Volume 6, Number 23
12 June 2006

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FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RESEARCH

Men, multiple sexual partners, and young adults' sexual relationships: understanding the role of gender in the study of risk
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | North America)
Journal of Urban Health. Online access June 7, 2006.
O'sullivan LF | Hoffman S | Harrison A | Dolezal C
This study assessed the associations between men’s and women’s relationship attitudes and experiences and their sexual risk encounters. The population was from a large, urban college located in a high HIV risk neighborhood of New York City. For men, greater sexual conflict in their primary relationships was associated with more sexual partners and fewer unprotected vaginal intercourse encounters with a primary partner and across sex partners overall. In addition, men’s endorsement of more traditional sexual roles and lower relationship investment were associated with higher numbers of sexual partners. Among women, compliance with men to engage in unwanted sex was associated with higher levels of participation in unprotected sex. For both men and women, greater significance given to sex in a relationship was associated with fewer extradyadic partners.

Gender differences in STI prevalence and genital symptoms in an urban setting in southern India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Sexually Transmitted Infections. Online access June 6, 2006.
Panchanadeswaran S | Johnson SC | Mayer KH | Srikrishnan AK | Sivaram S | Zelaya CE | Go VF | Solomon S | Bentley ME | Celentano DD
This study examines gender differences in sexual behavior, the prevalence of laboratory-detected STI, as well as self-reported genital symptoms in urban Chennai, India. The population was young, sexually active, with low prevalence of STI. The most commonly detected STI was herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2) (13.2%). Women had a higher prevalence of HSV-2, but were more likely than men to be asymptomatic. The majority of self-reported genital symptoms could not be linked to a laboratory detected STI. More than 10% of the cohort had a history of an ulcerative STI, and more than 5% had an inflammatory STI.

Why reproductive health supplies are crucial to poverty reduction
(Fact Sheet; Global)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
The Supply Initiative, 2006.
This fact sheet from The Supply Initiative states that the links between family planning, lowered fertility levels, and poverty reduction are clear. A number of new approaches that emphasize poverty reduction have gained increasing prominence among donors of international
development assistance.

Practices and perceptions on intrauterine contraception among Latvian obstetrician-gynecologists
(Abstract; Europe)
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2006;85(5):583-588.
Viberga I | Odlind V | Zodzika J
This study investigated the professional activity and perceptions of intrauterine contraception among Latvian obstetrician-gynecologists. The majority of doctors reported careful selection of intrauterine contraception candidates, including screening for STIs before insertion. Intrauterine contraception insertion was definitely excluded in women without a stable monogamous relationship only by 9.8%. A causal relationship between intrauterine contraception and pelvic inflammatory disease was believed by 52.5%. Many doctors sometimes prescribed prophylactic antibiotics before or immediately after intrauterine contraception insertion. However, antibiotics were never prescribed before intrauterine contraception insertion by 50.8%. Younger doctors had significantly more often themselves used combined oral contraceptives than had older doctors, whereas older doctors more often had been intrauterine contraception users. Of current and former intrauterine contraception users, 93.4% were satisfied with this contraceptive method.

A polyherbal vaginal pessary with spermicidal and antimicrobial action: evaluation of its safety
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Online access June 5, 2006.
Bagga R | Raghuvanshi P | Gopalan S | Das SK | Baweja R | Suri S | Malhotra D | Khare S | Talwar GP
This study reports the findings of a multicentre trial in India that was conducted to evaluate the safety of a polyherbal vaginal pessary (Praneem) that has dual potential as a barrier method for contraception and for providing protection against some STIs. Trials were carried out in 23 women in three centers in India and thorough clinical and pelvic examinations were carried out, as well as cervical cytology, blood biochemistry, and hematology before and after use of the polyherbal pessary intravaginally once daily for 7 consecutive days. No toxicity was observed on clinical examination or by laboratory investigations. Daily intravaginal use of this pessary for 7 days had no adverse effects on cervical cytology or on metabolic and organ functions.

