Volume 6, Number 13
3 April 2006

The Pop Reporter is available in CD-ROM (January 2004 to present) format. Contact Robert Jacoby with your request and complete mailing address.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH

Reproductive consumption
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Feminist Theory. 2006 Apr 1;7(1):27-47.
Fletcher R
This article's analysis of reproductive consumption reveals ways in which biological reproduction itself is a site of consuming desires and needs, and is permeated by socio-economic forces. In developing a theoretical framework for analyzing reproductive consumption, this article argues that consumption produces adaptive value as an object of exchange is acquired and adapted in order to satisfy some need or desire. Thinking about reproduction and consumption in terms of each other helps identify how reproduction is brought about through a taste for particular goods and services, and how consumption works through the reproductive, as well as the sexual, body.

Designing theoretically-informed implementation interventions
(Research Article; Global)
Implementation Science. 2006 Feb 23;1
The Improved Clinical Effectiveness through Behavioural Research Group
Researchers briefly define theory, illustrate how it can be used to develop change interventions for healthcare professionals, and discuss the pros and cons of using theory in implementation research. The overall argument is that better evaluations of what does and does not work in implementation research should be more likely with the explicit use of theoretically-informed interventions.

Early 40s and still unmarried: a continuing trend in Thailand
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
International Journal of Comparative Sociology. 2006 Apr 1;47(2):83-116.
Williams L | Guest P | Varangrat A
This article reports trends in marriage based on microdata samples of the 1970, 1980, 1990, and 2000 Thai censuses, supplemented by focus group data. There is an increase in the proportions of never-married between 1970 and 2000; however, changes in the 1990s were much greater for men than for women unlike earlier decades, which may be explained by changing socioeconomic composition of the population. Qualitative data suggest that while marriage may no longer be necessary, there remain abundant social pressures, particularly for women, to formalize unions, and most young people still expect to get married at some point, if a suitable partner can be found, since the positive aspects of marriage still seem to outweigh the negative ones.

High rates of syphilis among STI patients are contributing to the spread of HIV-1 in India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2006 Apr 1;82(2):121-126.
Reynolds SJ | Risbud AR | Shepherd ME | Rompalo AM | Ghate MV | Godbole SV | Joshi SN | Divekar AD | Gangakhedkar RR | Bollinger RC | Mehendale SM
The incidence of syphilis and its association with HIV-1 infection rates was investigated in a cohort of 2,732 patients attending four clinics, from 1993–2000 in Pune, India. There were 172 cases of incident syphilis during follow up, and independent predictors included age less than 20 years, lack of formal education, earlier calendar year of follow up, and recent HIV-1 infection. The incidence of HIV-1 was 5.8 per 100 person years, and the adjusted hazard ratio of HIV-1 infection associated with incident syphilis was 4.44.

Anxiety's relationship to inconsistent use of oral contraceptives
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | North America)
Health Education & Behavior. 2006;33(2):197-214.
Walsemann KM
To test the relationship between anxiety and compliance with oral contraceptive use, the authors analyze data from the National Survey of Family Growth Cycle V, restricting their sample to sexually active women currently taking oral contraceptives. They find that women who report multiple episodes of anxiety lasting at least 6 months have a greater probability of inconsistent use. The authors suggest goals for future research and discuss the role of health care professionals in addressing oral contraception compliance in light of their findings.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS

One in five people catch STDs
(News Article; Europe)
29 Mar 2006
Expatica News
One in five Dutch people have contracted an STD at least once in their lives, new research indicates. A polling firm questioned 1,800 Dutch adults as part of a study of STDs in six European countries. Of those aged 55 and above, 32% confirmed having to deal with an STD at least once, while 13% of the respondents aged to 35 also reported becoming ill as a result of sex.

Ghana: Gold Circle condoms banned
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
30 Mar 2006
Ghanaian Chronicle
The Food and Drug Board has asked the consuming public to stop patronizing one of the oldest condom brands on the Ghanaian market, Gold Circle Condoms, saying it is defective and cannot protect users from contracting STDs, including HIV/AIDS. Speaking at a press conference, the CEO of the Board disclosed that laboratory tests conducted on Gold Circle condoms revealed serious defects such as leakages and easy breakages during sexual intercourse.

