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Volume 5, Number 44
31 October 2005
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FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
Comparative acceptability study of the Reality® female condom and the version 4 of modified Reddy female condom in India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Contraception. 2005 Nov;72(5):366-371.
Smita J | Neelam J | Rochelle DY | Kumar BK | Callahan M | Suniti S | Sanjay M
Researchers in India carried out a comparative acceptability study of Reality(R) and Reddy (version 4) female condoms. Reddy female condom had a significantly better acceptability than Reality condom among women who were less educated and who had not used a male condom before. Despite a higher acceptability score, participants were less confident about the Reddy condom for protecting them from HIV disease or pregnancy as compared to a male condom.
Doctors willing to give teens STD vaccine
(News Article; North America)
28 Oct 2005
UPI
Most U.S. pediatricians would be willing to give 11- and 12-year-old patients a vaccine to prevent infection with a sexually transmitted virus. University of Colorado researchers conducted the poll of pediatricians in part because of concern that many parents might refuse to vaccinate their children, for fear that the immunization would lead to risky sexual behavior of their teens. The survey found only 11% of the pediatricians thought vaccination against a sexually transmitted disease would encourage promiscuous behavior.
Five years' experience with a small intracervical/intrauterine levonorgestrel-releasing device
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Contraception. 2005 Nov;72(5):342-345.
Pakarinen P | Luukkainen T
A randomized study was performed to compare the efficacy, safety, and acceptability of a new model of an intracervical/intrauterine contraceptive device (ICD) releasing 20 μg of levonorgestrel (LNG) per day. The results showed a total continuation rate of 50%; the continuation rate in the cervical group and that in the uterine group were 53.6% and 46.3%, respectively — the difference being statistically insignificant. The method is safe and effective. There were only minor differences between the groups. There were no perforations and the incidence of infection was low. The device can also be used by young nulliparous women.
Sexually transmitted diseases in Zimbabwe: a qualitative analysis of factors associated with choice of a health care facility
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
African Health Science. 2005 Jun;5(2):114-118.
Siziya S | Marowa E | Mbengeranwa L | Latiff A
This study examined factors associated with choice of STD health care facility in Zimbabwe. Asked which health facility they would attend if they had an STD, all the different groups of the population mentioned a local clinic, except for sex workers, who preferred a hospital or a traditional practitioner, and male factory workers, who preferred a factory clinic. Among the factors that would be considered in choosing a health facility were accessibility and affordability (stated by all groups), and privacy/ confidentiality, health care providers’ attitudes, caring or professionalism (stated by all groups, except male factory workers).
TCu 380A IUD: a reversible permanent contraceptive method in women over 35 years of age
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Contraception. 2005 Nov;72(5):337-341.
Bahamondes L | Faundes A | Sobreira-Lima B | Lui-Filho JF | Pecci P | Matera S
This study evaluated the performance of the TCu 380A IUD in women who had been using the device for more than 10 years and who were 35 years of age or more on completion of the 10th year of IUD use. Researchers found no evidence that the TCu 380A IUD loses its effectiveness after 10 years of use.
Factors affecting family size in rural Bangladesh
(Abstract; Asia)
Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin. 2004 Dec;30(3):115-124.
Begum M
This study was conducted to estimate the family size and to identify the factors influencing family size in rural areas of Bangladesh. Factors that had a statistically significant association with the size of the family age of the respondent, number of children, age of the first and last child, average monthly income, number of rooms in the house, and persons living in the main dwelling houses.
FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS
Morning after pill sales up in Britain
(News Article; Europe)
29 Oct 2005
UPI
Related News Article: Soaring morning-after pill sales a health risk
The number of U.K. women buying the morning after pill from pharmacists has nearly doubled in a year, government figures show. The proportion of women buying morning after pills over the counter has risen from 27% in 2003-04 to 50%ni 2004-05. Critics are worried that the ease with which they can get the drug without asking a doctor is contributing to a rise in the number of STIs.