A focus on the fundamentals of care: improving family planning and reproductive health care
(Report; Global)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Washington, DC, Engender Health, 2006.
The ACQUIRE Project promotes renewed, sustained focus on three essential service-delivery elements: informed and voluntary decision making; medical safety; and quality assurance. These three elements constitute the Fundamentals of Care.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH NEWS

FDA OKs first cervical cancer vaccine
(News Article; Global | North America)
9 Jun 2006
CNN
Related Press Release: FDA licenses new vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer and other diseases in females caused by human papillomavirus
The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved use of the vaccine, Gardasil, for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26. It works by preventing infection by four strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease.

Uganda: govt to give out 80 million free Engabu condoms
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
8 Jun 2006
The Monitor
The Ministry of Health has imported 80 million re-branded Engabu condoms for free distribution in the country.

Movie clip stirs debate over black relationships
(News Article; North America)
11 Jun 2006
National Public Radio
A clip from the upcoming film "Diary of a Tired Black Man" is generating a great deal of buzz in the African-American community. The scene features a man arriving at the house of his former spouse with a new partner: a white woman. The clip has been e-mailed around the country and featured on blogs and on nationally syndicated, black-oriented radio shows. It has sparked a heated debate over the many issues it raises, from interracial dating to whether many black women are simply "too angry" to be datable.

FAMILY PLANNING/REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAW AND POLICY

Vatican fury at contraception, feminism and same-sex couples
(News Article; Global)
7 Jun 2006
The Scotsman
The Vatican made one of its strongest ever condemnations of contraception and abortion as it underlined the importance of family values. In a furious attack senior churchmen also blamed feminism for "exacerbating" problems within the relationships of men and women. The Vatican said the feminist movement had "reinforced the individualistic image of man and woman", and by doing so was "surpassing the family". The 60-page document, which was issued by the Pontifical Council for the Family with the full backing of Pope Benedict XVI, also described same-sex unions as an "eclipse of God."

Sterilization law debated
(News Article; Europe)
1 Jun 2006
The Budapest Sun
The professional board of Hungarian gynecologists has protested against a constitutional court ruling recently, which rejected restrictions on sterilization, the state news agency MTI reported.

Bill on promote gender equality interested international organizations
(News Article; Asia)
15 May 2006
demaz.org
Commissions on Human Rights and Law Policy & Statehood Affairs of Milli Majlis, the Azerbaijan Parliament, are working on gender equality promotion bill which aims at guaranteeing men and women equal rights in political, economic, social, cultural and other fields of public life as well as at eliminating all forms of discrimination on gender basis. The bill addresses the issues of equal pay and compensations for suffering from discrimination on gender grounds.

Forced marriage law 'not needed'
(News Article; Europe)
7 Jun 2006
BBC
The Home Office has decided a specific law to ban forced marriages in the UK is not needed. Ministers had asked groups and individuals if there should be a law criminalizing the act of forcing someone into marriage. Most thought the disadvantages of a new law would outweigh the advantages, and possibly drive the practice of forced marriages underground. About 300 forced marriages are reported to the authorities every year - often involving people from Britain's South Asian community.

HIV/AIDS RESEARCH

Multisectoral responses to HIV/AIDS: turning research into policy and practice
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
American Journal of Public Health. Online access May 30, 2006.
Pawinski RA | Lalloo UG
This paper presents the results of a needs analysis related to the KwaZulu-Natal Enhancing Care Initiative (South Africa), a program developed by a consortium of members who represent 3 sectors: academia, government, nongovernmental and community-based organizations, and the business sector.