HIV/AIDS RESEARCH

Behavioural data as an adjunct to HIV surveillance data
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2006 Apr;82(suppl 1):i57-i62.
Garnett GP | Garcia-Calleja JM | Rehle T | Gregson S
Second generation surveillance for HIV includes the collection of data on sexual behavior and STD prevalence. It aims to improve the validity and utility of routine serial HIV prevalence data. This paper reviews the function of sexual behavior data in HIV surveillance and the methods used to determine which behaviors are monitored and how changes in behavior can be assessed. THe authors write that sexual behavior data provide a poor predictor of the future spread of HIV, but these data can provide corroboration of changes in HIV incidence and assist in attributing changes to particular aspects of risk.

Relationship between expressed HIV/AIDS-related stigma and HIV-beliefs/knowledge and behaviour in families of HIV infected children in Kenya
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Tropical Medicine & International Health. 2006 Apr;11(4):513-527.
Hamra M | Ross MW | Orrs M | D'Agostino A
This is a household survey to quantify expressed stigma in clients of the Kangemi program for HIV+ children. The mean expressed stigma on a six points scale (6 = least stigma) was 3.65; respondents who were younger, had never married, and had less education expressed greater stigma. While this population has good knowledge about AIDS and appraises risks realistically, it fails to reduce these risks, and associations between stigma and other domains can inform interventions that improve HIV care and mitigate spread of HIV.

The costs and benefits of private sector provision of treatment to HIV-infected employees in Kampala, Uganda
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS. 2006 Apr 4;20(6):907-914.
Marseille E | Saba J | Muyingo S | Kahn JG
This is a cost-benefit analysis of three treatment interventions for HIV-infected employees in a health care services company in Kampala, Uganda to determine the financial incentives that companies have to treat employees. Of the three interventions (cotrimoxazole prophylaxis [CTX] starting at WHO stage 2; HAART plus CTX starting at WHO stage 2; and a 'hybrid' strategy that begins with CTX at WHO stage 2 and later includes HAART), the 'hybrid' intervention is the most cost-effective. For 100 skilled employees it would save the company US$38,939 and 73 disability adjusted life-years.

Prevalence of pediatric HIV in New Delhi
(Research Article; Asia)
The Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2006 Mar;73(3):205-207.
Parthasarathy P | Mittal SK | Sharma VK
This is a study of 112 children born to a seropositive mother or suffering from chronic diarrhea, failure to thrive, or disseminated tuberculosis, to determine the prevalence of HIV infection in North India. Of the 112 children, 10 were seropositive, including six children born to a seropositive mother, two with chronic diarrhea, one with failure to thrive, and one child with disseminated tuberculosis. HIV infection is an emerging reality in New Delhi, and a clinically directed screening can help detect more cases.

The impact of the HIV epidemic on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS. 2006 Apr 4;20(6):915-921.
Egwaga SM | Cobelens FG | Muwinge H | Verhage C | Kalisvaart N | Borgdorff MW
To assess the impact of the HIV epidemic on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania, the trend in annual risk of tuberculosis infection (ARTI) was estimated over the period 1983-2003 by tuberculin survey among 96,226 school children aged 6-14 years. The ARTI was 0.68%, which represents an average annual decline since the first survey. The declining trend in ARTI was observed in 17 of 20 regions, with no association between this trend and region-specific prevalence of HIV infection among patients with tuberculosis. Despite substantial increases in tuberculosis incidence, the overall population-level effect of the HIV epidemic on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania has been limited.

AIDS-related stigma and attitudes towards AIDS-infected people among adolescents
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Europe)
AIDS Care. 2006 Apr;18(3):208-214.
Dias SF | Matos MG | Goncalves AC
This research examined the co-occurrence of accurate and inaccurate knowledge about HIV transmission in a nationally representative sample of 6,137 Portuguese adolescents, as well as 14 focus groups discussions. Although there was a high level of knowledge about HIV transmission, a significant proportion had misperceptions, and many also believed that people with AIDS experienced discrimination and social exclusion. These findings have significant implications to implement and design comprehensive interventions with impact in adolescents’ attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS.

The burden of HIV-related illness on outpatient health services in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS Care. 2006 Apr;18(3):262-268.
Veenstra N | Oyier A
This paper looks at the impact of HIV/AIDS on outpatient services at various levels of care in a district of South Africa. Of the patients presenting, 20% to 24% were for HIV-related care, and the average costs of treating HIV-positive patients were significantly higher than those for non-HIV patients at district hospitals, but this difference was not seen at clinics due to the limited service provided there. District hospitals spent the greatest proportion of direct patient care resources on treating HIV-related illness and may require the most support in dealing with a rising number of AIDS patients.