Journalists challenged on "politically correct" writing for FP
(Press Release; Asia)
28 Oct 2005
Philippine Information Agency
A speaker at a two-day media exposure on family planning in The Philippines said that journalists writing about family planning issues should keep themselves abreast of politically correct terms and concepts.
China's sexual revolution
(Feature Article; Asia)
26 Oct 2005
Radio Free Asia
Sex in China has long been a taboo subject, associated under communism with the worst traits of decadent bourgeois society. But rapid social change and a growing gap between rich and poor are blurring old boundaries in a sexual revolution that has as much to do with a fast-changing economy as with affairs of the heart.
FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY
Gender selection rampant despite policy
(Feature Article; Asia)
31 Oct 2005
Tien Phong
Where previous technology could once only reveal gender at four months, now it is possible much sooner. Pregnant women often go to a clinic on Phan Chu Trinh Street in Hanoi that boasts the most modern ultrasound machine in Vietnam. The waiting room is always full of couples eager to ‘feel the flutter’ at hearing the doctor’s announcement, girl or boy. If it’s a girl, the result is often abortion.
Police told to respect traditions
(News Article; Oceania)
25 Oct 2005
Herald Sun
Police are being advised to treat Muslim domestic violence cases differently out of respect for Islamic traditions and habits. The instructions come in a religious diversity handbook given to Victorian police officers that also recommends special treatment for suspects of Aboriginal, Hindu, and Buddhist background.
Bridging the gap: the use of research evidence in policy development
(Report; Global)
Alberta, Canada, Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research, September, 2005.
Brehaut JD | Juzwishin D
In this paper, the authors explore the gap between the world of policy making and the creation and application of research and to suggest a framework for identifying potentially relevant information for making policy decisions. Their intent is that this framework may assist in at least narrowing the gap by increasing understanding in both communities of the full range of information that may be available or used in the policy process.
Health system constraints to optimal coverage of the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission programme in South Africa: lessons from the implementation of the national pilot programme
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
African Health Sciences. 2005 Sep;5(3):213-218.
Doherty TM | McCoy D | Donohue S
This study reports on the uptake and performance of South Africa's national pilot program for preventing mother to child HIV transmission (PMTCT) and to identify health system constraints to optimal coverage. Program effectiveness was limited by the low rate of HIV test acceptance, poor delivery of nevirapine to mothers, and inability to track mother-infant pairs postnatally for 12-month HIV testing of infants. Infant feeding intentions of mothers suggest inadequate counselling and possible negative effects of the provision of free formula milk.
Men's rights group: victim support only for women
(News Article; North America)
28 Oct 2005
CBS 13
A lawsuit was filed in a Sacramento, California court, claiming that male victims don't get the same help as female victims. According to the suit, state law even excludes male victims from domestic violence help. The health and safety code section will pay for things like housing, hotel rooms, and counseling--but only for women and not men.
HIV/AIDS RESEARCH
The role for government health centers in provision of same-day voluntary HIV counseling and testing in Kenya
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):329-335.
Arthur GR | Ngatia G | Rachier C | Mutemi R | Odhiambo J | Gilks CF
This study explored the role of primary health centers in provision of voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) in Kenya. The outcome showed that government health centers in Kenya can be appropriate providers of VCT. This pilot helped initiate a new strategy of health center-based VCT in Kenya, and this has facilitated rapid expansion and more equitable provision for Kenyans.
Traditional healers for HIV/AIDS prevention and family planning, Kiboga District, Uganda: evaluation of a program to improve practices
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS and Behavior. Online access October 26, 2005.
Ssali A | Butler LM | Kabatesi D | King R | Namugenyi A | Kamya MR | Mandel J | Chen SY | McFarland W
Researchers implemented a training program in HIV prevention and family planning methods for healers in the Kiboga district of Uganda and evaluated the program's impact on healers' clinical practice and the diffusion of information to their female clients. Female clients corroborated that they increased discussions of family planning with their healers, as well as discussions about HIV/AIDS. Both healers and their female clients were more likely to make a connection between family planning, condom use, and HIV prevention after the training compared to before the training.