Correlation between national income, HIV/AIDS and political status and mortalities in African countries
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | North Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa)
Public Health. Online access June 5, 2006.
Andoh SY | Umezaki M | Nakamura K | Kizuki M | Takano T
This study investigated associations between mortalities in African countries and problems that emerged in Africa in the 1990s (reduction of national income, HIV/AIDS, and political instability) by adjusting for the influences of development, sanitation, and education. National net income per capita, HIV/AIDS and political status were predictors of mortality indicators in African countries.

Local knowledge and experiences of vaccination: implications for HIV-preventive vaccine trials in South Africa
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Health Education and Behavior. Online access May 31, 2006.
Lindegger G | Quayle M | Ndlovu M
This study investigated knowledge of, attitudes to, and experiences of vaccination in a small semirural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study also investigated the effect of traditional, cultural, and religious beliefs on attitudes to vaccination, as well as to get some indication of willingness to participate in potential HIV vaccine trials. Overall, the findings reveal a good knowledge of, and positive attitudes to, vaccination, with little negative effect of traditional, cultural, and religious beliefs. The findings also reveal a generally positive attitude to HIV vaccines and vaccine trials. Barriers identified, such as anxiety about safety, were not surprising.

HIV and reproductive care—a review of current practice
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Online access June 2, 2006.
Gilling-Smith C | Nicopoullos J | Semprini A | Frodsham L
In developed countries, antiretroviral treatment has increased life quality and expectancy of HIV-infected individuals and led to a drop in mother-to-child transmission (MCT) risk to below 1%. Fertility has been shown to be reduced in both men and women with HIV. As a result of these factors, the demand for reproductive care in this population is rising. In discordant couples where the man is positive, sperm washing significantly reduces viral transmission risk to the uninfected female partner over unprotected intercourse. Positive women do not necessarily need specialized fertility treatment but should be monitored closely during pregnancy to minimize MCT risk.

Process evaluation of the teacher training for an AIDS prevention programme
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Health Education Research. Online access June 1, 2006.
Ahmed N | Flisher AJ | Mathews C | Jansen S | Mukoma W | Schaalma H
This paper provides a process evaluation of a 6-day teacher training program which forms part of a sexuality education project for grade 8 (14 year olds) in South Africa. Findings indicate that teachers reported increased confidence and comfort in teaching the sexuality curriculum. However, many struggled with the transfer of sexual reproductive knowledge and facilitative teaching methods into the classroom context.

Monitoring and evaluating actions implemented to confront AIDS in Brazil: civil society's participation
(Research Article; Global | South America)
Revista de Saúde Pública. 2006 Apr;40(suppl):88-93.
Villela W | Veloso JC
The United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS recommends that governments conduct periodic analysis of actions undertaken in confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic that involve civil society's participation. Specific instruments and mechanisms should be created towards this end. This paper examines some of the responses of the Brazilian government to this recommendation.

Gender, human rights and socioeconomic impact of AIDS in Brazil
(Research Article; South America)
Revista de Saúde Pública. 2006 Apr;40(suppl):80-87.
Oliveira RM
This paper critically analyzes, from the gender standpoint, official results presented in the Brazilian government report to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Specifically, the author evaluates the fulfillment of 2003 targets set forth in the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS, under the category of Human Rights and Reduction of the Economic and Social Impact of AIDS. Key concepts are highlighted, including indicators and strategies that may help civilian society better monitor these targets until 2010.

HIV/AIDS NEWS

AIDS toll may reach 100 million in Africa
(News Article; Global | North Africa | Sub-Saharan Africa)
3 Jun 2006
ABC News
AIDS could kill 31 million people in India and 18 million in China by 2025, according to projections by U.N. population researchers. By then in Africa, where AIDS likely began and where the virus has wrought the most devastation, researchers said the toll could reach 100 million.

'AIDS can be cured'
(News Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
12 Jun 2006
news24.com
A "shockingly" large number of public servants believe HIV/AIDS is curable, the Public Service Commission (PSC) (South Africa) has found. "That even a minuscule proportion of the public service believes there is a cure for HIV and Aids should be viewed gravely," says a PSC report based on an evaluation of the public service HIV/AIDS policy framework. This while more than 40% of public service respondents to a recent survey fell in the high- to very high-risk category of contracting the disease.