Effectiveness of an HIV/AIDS educational programme for Chinese nurses
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Advanced Nursing. 2006 Mar;53(6):710-720.
Williams AB | Wang H | Burgess J | Wu C | Gong Y | Li Y
The study employed a pretest, post-test design after a 5-day workshop with 208 nurses from seven Chinese provinces in 2003 to assess knowledge, attitude, and willingness to provide nursing care to HIV patients. At baseline, HIV/AIDS knowledge was not high, and attitudes and willingness to care were neutral. At the conclusion of the workshop, knowledge, attitudes toward and willingness to provide nursing care had all improved. The authors conclude that intensive, interactive HIV/AIDS professional workshops can contribute to the national effort by increasing knowledge and improving attitudes towards and willingness to provide nursing care for patients with HIV/AIDS.

Epidemiology of health and vulnerability among children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS Care. 2006 Apr;18(3):269-276.
Andrews G | Skinner D | Zuma K
This paper compares the experiences of orphans with non-orphans, exploring the epidemiology of health and vulnerability of children within the context of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The results indicate that orphans in sub-Saharan Africa are more vulnerable than non-orphans. The authors conclude with some suggestions for policy makers and program implementers, highlighting the importance of focusing on interventions that will have maximum impact on the health and well-being of children.

HIV/AIDS NEWS

Vietnam spends over US $24 million on HIV/AIDS control
(News Article; Asia)
3 Apr 2006
Nhan Dan
The fight against HIV/AIDS in Vietnam has absorbed US$24 million of public fund over the 2001-2005 period, said Deputy Finance Minister Huynh Thi Nhan. The money, coming from both the State and provincial budgets, has covered all aspects of the fight ranging from public education on the deadly disease's risks to medical treatment and consultation for HIV carriers.

HIV prisoners stage hunger strike
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Mar 2006
BBC
Related News Article: South Africa: ARV solution sought for HIV-positive inmates
About 242 inmates at Durban's Westville prison in South Africa have begun a mass hunger strike to demand free HIV treatment. A spokesman for the prisoners said the strike was scheduled to last 3 days but could be extended. An HIV/AIDS group based at one South African university is preparing to back the prisoners by raising their case in the country's high court next month.

China builds over 100 methadone clinics to curtail AIDS/HIV spread
(News Article; Asia)
27 Mar 2006
Xinhua
China has set up 128 methadone clinics over the past 3 years, since February 2003, when it began the practice of building community-based centers offering methadone to heroin addicts.

80% of HIV+ in Russia under 30 - UN official
(News Article; Asia)
29 Mar 2006
RIA Novosti
A UNAIDS representative in Russia told a news conference that more than 80% of the patients suffering with the virus that causes AIDS in Russia were under the age of 30, against the figure of 30% in North America and Western Europe.

Should HIV testing be mandatory?
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
30 Mar 2006
BBC
Roman Catholic Church leaders in Burundi have told priests not to conduct wedding ceremonies for people unless they have taken an HIV test. An association of people with HIV in Burundi has condemned what it calls "forced tests".

About 15,000 orphaned every year due to AIDS
(News Article; Asia)
31 Mar 2006
The Rising Nepal
Every year in Nepal, 10,000 to 15,000 children are orphaned as their parents die from HIV/AIDS.

Patent application for AIDS drug opposed for first time in India
(Press Release; Global | Asia)
30 Mar 2006
Doctors Without Borders
An application for an anti-AIDS treatment under India's new patent rules could push cheap drugs out of the reach of millions, medical aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders warned.

WHO says few pregnant women getting HIV drugs
(News Article; Global)
28 Mar 2006
Reuters
According to the WHO, fewer than 10% of HIV-positive women in developing countries got antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy and childbirth between 2003 and 2005, despite increased access to the drugs, resulting in nearly 2,000 babies born with HIV each day. Frail health systems, weak partnerships among aid providers, inadequate drug supplies, and a funding shortfall were to blame.