Older adults in sub-Saharan Africa living with children and grandchildren
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Population Studies. 2005 Nov;59(3):295-312.
Zimmer Z | Dayton J
Researchers examined the composition of households containing older adults in 24 countries of sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on those living with children and grandchildren. Overall, 59% live with a child and 46% with a grandchild. Men are more likely to live in nuclear households and women in extended households and alone. Individual-level determinants of household composition differ by sex.
Initial response to highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1C-infected adults in a public sector treatment program in Botswana
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):336-343.
Wester CW | Kim S | Bussmann H | Avalos A | Ndwapi N | Peter TF | Gaolathe T | Mujugira A | Busang L | Vanderwarker C | Cardiello P | Johnson O | Thior I | Mazonde P | Moffat H | Essex M | Marlink R
This article describes the response to highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) in a public sector pilot antiretroviral treatment program in Botswana. An excellent response to HAART was observed among HIV-1C-infected patients, paralleling those seen elsewhere.
HIV/AIDS NEWS
Uganda takes up abstinence campaign
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
31 Oct 2005
Los Angeles Times
Activists say the nation's shift away from encouraging condom use threatens one of the world's most successful anti-AIDS programs.
Coordinated response alone can counter AIDS, says Minister
(News Article; Asia)
28 Oct 2005
The Hindu
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister S. Jaipal Reddy recently called for an unprecedented response from all sections to the AIDS challenge. "The situation we are facing now is unprecedented in our history and requires an unprecedented response from all sectors of society," Reddy said, adding, "Through a unified, strong and continuous leadership from all sectors we will have a better chance at succeeding in preventing the spread of HIV and mitigating its impact."
HIV test may soon be OTC
(News Article; Global)
31 Oct 2005
Associated Press
The FDA is weighing, for over-the-counter purchase and home use, a saliva-swab test that is 99% accurate.
Village doctors fill breach in HIV control
(News Article; Asia)
27 Oct 2005
China Daily
Villages are where 70% of China's HIV and AIDS cases are found, so it's little wonder that a pilot project to fight the epidemic has its roots in rural areas of Southwest China's Yunnan Province. Started by the local governments in Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in the province in May, the project has made progress despite challenges.
UN agency launches first-ever ad campaign highlighting children with HIV/AIDS
(News Article; Global)
27 Oct 2005
UN News Centre
The United Nations Children's Fund launched the first-ever outdoor ad campaign in conjunction with a major media company to raise awareness and funds to fight the impact of HIV/AIDS on children.
Sudan: AIDS could spread rapidly in the south, warns UNICEF
(News Article; North Africa)
25 Oct 2005
Integrated Regional Information Networks
HIV/AIDS prevalence rates could increase rapidly in southern Sudan unless immediate action is taken to address the problem, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned recently.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH
Timing of maternal and neonatal dosing of nevirapine and the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-1: HIVNET 024
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS. 2005 Nov 4;19(16):1857-1864.
Chi BH | Wang L | Read JS | Sheriff M | Fiscus S | Brown ER | Taha TE | Valentine M | Goldenberg R
This study determined whether timing of maternal or infant nevirapine (NVP) was associated with mother-to-child transmission(MTCT) between delivery and 6 weeks of age. Variations in the timing of maternal and infant NVP doses (within reasonable proximity to delivery) did not appear to affect the risk of MTCT.
Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Western Kenya: operational issues
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):344-349.
Van't Hoog AH | Mbori-Ngacha DA | Marum LH | Otieno JA | Misore AO | Nganga LW | Decock KM
This research sought to improve uptake in a program to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and describe lessons relevant for prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs in resource-poor settings. Findings show addressing institutional factors can improve uptake, but expected program impact remains low for several reasons, including relatively low efficacy of the intervention and missed opportunities in the labor room.