Africa rises to HIV drug challenge
(Feature Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
8 Jun 2006
BBC
Africa is stepping up efforts to manufacture its own life-saving medicines, so that it does not have to rely on supplies from Western pharmaceutical companies.

U.S. cites 'ABC' of success in world AIDS fight
(News Article; Global)
12 Jun 2006
Reuters
President George W. Bush's $15 billion program to fight the global AIDS epidemic is scoring victories promoting basic sexual behaviour change, reducing HIV prevalence in several badly affected countries, the top U.S. AIDS official said on Monday.

Gambia: another victory against HIV/AIDS claimed
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
8 Jun 2006
The Gambia Journal
Health authorities in The Gambia have again released another positive claim in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Talking to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly that closed on June 2nd, Dr. Tamsir Mbowe, Secretary of State for Health and Social Welfare, said that according to a recent National Sentinel Surveillance on HIV/AIDS in The Gambia, HIV1 prevalence in the country "had dropped from 2.1% to 1.1% and HIV2 from 0.9% to 0.6%."

Heroin, ignorance boost spread of AIDS in Chinese province
(Feature Article; Global | Asia)
5 Jun 2006
The Boston Globe
In this feature article, The Boston Globe examines the AIDS epidemic in three of China's provinces.

Egyprt-Syria: governments criticised for approach against HIV/AIDS
(News Article; Global | Middle East)
7 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
The US-based Human Rights Watch has criticized Egypt and Syria for not being explicit enough in the fight against HIV/AIDS and for threatening to derail the recent UN General Assembly meeting on the subject.

AIDS to bring huge economic losses to China: scientist
(News Article; Global | Asia)
7 Jun 2006
Xinhua
The economic losses brought by AIDS to China in the coming 5 years are estimated to exceed 300 billion yuan (42.25 billion U.S. dollars), said a renowned AIDS expert.

Using ARVs to fill empty stomachs
(Feature Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
2 Jun 2006
Inter Press Service News Agency
Some HIV-positive people in Kenya are selling their antiretroviral drugs to buy food.

UK's international HIV work not matched at home, says report
(News Article; Global | Europe)
7 Jun 2006
Guardian Unlimited
Related Report: HIV in the United Kingdom - a progress report 2006
The government is failing to meet the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in the UK or protect their human rights, despite its impressive record in fighting the pandemic abroad, says a report published by the National AIDS Trust.

Russia's chief doctor concerned over rising number of HIV+ women
(News Article; Global | Asia)
8 Jun 2006
RIA Novosti
Russia's chief medical officer has raised concerns over the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS among women, echoing comments made by other health officials that the disease was spreading at increasing rates through sexual contacts.

25 years of deadly lessons
(Commentary; Global)
6 Jun 2006
The Washington Post
Columnist George Will comments on what the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic means to the world.

Public health and religion: AIDS, America, abstinence...
(Feature Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
1 Jun 2006
The Independent
Uganda was a beacon of hope in Africa's struggle against HIV, but the Christian right's grip on US policy is undermining this effort with fatal consequences, according to this article from The Independent.

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH

Orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in Brazil: where do we stand and where are we heading?
(Research Article; South America)
Revista de Saúde Pública. 2006 Apr;40(suppl):23-30.
Franca-Junior I | Doring M | Stella IM
This study identified the human rights' status and situation, as expressed in the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS, of children and adolescents living with HIV/AIDS, non-orphans and orphans affected by AIDS, based on local and international literature review. The main study findings did not allow to accurately estimate those children and adolescents living with HIV and non-orphans affected by HIV/AIDS, but data was available on those living with AIDS and orphans. There is indication of compromise of several rights such as health, education, housing, nutrition, nondiscrimination, and physical and mental integrity. Brazil still needs to advance to meet further needs of those orphaned and vulnerable children.