Islam recruited to help Egyptians fight HIV
(Feature Article; North Africa)
3 Apr 2006
Reuters
In Egypt, where hard drugs are relatively rare, gays are imprisoned, and sex before or outside marriage is furtive, a Friday sermon filled with talk of compassion at a small Cairo mosque turned heads. The majority of Egypt's health workers believe those with HIV should be removed from society, while most university students think "lewd" people, or those "who have neither values nor principles" are likeliest to get AIDS, a 2004 study found. Ahmed Turky started preaching about HIV and AIDS after attending a workshop organized by the UN Development Programme, which in a new initiative aims to spread awareness about the disease by training religious leaders at a local level.

Maker won't tout 'promising' HIV drugs
(News Article; Global)
30 Mar 2006
Associated Press
In recent days, researchers heartened by a study in monkeys said they would expand tests of the pill Truvada as a possible preventive for use in healthy people who may be at high-risk for HIV. But instead of touting its drug, Gilead is trying to turn down the excitement. The attitude is partly based on fears that Truvada will be seen as a "biomedical condom" that might promote unsafe sex.

Clinton calls for rethink of AIDS testing policy
(News Article; Global)
28 Mar 2006
Reuters
Former US President Bill Clinton called for mandatory testing for HIV/AIDS in countries with high infection rates and the means to provide lifesaving drugs.

HIV infections appear to be falling in India
(News Article; Asia)
30 Mar 2006
The Washington Post
Related Abstract; subscription needed for full text: Trends in HIV-1 in young adults in south India from 2000 to 2004: a prevalence study
Related News Article: Public education helps India cut HIV infections
According to a University of Toronto-sponsored study, an analysis of the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women ages 15 to 24 in four southern Indian states found that the rate of infection within this group fell by 35% between 2000 and 2004. This article examines the study and places it into context.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Pregnancy outcomes, infant mortality, and arsenic in drinking water in West Bengal, India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
American Journal of Epidemiology. 2006 Mar;163(7):662-669.
von Ehrenstein OS | Guha Mazumder DN | Hira-Smith M | Ghosh N | Yuan Y | Windham G | Ghosh A | Haque R | Lahiri S | Kalman D | Das S | Smith AH
The authors studied pregnancy outcomes and infant mortality among 202 married women in West Bengal, India between 2001 and 2003 and measured arsenic exposure during each pregnancy, including all water sources used. Exposure to high concentrations of arsenic (200 µg/liter) during pregnancy was associated with a sixfold increased risk of stillbirth after adjustment for potential confounders, while no association was found between arsenic exposure and spontaneous abortion. This study adds to the limited evidence that exposure to high concentrations of arsenic during pregnancy increases the risk of stillbirth, but unlike prior studies, there was no association with spontaneous abortion and overall infant mortality.

Depression among pregnant rural South African women undergoing HIV testing
(Letter to the Editor; Sub-Saharan Africa)
The Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006 Mar 22;295(12):1376-1378.
Rochat TJ | Richter LM | Doll HA | Buthelezi NP | Tomkins A | Stein A
This is a study on the prevalence of depression, as assessed by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), among 242 women undergoing HIV testing in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. An EPDS score consistent with depression was found in 99 of 242 women (41%), and factors independently associated with increased depression scores included an unplanned current pregnancy, absence of a regular household income, and concerns about access to health care. HIV status was not associated with depression. These results support the importance of screening for depression during pregnancy in areas with high HIV prevalence.

Trend and causes of neonatal mortality in the Kassena-Nankana district of northern Ghana, 1995-2002
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Tropical Medicine & International Health. 2006 Apr;11(4):532-539.
Baiden F | Hodgson A | Adjuik M | Adongo P | Ayaga B | Binka F
To describe the trends and causes of neonatal deaths in a rural district in northern Ghana, this study analyzed 1,118 recorded neonatal deaths from 1995–2002 from the Navrongo Demographic Surveillance System and verbal autopsies. Only 13.2% of deaths occurred at the health facility; 62.7% occurred in the early neonatal period, with prematurity (38%) and birth injuries (19%) as leading causes while infectious causes were the major contributors to late neonatal deaths. Overall, the neonatal mortality rate declined at an average of 2.5 per 1000 live births per year and was down by nearly 50% from 40.9 in 1995 to 20.5 in 2002.

Maternal mortality among Palestinian women in the West Bank
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Middle East)
International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics. Online access March 10, 2006.
Al-Adili N | Johansson A | Bergstrom S
Data on the 431 women who died between the ages of 15 and 49 years in the West Bank in 2000 and 2001 were reviewed to assess maternal mortality and determine the most common causes of maternal death among Palestinian women. Maternal mortality ratios for 2000 and 2001 were 29.2 and 36.5 per 100,000 live births, respectively, with cardiovascular disease and hemorrhage being the most common causes of death. Misclassification was found in 38% of the deaths. A tentative analysis indicated that 69% of maternal deaths could be classified as avoidable.