Does exposure to antiretroviral therapy affect growth in the first 18 months of life in uninfected children born to HIV-infected women?
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | Europe)
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):364-370.
European Collaborative Study
Uninfected children born to HIV-infected women are exposed antenatally to antiretroviral therapy, but it is uncertain whether this affects growth in early life. Researchers from the European Collaborative Study Coordinating Centre in London analyzed weight, height, and occipitofrontal circumference in 1,912 children from a cohort study. Gestational age and maternal illicit drug use were strongly associated with growth, but the effect of combination therapy exposure was marginal. Although the effect of combination therapy exposure is minimal, long-term monitoring of these children is important.
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Sao Paulo State, Brazil: an update
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; South America)
AIDS. 2005 Oct 19;Suppl 4:S37-S41.
Matida LH | da Silva MH | Tayra A | de Menezes Succi RC | Gianna MC | Goncalves A | de Carvalho HB | Hearst N
Since 1996, Sao Paulo (and Brazil nationally) has implemented an aggressive program to reduce perinatal transmission. Researchers gathered available indicators to examine the program's impact. Annual reported cases of AIDS as a result of perinatal transmission fell 58.9% from 1997 to 2002. The number of cases treated with zidovudine increased 73.7% from 1997 to 2004. The rate of perinatal transmission among babies born to HIV-positive mothers fell from 16% in 1995 to 2.4% in 2002 in the reference clinics that participated in the Brazilian Pediatric Society study.
MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS
Births to unmarried U.S. women set record
(News Article; North America)
28 Oct 2005
Associated Press
Nearly 1.5 million babies, a record, were born to unmarried women in the United States last year, the government reported. And it isn't just teenagers any more. "People have the impression that teens and unmarried mothers are synonymous," said Stephanie Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics. But last year teens accounted for just 24% of unwed births, down from 50% in 1970, she commented. The increases in unmarried births have been among women in their 20s, she said, particularly those 25 to 29.
MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Is sexual contact with sex workers important in driving the HIV epidemic among men in rural Zimbabwe?
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. 2005 Nov 1;40(3):371-376.
Cowan FM | Langhaug LF | Hargrove JW | Jaffar S | Mhuriyengwe L | Swarthout TD | Peeling R | Latif A | Basset MT | Brown DW | Mabey D | Hayes RJ | Wilson D
This study established the importance of commercial sex in driving the HIV epidemic in the general population by determining risk factors for HIV infection among male mine and farm workers and estimating the fraction of prevalent HIV infections attributable to sexual contact with sex workers (SWs). The researchers found that an appreciable proportion of HIV infection in men was attributable to sexual contact with SWs.
Male infertility in Zimbabwe
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Patient Education and Counseling . Online access October 19, 2005.
Folkvord S | Odegaard OA | Sundby J
This study explored the causes of male infertility in Zimbabwe. Male infertility is a significant medical and psychological problem in Zimbabwe. It was found that 78% of the respondents had ever had a STD. Most of the respondents reported that their infertility caused them stress and reported signs of mild depression. Most men mentioned also to seek treatment based on traditional methods. Men blamed that their wife was the reason of their childlessness.
Nonhormonal drugs for contraception in men: a systematic review
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2005 Nov;60(11):746-752.
Lopez LM | Grimes DA | Schulz KF
This systematic review summarizes the clinical studies evaluating nonhormonal drugs administered to men for contraception.
MEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Focus on men for Family Planning Week
(News Article; Central America and the Caribbean)
25 Oct 2005
The Jamaica Observer
The National Family Planning Board in Jamaica is placing emphasis on the importance of involving men in all aspects of reproductive health, as it celebrates Family Planning Week.
Forum recommends male-only clinic
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Oct 2005
The Herald (Harare)
According to this article, a "male-only" clinic "may sound impossible and crazy," but this is the route Zimbabwe may take to encourage men to be open about their reproductive health needs.
