients was about the same. Follow-up at 6 weeks revealed that the MVA patients had significantly fewer complaints and were generally more satisfied with the services they had received than their counterparts.

Understanding the Social and Cultural Contexts of Female Sex Workers in Karnataka, India: Implications for Prevention of HIV Infection
(Abstract)
This study compared the sociodemographic characteristics and sex work patterns of women involved in the traditional Devadasi form of sex work with those of women involved in other types of sex work, in the Indian state of Karnataka. Devadasi FSWs were more likely than other FSWs to work in rural areas (47.3% vs. 8.9%, respectively) and to be illiterate (92.8% vs. 76.9%, respectively). Devadasi FSWs had initiated sex work at a much younger age (mean, 15.7 vs. 21.8 years), were more likely to be home based (68.6% vs. 14.9%) and had more clients in the past week (average, 9.0 vs. 6.4).

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Tanzania: NGOs form Coalition against Female Genital Mutilation
(News Article)
Seven NGOs in Tanzania have formed a coalition to fight FGM, a practice that is still widespread in the East African country.

Female Circumcision Fuels Spread of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania
(News Article)
Almost all of the respondents to a recent survey have blamed female circumcision for fueling the spread of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. The survey, conducted by the Tanzania Media Women Association in three Tanzanian province-like regions, found that the sharing of knives or razor blades in the traditional ritual practice had due impact on the spread of the deadly disease.

Fiji: Clinic Highlights Lack of Condoms for Women
(News Article)
There are no women's condoms in the country, says representatives from the AIDS Task Force. Clinic nurse Lisa Bradfield said when the female condom or diaphragm was introduced it was unpopular because it was noisy. "It sounds like cornflakes," she said. Project officer Susana Baleinadogo said there were no female condoms in Fiji except the standard male condoms, which were widely distributed.

DRC: Eight Years of Darkness
(News Article)
The Guardian reports on a wave of sexual violence sweeping through the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pakistan: Violence Against Women Still a Huge Problem
(News Article)
Two independent reports on domestic violence against women in Pakistan have found that the country is suffering increasing levels of abuse in spite of legislation to provide women with protection.

YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH

New Resources on Youth Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention, 2002-2004
(Abstract)
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FHI's YouthLens number 14 is a sequel to YouthLens No. 1. This summary of major reports and resources with Web links provides guidance to youth-serving organizations.

HIV-Infected Youth
(Tool)
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Youth infected with HIV need medical, psychological, and social support, but programs rarely address their specific needs, even as antiretroviral drugs and HIV testing become more available (YouthLens number 13, FHI).

Advocating for Adolescent Reproductive Health in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
(News Article)
This Advocates for Youth piece provides in-depth information on how to improve adolescent reproductive health and sexual health programs and policies in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. It includes case studies that highlight successful Eastern European and Central Asian programs.

Female Adolescent Sexual Behaviour in Calabar, Nigeria
(Abstract)
This study explores female adolescent sexual behavior in Nigeria. Senior secondary school adolescents in Calabar were studied with the help of a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. About 37.4% of senior secondary school female adolescents are sexually active with an average age at initiation of 13.7 years. About 22.6% of them have more than one sexual partner. Most of them (51.2%) learned about sexual intercourse from their peers. They go into sexual intercourse for fun, intimacy, and friendship (84%). Only 6% of the sexually active adolescents ever used family planning methods. This poor sexual behaviour in these adolescent girls is significantly influenced by the socio-economic status of parents and not by the type of school attended.

Integrating Efforts to Prevent HIV, Other Sexually Transmitted Infections, and Pregnancy among Teens
(Tool)
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This Advocates for Youth brief discusses the what, why, and how, the benefits, and the challenges of approaching youth holistically and of integrating the sexual health information and services they receive.

YOUTH HEALTH NEWS

Scotland: 'Say No Until You're Ready' is Sex Health Message to Children
(News Article)
Abstinence was yesterday put at the heart of ministers’ multi-million pound sexual health strategy designed to redress Scotland’s appalling record on teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Uganda: Redeeming Idudi Girl Children From Sex Work
(News Article)
The increasing sex trade has been attributed to the growing number of truck drivers, who have turned Idudi into their overnight stopover town.

Tanzania: NGOs Form Coalition Against Female Genital Mutilation
(News Article)
Seven non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Tanzania have formed a coalition to fight female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice that is still widespread in the East African country.

BOOKS/BOOK REVIEWS

The Greying of India: Population Ageing in the Context of Asia
(Book)
This book analyzes the size, age-sex composition, spatial distribution, and social and economic conditions of the aging population in India in the larger context of Asia. It investigates the implications of an aging population for socio-economic development programs, health care, savings, investments, consumption patterns, work force participation, migration and social security. It also scrutinizes the role of the family in supporting the aged.

SPECIAL REPORTS/PROFILES/RESOURCES

New Version of PipeLine Procurement Planning Software Available
(Tool)
DELIVER has released version 3.0 of its procurement planning software, PipeLine, in English, French, and Spanish. The new PipeLine is more user-friendly than earlier versions, and it can manage a wider range of health commodities. This is the second upgrade of the software since it was introduced in 1997 during DELIVER's predecessor, the Family Planning Logistics Management project.

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Editor, The Pop Reporter

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: The INFO Project

Volume 5, Number 6 7 February 2005