An observational cohort study of chlamydia trachomatis treatment in pregnancy
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | North America)
Sexually Transmitted Diseases. 2006 Feb;33(2):106-110.
Rahangdale L | Guerry S | Bauer HM | Packel L | Rhew M | Baxter R | Chow J | Bolan G
Related News Article: Antibiotic safely treats chlamydia in pregnancy
Findings from a retrospective cohort of pregnant women infected with chlamydia indicated that azithromycin is significantly more effective than erythromycin for treatment of chlamydia in pregnancy.

WHO analysis of causes of maternal death: a systematic review
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
The Lancet. 2006 Apr;367(9516):1066-1074.
Khan KS | Wojdyla D | Say L | Gülmezoglu AM | Van Look PFA
Related News Article: Top health risks to mothers in poor nations
This is a systematic review of 34 datasets (35,197 maternal deaths) to determine the distribution of causes of maternal deaths. Haemorrhage was the leading cause of death in Africa and Asia, and hypertensive disorders in Latin America and the Caribbean. Abortion deaths were the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean, while deaths due to sepsis were higher in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean than in developed countries.

MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

The spectrum of genital herpes simplex virus infection in men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; North America)
The Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2006 Apr 1;193(7):905-911.
Sizemore JM Jr | Lakeman F | Whitley R | Hughes A | Hook EW 3rd
Related News Article: Genital herpes common in African American men
This study examined the epidemiology of genital herpes in 516 consecutive men attending an STD clinic, who completed questionnaires on sexual and social activities and were tested for herpes simplex virus. Swabs were positive for herpes in 10%, antibodies to HSV-2 were present in 45%, and factors associated with HSV-2 infection included older age and African American race. Genital HSV infections are common and largely unrecognized among this segment of the population.

Understanding male sexual behaviour in planning HIV prevention programmes: lessons from Laos, a low prevalence country
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Sexually Transmitted Infections. 2006;82(2):135-138.
Toole MJ | Coghlan B | Xeuatvongsa A | Holmes WR | Pheualavong S | Chanlivong N
This study of a broad range of young men in Vientiane, Laos, reveals sexual behaviors that could lead to accelerated HIV transmission. Many men have extramarital sex when their partner is pregnant and post partum. 18.5% of men report having had sex with another man; most of these men also report having sex with women. The authors recommend that education should emphasize the need to use condoms in all sexual encounters outside the primary relationship.

MEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Russia looks to its fathers
(Feature Article; Asia)
31 Mar 2006
BBC
In the latest in a BBC News series about the role of the state in encouraging couples to have more children, Patrick Jackson in Moscow looks at how a rising birth rate is bringing cheer to Russia but mortality rates among adult males remain dangerously high.

A man's right to choose
(Feature Article; Global | North America)
26 Mar 2006
The Boston Globe
"Reproductive choice should be a fundamental human right, not just a woman's right," says Mel Feit, executive director of the National Center for Men, which is representing a man who is trying to remove himself from legal and financial responsibilities of parenthood. Right now, he points out, a man who gets a woman pregnant must not only accede to the woman's choice, but subsidize it if she wants the child. Men, as he sees it, are reduced to reproductive beasts of burden. "There's a huge disparity," he says. "All the choices will be hers, and all the responsibility will be his."

POPULATION NEWS

South Korea offers baby bonuses to bolster economic growth
(Feature Article; Asia)
3 Apr 2006
Bloomberg
The South Korean government is spending $20 billion to raise the country's birthrate, the lowest among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development members, to fuel economic growth.

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Casual sex is a turn-off for the modern woman
(News Article; Global | Europe)
Findings presented at the British Psychological Society annual conference in Cardiff show that while women did not condemn others who had casual sex, 90% believed them to be wrong. Many believed that women couldn’t have sex for their own pleasure outside of a committed relationship.