POPULATION RESEARCH
The causes of stalling fertility transitions
(Working Paper; Central America and the Caribbean | Europe | South America | Sub-Saharan Africa)
New York, Population Council, 2005. (working paper no. 204)
Bongaarts J
An examination of fertility trends in countries with multiple DHS surveys found that in the 1990s fertility stalled in mid-transition in seven countries: Bangladesh, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Peru, and Turkey. In each of these countries, fertility was high (more than six births per woman) in the 1950s and then declined to fewer than five births per woman in the early or mid-1990s, before stalling. These findings suggest no major deterioration in contraceptive access during the stall, but levels of unmet need and unwanted fertility are relatively high and improvements in access to family planning methods would therefore be desirable. No significant link was found between the presence of a stall and trends in socioeconomic development, but at the onset of the stall the level of fertility was low relative to the level of development in all but one of the stalling countries.
Fertility in Kenya and Uganda: a comparative study of trends and determinants
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Population Studies. 2005 Nov;59(3):355-373.
Blacker J | Opiyo C | Jasseh M | Sloggett A | Ssekamatte-Ssebuliba J
An analysis of the proximate determinants shows that the difference was due primarily to greater contraceptive use in Kenya, though in Uganda there was also a reduction in pathological sterility. The Demographic and Health Surveys show that women in Kenya wanted fewer children than those in Uganda, but that in Uganda there was also a greater unmet need for contraception. These differences may be attributed to the divergent paths of economic development followed by the two countries after Independence; and to the Kenya Government's active promotion of family planning through the health services, which the Uganda Government did not promote until 1995.
Social networks, perceptions of risk, and changing attitudes towards HIV/AIDS: New evidence from a longitudinal study using fixed-effects analysis
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Population Studies. 2005 Nov;59(3):265-282.
Helleringer S | Kohler HP
This study is an investigation of the importance of social interactions to perceptions of the risk of AIDS and explores spousal communication about the AIDS epidemic in rural Malawi. The dominant mechanisms (social learning and social influence) are found to vary by sex and by region, because of regional variations in the marriage pattern and the resulting implications for the formation of local social networks. The conclusion of the study is that rather than fostering denial and inaction, social interactions are an important vector of change in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Knowledge, practices and behaviours related to HIV transmission among the Brazilian population in the 15-54 years age group, 2004
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; South America)
AIDS. 2005 Oct 19;Suppl 4:S51-S58.
Szwarcwald CL | Barbosa-Junior A | Pascom AR | de Souza-Junior PR
This study described transmission vulnerability for acquiring HIV infection among the Brazilian population aged 15-54 years. Higher proportions of inconsistent condom use with any kind of partner were found among women and among the poorest. A multiplicity of sexual partners, low socio-economic status, and cocaine use were important predictors of unprotected sex among men living without a companion.
POPULATION NEWS
Korea has high rate of male babies
(News Article; Asia)
31 Oct 2005
Arirang News
Figures show Korea has one of the highest birth rates of male babies in the world. The National Statistical Office said Monday 108.7 boys were born for every 100 girls in 2003, ranking Korea fifth among 45 countries surveyed. The office said that was due to selective pregnancy based on a traditional preference for sons over daughters.
One third of Czech children born out of wedlock
(News Article; Europe)
27 Oct 2005
Prague Daily Monitor
Almost one third of children in the Czech Republic are born out of wedlock, which is the EU average, while in Slovakia the figure is one fourth of all newborn babies, according to 2004 data released by Eurostat.
Sex selection clinical trial is launched
(News Article; Global | North America)
26 Oct 2005
UPI
U.S. physicians have reportedly started a clinical trial to assess the effects of allowing couples to choose the gender of unborn children.
WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH
Scaling up postabortion contraceptive service — results from a study conducted among women having unwanted pregnancies in urban and rural Tanzania
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Contraception. 2005 Nov;72(5):377-382.