Preconception care in international settings
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global)
Maternal and Child Health Journal. Online access May 19, 2006.
Boulet SL | Parker C | Atrash H
This literature review briefly describes international programs, policies, and activities related to preconception care and resulting pregnancy outcomes. Forty-two articles, book chapters, declarations, and other published materials were reviewed. Policies, programs, and recommendations related to preconceptional health promotion exist worldwide and comprise a readily identifiable component of historic and modern initiatives pertaining to women's health, reproductive freedom, and child survival.

Promising strategies for preventing perinatal HIV transmission: model programs from three states
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | North America)
Maternal and Child Health Journal. Online access June 3, 2006.
Clark J | Sansom S | Simpson BJ | Walker F | Wheeler C | Yazdani K | Zapata A
This paper describes and compares three innovative methods for preventing perinatal HIV transmission. Each of these strategies has been developed based on an in-depth assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of existing prevention approaches and the needs of the populations they serve in three states in the U.S.

Does the quality of prenatal care matter in promoting skilled institutional delivery? A study in rural Mexico
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Central America and the Caribbean)
Maternal and Child Health Journal . Online access May 23, 2006.
Barber S
This study determined if the quality of prenatal care predicts skilled institutional delivery, a primary means of reducing maternal mortality. Women who received most prenatal care procedures were more likely to have a skilled institutional delivery. Women who received less than the 75th percentile of prenatal care procedures were not significantly different from those who received no prenatal care.

Physical abuse during pregnancy and risk of low-birthweight infants among aborigines in Taiwan
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Public Health. 2006 Jun;120(6):557-562.
Yang MS | Ho SY | Chou FH | Chang SJ | Ko YC
This study assessed whether physical abuse during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of giving birth to a low-birthweight (LBW) infant. It was found that women who reported physical abuse with injuries during pregnancy had a 2.4-fold higher risk of delivering a LBW infant compared with women who did not report physical abuse with injuries.

Use of postpartum health services in rural Uganda: knowledge, attitudes, and barriers
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Community Health. 2006 Apr;31(2):84-93.
Nabukera SK | Witte K | Muchunguzi C | Bajunirwe F | Batwala VK | Mulogo EM | Farr C | Barry S | Salihu HM
This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and barriers to use of postpartum care service among rural communities in Uganda. There was a low level of knowledge about postpartum care services among the respondents of the two communities studied. There was lack of awareness about postpartum care and its benefits. The main barriers to use of services were misconceptions regarding the importance of postpartum care, distance to health facilities, poverty, and health system factors (notably, poor facilities, lack of essential drugs, and poor attitudes of health workers).

MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH NEWS

Burundi: side effects of free maternal, child healthcare
(News Article; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
9 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
A new policy of free medical care for Burundian mothers and children was intended to improve their lives; instead it has crippled the nation's health system. Public hospitals in Burundi have recorded double, sometimes triple, the number of patients since a presidential directive for free paediatric and maternal health services was implemented on 1 May. Overcrowded wards, a shortage of doctors and other medical staff, as well as patients' inability to afford prescribed medications are some of the challenges health officials are now facing.

Many Afghans lost to hazards of childbirth
(News Article; Asia)
7 Jun 2006
All Headline News
In a recent report, the U.S. charity, Save the Children, found that Afghanistan has the world's second-highest rate of newborn deaths, 60 per 1,000 births, just below Liberia.

Yemen: training program takes aim at maternal mortality
(Feature Article; Middle East)
9 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Health professionals in five Yemeni governorates are receiving training on methods used to reduce maternal mortality.

MEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

Gender role and relationship norms among young adults in South Africa: measuring the context of masculinity and HIV risk
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Urban Health. Online access June 7, 2006.
Harrison A | O'sullivan LF | Hoffman S | Dolezal C | Morrell R
Using six culturally specific psychometric scales developed in South Africa, this study examined men's and women's gender role and relationship norms, attitudes, and beliefs in the context of ongoing partnerships. For men, more frequent condom use was associated with higher levels of partner attachment (hyper-romanticism) but also with stronger approval of relationship violence and dominant behavior. In contrast, for women, more frequent condom use was correlated with a lower endorsement of relationship violence. Men with lower relationship power scores had fewer sexual partners in the preceding 3 months, while women with more egalitarian sexual scripts reported more sexual partners, as did those with higher hyper-romanticism scores. In logistic regression analysis, more egalitarian relationship norms among men were predictive of less consistent condom use, as were higher relationship power scores for women.

Men’s extramarital sex, marital relationships and sexual risk in urban poor communities in India
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Asia)
Journal of Urban Health. Online access June 6, 2006.
Schensul SL | Mekki-Berrada A | Nastasi BK | Singh R | Burleson JA | Bojko M
The objectives of this paper are to (1) understand the nature of men's extramarital sexuality in three low income communities in Mumbai, India; (2) explore the associations between marital relationships and extramarital sex; and (3) assess the implications of the research results for intervention. Results indicate that men's extramarital sex is significantly associated with husband's and wife's age, wife's perception of domestic violence, husband's education and place of birth, husband's alcohol use, wife's willingness to engage in marital sex, and types of marital sexual acts.

WOMEN'S HEALTH RESEARCH

Female condom awareness, use and concerns among Nigerian female undergraduates
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Global | Sub-Saharan Africa)
Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology. 2006 May;26(4):353-356.
Okunlola MA | Morhason-Bello IO | Owonikoko KM | Adekunle AO
A cross-sectional study of female condom awareness, usage and concerns among the female undergraduates of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, was conducted in September 2004. Over 80% had knowledge of the female condom as a form of modern contraception, and the majority of them learnt about it through the mass media (39.9%) and health workers (34.4%). However, only 11.3% had ever used the female condom, with most (40%) using it to prevent both unwanted pregnancy and STIs, including HIV. The sexual partners' approval was appreciable, accounting for about 42.7% among those that had experience with using the female condom. Major concerns mentioned with the female condom, such as difficulty inserting it into the vagina and lack of sexual satisfaction, were not different from those in earlier studies.

Sexual behavior, psychosocial and knowledge differences between consistent, inconsistent and non-users of condoms: a study of female bar and hotel workers in Moshi, Tanzania
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; Sub-Saharan Africa)
AIDS and Behavior . Online access June 3, 2006.
Tassiopoulos KK | Seage GR 3rd | Sam NE | Ao TT | Masenga EJ | Hughes MD | Kapiga SH
Researchers examined psychosocial, sexual behavior, and knowledge differences between never, inconsistent, and consistent condom users in a cohort of 961 female hotel and bar workers in Moshi, Tanzania. Forty-nine percent of women reported no condom use; 39% reported inconsistent use; and 12% reported consistent use. Women with multiple sexual partners in the past 5 years were less likely to be consistent rather than inconsistent users, as were women who had ever exchanged sex for gifts or money. Inconsistent users had higher condom knowledge and higher perceived acceptability of condom use than did never users, but they did not differ from consistent users by these factors.

WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWS

Muslim women don't see themselves as oppressed, survey finds
(News Article; Global)
8 Jun 2006
The New York Times
Muslim women do not think they are conditioned to accept second-class status or view themselves as oppressed, according to a survey released by The Gallup Organization. In more than 8,000 face-to-face interviews conducted in eight predominantly Muslim countries, the survey found that many women in the Muslim world did not see sex issues as a priority because other issues were more pressing. The hijab, or head scarf, and burqa, the garment covering face and body, seen by some Westerners as tools of oppression, were never mentioned in the women's answers to the open-ended questions, the poll analysts said.