Plight of women with fistula highlighted
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
22 Mar 2006
Accra Daily Mail
The workshop was organized by Pathfinder International, a non-governmental organization, in collaboration with United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), to educate media practitioners on what fistula is to enable them play an advocacy role of creating awareness about the disease, measures to be taken for its prevention, and treatment. A needs assessment report on fistula conducted in 2000 indicates that out of about 500,000 cases of child deliveries recorded in Ghana every year, it is estimated that 500 cases of fistula are reported. The underlying causes of obstetric fistula are deeply buried in the lack of power of women to make decisions on matters directly affecting their general or reproductive health and well-being, low social and economic status of women, cultural and traditional practices and beliefs that determine the conditions under which women live, and early marriage and childbearing.

South Africa-Zimbabwe: ZCTU hopes to bring in sanitary pads every month
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
27 Mar 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Unable to afford sanitary pads, which cost US$10 a packet in Zimbabwe (where the average salary ranges between $50 and $100 a month), women have to resort to unhygienic alternatives, which could have long-term effects on their reproductive health. In response to this situation, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) collected 12 million pads in South Africa last month, but the consignment was stuck in Johannesburg when Zimbabwe's Revenue Authority refused to waive a US$7,000 duty tax. Undeterred by the hefty duty, ZCTU plans to import them regularly.

Disturbing picture of sexual violence in Khayelitsha
(Feature Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
31 Mar 2006
Health-e
A newly established rape centre in Khayelitsha (South Africa) has made a significant impact on a community where rape is a daily reality, from babies to grandmothers.

YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH

Determinants of chronic malnutrition among preschool children in Bangladesh
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Biosocial Science. Online access March 28, 2006.
Rahman A | Chowdhury S
This study investigated the impact of some socioeconomic, demographic, and health and community factors on chronic malnutrition or stunting in Bangladeshi children aged less than 5 years. The analysis revealed that the overall prevalence of stunting was 44% (of which 18% of children were severely stunted), and the demographic characteristics appeared to be the most significant factors for chronic malnutrition. Regression analysis indicated significant association with severe and moderate stunting with parents’ education, household economic status, media exposure, number of under-5 children, place of delivery, child’s age, birth order, months of breast-feeding, birth size, mother’s BMI, mother’s height, age of household head, measles vaccine, supplementation of diet with liquids, and regional differentials.

Coerced first sexual intercourse and selected reproductive health outcomes among young women in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Biosocial Science. Online access March 28, 2006.
Maharaj P | Munthree C
This paper uses data collected in 2001 from a longitudinal study of 1,130 sexually experienced young women in KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the relationship between coerced first intercourse and reproductive health outcomes. About 46% of women reported that their first sexual encounter had been coerced. These women were also more likely to report having had an STI and having experienced unintended pregnancy. Coercion at first sex is an important social and public health problem that has a serious impact on the reproductive health and behaviors of young women.

The appropriateness of gatekeeping in the provision of reproductive health care for adolescents in Lithuania:the general practice perspective
(Research Article; Europe)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
BMC Family Practice. 2006 Mar 14;7(16)
Jaruseviciene L | Levasseur G
This study explored general practitioners’ perceptions of the appropriateness of gatekeeping in adolescent reproductive health care.

Calendar of Events

See All Events

May 10, 2006 - June 21, 2006
Gender, Health and Poverty E-course Pilot
The course is designed for senior and mid-level officials and policy makers working on health or poverty issues in national governments, national and international NGO’s, and bi-lateral and multi-lateral donor agencies in South Asia. This course will be entirely completed through the Internet. The objectives for the course are to increase capacity for promoting gender, health and poverty issues in national poverty reduction strategies and programs and assist countries in achieving the related Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) and to enhance skills for developing gender-sensitive, pro-poor policies and interventions in national programs.
Contact's Name: Jo Hindriks / E-Mail: jhindriks@worldbank.org
Event Location: Washington, DC

August 3, 2006 - August 20, 2006
Think Again! Media and Journalism Uganda Immersion
THINK AGAIN! aims to encourage journalists to build relationships with their counterparts in Uganda in order to work together to challenge the misconceptions about Africa in the media. The course objective is to encourage young leaders (aged 18-25) from the United States to address the misconceptions about Africa displayed in the Western media. The Immersion will facilitate discussion; promote the exchange of ideas and solutions; and interact with key decision makers in Uganda about the challenges and creative solutions facing Uganda.
Event Location: Kampala, Uganda

September 6, 2006 - September 8, 2006
Africa: Bridging the North-South Divide in Scholarly Communication on Africa
Event Location: Leiden, The Netherlands

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Volume 6, Number 13 3 April 2006