Rasch V | Yambesi F | Kipingili R
This study describes the magnitude of the problem of unwanted pregnancies among women with incomplete abortion in urban and rural Tanzania and evaluates the outcome of a postabortion care intervention. Sixty-seven percent of the women in urban Tanzania and 42% in rural Tanzania stated that their pregnancy was unwanted. Contraceptive acceptance among women with unwanted pregnancies was high; 93% in urban Tanzania and 71% in rural Tanzania left with a contraceptive method.
Sexually transmitted disease/HIV risk behaviour among women who have sex with women
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; South America)
AIDS. 2005 Oct;19(Suppl 4):S64-S69.
Pinto VM | Tancredi MV | Neto AT | Buchalla CM
This study analyzed the epidemiological aspects of STDs among women who have sex with women (WSW) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The women started sexual activity at an average age of 16.9 years, and 23.4% of them had had heterosexual relations during the preceding year, with a relatively low frequency of condom use. In sexual relations with women, 54.5% used condoms when they shared sex toys. A previous STD was reported by 38%.
Women's autonomy, education and contraception use in Pakistan: a national study 
(Research Article; Asia)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Reproductive Health. Online access October 23, 2005.
Saleem S | Bobak M
This study tested the theory that autonomy of women is one of the mechanisms of how education influences contraceptive use in developing countries. The authors found that decision autonomy was significantly associated with both lifetime and current contraception use; movement autonomy was not consistently associated with contraceptive use. They conclude that contraceptive use was strongly associated with women's education, but this relation was not mediated by women's autonomy.
Measured and reported weight change for women using a vaginal contraceptive ring vs. a low-dose oral contraceptive
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Contraception. 2005 Nov;72(5):323-327.
O'connell KJ | Osborne LM | Westhoff C
Because women often stop hormonal contraception because of perceived weight change, researchers examined the difference between women's reported and measured baseline weights and looked at factors affecting perceived weight change. Researchers found that participants underreported their weight and that this difference was greater for heavier women. There was little weight change for the women in the study. Participants' opinions about weight change were not correlated with measured weight changes.
Gender power imbalance on women's capacity to negotiate self-protection against HIV/AIDS in Botswana and South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
African Health Sciences. 2005 Sep;5(3):188-197.
Langen TT
This study examined the influence of gender power imbalance and other factors on women's capacity to negotiate self protection against HIV infection; as well as men's response to the suggested condom use. The study showed that men are more likely to refuse to use the condom when the age difference between them and their female partners is wide, if they are in a married relationship, and where there is no communication about HIV/AIDS between them and their partners.
Project: screen South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Diagnostic Cytopathology. 2005 Nov;33(5):356-358.
Knight B
In South Africa, carcinoma of the cervix affects 1 in 29 women. A national screening program to address the problem has been implemented. The program faces serious challenges including shortage of funds, a lack of trained laboratory personnel, and the HIV epidemic.
WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS
Kenya: sexual and domestic violence prevalent
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Oct 2005
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Sexual violence is increasingly prevalent in Kenya, and police statistics show that more than 2,800 cases of rape were reported in 2004 - an increase of close to 500 compared to the previous year.
Islam feminists urge gender jihad
(News Article; Global)
28 Oct 2005
BBC
Related Unpublished Work: Gender jihad
Organisers of the first international congress on Islamic feminism are calling for a "gender jihad". Organiser Abdennur Prado Pavon says the struggle for gender equality in Islamic countries involves refuting chauvinist interpretations of Muslim teachings.
In Lesotho and Swaziland, AIDS activates women
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
24 Oct 2005
Women's E-News
Spurred by the highest rates of AIDS infection, women in Lesotho and Swaziland are struggling to change laws and attitudes.
Domestic violence reports rising
(News Article; Oceania)
27 Oct 2005
AAP
The incidence of reported domestic violence has jumped 50% across New South Wales, Australia, in the past 7 years, a new study has found. The report stated a "surprising" number of cases involved male victims - outnumbering female victims in cases where the victim is under 15 or over 39.
YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH
Factors associated with condom use among youth aged 15-24 years in Brazil in 2003
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; South America)
AIDS. 2005 Oct 19;Suppl 4:S42-S50.
Calazans G | Araujo TW | Venturi G | Franca I Junior
This study analyzed factors associated with the lack of condom use among young people at last sexual intercourse with a steady or casual partner. The overall level of condom use at last sexual intercourse was high (60%), although it was significantly more common in casual sexual partnership. Cohabitation was associated with a lack of condom use in both casual and steady partner encounters. In addition, being female, having less schooling, having no work history, and per capita family income above the minimum wage were factors related to not using condoms in the group of young people who had their last sexual encounter with steady partners.
A strange illness: issues and research by children affected by HIV/AIDS in Central China
(Report; Asia)
Beijing, China, Save the Children, June 2005.
This is a summary of the report of "a strange illness" about the issues and concerns raised by orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in an area of central China with a severe HIV/AIDS epidemic. This project was undertaken as a preliminary study for a longer program of child-focussed work in the area to provide care, support, and treatment within a framework of child protection and children's participation.
The effect of non-family experiences on age of marriage in a setting of rapid social change
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Population Studies. 2005 Nov;59(3):339-354.
Yabiku ST
This study examined the changing effects of non-family activities on the age of transition to first marriage in four cohorts of individuals across 45 years in the Chitwan Valley, Nepal. The results indicate that school enrollment had a negative effect on both men's and women's marriage rates, while total years of schooling had a positive effect on men's marriage rates.
YOUTH HEALTH NEWS
Liberia: youth not putting HIV prevention lessons into practice
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Oct 2005
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Young Liberians know about AIDS, how they might contract the disease, and what they can do to protect themselves. But this article reports that they are not putting that knowledge into practice.
Ethiopia: nearly half of the children orphaned by HIV/AIDS
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
25 Oct 2005
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Ethiopia has one of the largest populations of orphans in the world with nearly half of the children having lost at least one of their parents.
Youth marriages hard on Central Highland women
(News Article; Asia)
25 Oct 2005
Thanh Nien Daily
Early marriage, common among young girls in Vietnam’s central Highland provinces, leaves them in poor health and often struggling to make ends meet.
SPECIAL REPORTS/PROFILES/RESOURCES
Must boys be boys? Ending sexual exploitation & abuse in UN peacekeeping missions
(Report; Global)
Washington, DC, Refugees International, October 2005.
This report argues that a hyper-masculine culture that tolerates sexual exploitation and abuse has evolved in UN peacekeeping missions. The report calls on the UN to insure that the necessary funding and resources are made available to fully address the problem.
Reproductive rights for women affected by HIV/AIDS? A project to monitor Millennium Development Goals 5 and 6
(Report; Global)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Chapel Hill, NC, IPAS, August 2005.
de Bruyn M
In 2005, six organizations partnered with Ipas in trying out a monitoring tool as a data-collection method (the resource was called Fulfilling reproductive rights for women affected by HIV: A tool for monitoring achievement of Millennium Development Goals. The monitoring tool suggests benchmarks that can be used to assess steps along the path toward achieving Millennium Development Goals 5 and 6.) Each partner prepared its own project report and disseminated their findings independently. Ipas then prepared this report, which summarizes the overall project, describes how the monitoring tool was used, and outlines the main findings presented by the individual organizations.
Calendar of Events
December 1, 2005 - March 17, 2006E-Learning Course on HIV and AIDS
This course is designed for professionals who deal with HIV and AIDS issues in various contexts, e.g. health, education, civil society, business, or development co-operation. The online portion of the course runs from 01 December 2005 (World AIDS Day) to 19 February 2006, and the face-to-face seminar is from 13-17 March 2006, South Africa.
E-Mail: martina.egizii@inwent.orgEvent Location: Online and South Africa
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