Egypt: landmark paternity case highlights dangers of urfi marriage
(Feature Article; North Africa)
5 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
Activists and experts working on women’s rights issues warned of the dangers of a general lack of information regarding urfi marriage, a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly common in Egypt.

Lesotho: govt intensifies efforts to help rape survivors
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
7 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
The Lesotho government is to improve medical care for sexual violence survivors after rape cases reported in the first 3 months of this year climbed to almost the total number for 2005.

YOUTH HEALTH RESEARCH

Estimating the number of American children living in partner-violent families
(Research Article; Global | North America)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Journal of Family Psychology. 2006;20(1):137-142.
McDonald R | Jouriles EN | Ramisetty-Mikler S | Caetano R | Green CE
The number of American children living in partner-violent households was estimated from a nationally representative sample of 1,615 dual-parent households. Partner violence was reported by 21.45% of couples, with male-to-female violence in 13.66% and female-to-male violence in 18.20% of couples. Severe partner violence was reported by 8.64% of couples, with severe male-to-female partner violence in 3.63% of couples and severe female-to-male partner violence in 7.52% of couples. Approximately 15.5 million American children were estimated to live in families in which partner violence had occurred at least once in the previous year, with 7 million estimated to live in families in which severe partner violence had occurred. The prevalence of partner violence was higher among couples with children than among couples without children.

Parental communication and youth sexual behavior
(Abstract; subscription needed for full text; North America)
Journal of Adolescence. Online access June 5, 2006.
Aspy CB | Vesely SK | Oman RF | Rodine S | Marshall L | McLeroy K
The role of parental communication and instruction concerning sexual behaviour were studied in a community-based sample of 1,083 youth aged 13-17 from two large U.S. cities. After controlling for demographic factors, multivariate analysis revealed that youth were much less likely to have initiated sexual intercourse if their parents taught them to say no, set clear rules, talked about what is right and wrong, and about delaying sexual activity. If youth were sexually active, they were more likely to use birth control if taught at home about delaying sexual activity and about birth control. Having only one sexual partner was associated with having an adult role model who supports abstinence, being taught at home about birth control, and being taught at home how to say no. If parents reported talking with youth about birth control and sexually transmitted disease prevention, youth were significantly more likely to use birth control.

Premarital sexual intercourse among adolescents in Malaysia: a cross-sectional Malaysian school survey
(Research Article; Asia)
(You need Adobe Acrobat Reader to access this document)
Singapore Medical Journal. 2006 Jun;47(6):476-481.
Lee LK | Chen PC | Lee KK | Kaur J
This study determined the prevalence of sexual intercourse among secondary school students aged 12 to 19 years in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Prevalence of sexual intercourse among Malaysian adolescents was found to be relatively low compared to developed countries. However, certain groups of adolescents tend to be at higher risk of engaging in sexual intercourse.

YOUTH HEALTH NEWS

India child marriages flout law
(News Article; Global | Asia)
8 Jun 2006
BBC
Hundreds of mass weddings, with children as young as four, take place across India every May despite the practice being outlawed.

Education justifies 'sex lessons'
(News Article; Global | Asia)
12 Jun 2006
Manila Standard Today
"We're not encouraging premarital sex." That was Education officer-in-charge Fe Hidalgo reacting to claims made by the influential Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines that the department has included premarital sex education in the high school curriculum.

Uganda: account for missing children in the north - SC
(News Article; Sub-Saharan Africa)
9 Jun 2006
Integrated Regional Information Networks
The Uganda government must help to account for thousands of "lost and largely forgotten" children who have been abducted by the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army during the 20-year conflict in northern Uganda, Save the Children has said.

Calendar of Events

See All Events

August 12, 2006
Intenational Center for Research on Women HIV Stigma Reduction Luncheon and Seminar
Contact's Name: Leah Ghoston / E-Mail: lghoston@icrw.org
Event Location: Toronto, Canada

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Volume 6, Number 2312 June 2006