Sexuality and reproductive health

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing pregnancy rate among unexplained infertile couples who received treatment of ART, Intra-Uterine Inseminations.
Method:
Medical records of 24,201 cases of unexplained infertility among total 31,684 intrauterine insemination treatment cases, which were benefited by 'National Medical-aid Program for ART in 2011' were used for this analysis.
Result:
Age(OR=0.948), frequency of IUI(OR=0.862), and medical cost(OR=1.022) were significant factors on pregnancy rates in logistic regression analysis.
Conclusion:
- Factors, such as infertile woman's age, frequency of IUI, medical cost were positively influenced pregnancy rate. However, age of spouse was not significant variable.
- Prioritize the infertile couples that one year even with regular and unprotected sexual intercourse for treatment.
- The results showed that about 70% of Korean infertile couples were unexplained infertility. The higher proportion of unexplained infertility rather than that of clinical standard. Therefore, we should assess for reasons through the future studies. In addition, affective or emotional factors influencing unexplained infertility need to be researched further.

It is reported that globally an estimate of 350000 to 500000 women die annually from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Namibia as a member of the international community with its own challenges in the health system has also contributed to the mortality figures. MMR significantly increased from 271/100000 in 2000 to 449/100000 live births in 2006/07 and there is a growing concern whether Namibia will be able to achieve the target of reducing MMR by three quarters by 2015. Little is known about the specific factors contributing to maternal deaths in Namibia and a sample for the verbal autopsy consisting of respondents who were identified using the records of all reported maternal death cases in the institutions was drawn. The VA tool was employed to gather information through interviews in the community with family members, relatives, neighbours, or any person who witnessed the road to maternal death of the identified woman. A total of 97 deceased women of childbearing age were included for verbal autopsy. The most common illness suffered by the majority of deceased was HIV/AIDS. About 59% women died as a result of direct causes and the most common direct cause of death was reported to be post-partum hemorrhage.

Migrants are in some aspects regarded as more vulnerable to ill health than others (Quinn, 1994). Studies have shown that while addressing their vulnerability, it is important to make improvements in health and welfare not only for the migrants but also for the receiving society (De Hann, 1999; Gushulak and MacPherson, 2000). It is hence important to study what makes migrants vulnerable to ill health. Assessment of vulnerability to RTIs/STIs among married migrants based on the factors that increases their chances of having RTIs/STIs reveal that out of 513 married migrants, 22 percent are highly vulnerable, in addition to 19 percent of them have even suffered from any of the symptoms of RTIs/STIs. There is also a significant difference in vulnerability to RTIs/STIs between intra-state and inter-state married migrants. Regarding after effect of such problems to those migrants who have ever suffered from it, findings reveals that considerable percentage of female migrants reported that their household work, their sexual life, and their marital life to be affected because of the symptoms of RTIs/STIs. Thus, the findings suggest that not only female migrants who have symptoms of RTIs/STIs have burden on their physical health but other aspects of their life are also affected.

The severe lack of knowledge among adolescents regarding adolescents' sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in Egypt is a growing concern because of the large and rapidly growing adolescent population. To manage the health challenges and needs of this age-group, the implementation of effective school-based sexual (SRH) educational curricula is essential.

The research study had been conducted in three different governorates. Using qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews (IDIs) had been conducted with 20 students (12 males and 8 female) in secondary schools (grade 10) in governmental schools, 10 science teachers in intermediate schools, and 4 Supervisors.

Family has a limited role in increasing males ‘awareness about RH where the main source of information for males are friends, books, and internet. Although both of students, teachers, and supervisors explained their concern about the reproductive health topics and agreement about the importance of teaching reproductive health in schools, most of students either male or females indicated to the lack of RH information that are providing to them in school because the embarrassment of both teachers and students .

Introduction
Ghana has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world. A recent national survey (GSS et al., 2009a) revealed that about 451 women per 100,000 live births die due to pregnancy, unsafe abortion, or complications of labor in Ghana.
In Ghana, most hospitals and clinics have a FP unit where clients are referred to for services. However clients presenting to health facilities for non-FP purposes are not routinely screened and counseled for FP need.
From May 2010 to March 2011, the Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality (R3M) Program in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) embarked pilot project to improve access to FP services by integrating into other services at the facility level. This culminated in a baseline survey and the roll out of interventions in some health facilities in the Eastern and Ashanti regions of Ghana.

 

Current measures of unmet need for family planning at a single time point mask the magnitude of need women experience across their lifetimes and the disparities in unmet need faced by women of various socioeconomic backgrounds. In this study, we consider unmet need as a transitional state and propose new approaches of measuring unmet need over time. Using the contraceptive calendar data available in the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), we examine the number and length of unmet need episodes women experience over a five-year calendar period for 13 developing countries in Africa and Asia, and how these measures vary by household wealth, residence, and education. Our findings suggest that substantially more women experienced unmet need over the 5-year period examined than captured cross-sectionally. However, while women of all backgrounds experience unmet need, older and higher parity women, and women of low SES are more likely to experience longer episodes. Our results indicate the need to scale up family planning services and reach women multiple times across lifetimes. These longitudinal analyses unpack the complexity of unmet need women experience over time and help enable care providers to better meet women’s contraceptive needs.

In Bangladesh, women dying for maternal causes remain high. Women face long distance and significant transportation cost to deliver at hospital. To reduce barriers, government introduced demand-side financing program that gives transportation allowance for antenatal, delivery, complication management and postnatal care. A total of 3300 mothers aged 18-49 years given birth preceding year of survey were interviewed in 2010. The self-reported distance and round trip transportation cost from residence to the health facility was recorded. Only 53% women received ANC, 20% delivery and 10% received PNC. On average women travelled six kilometers for ANC and PNC but eight kilometers for complication care or delivery. Majority women used rickshaw or human powered van to reach health facility. On average women spent taka 100 (US$1.4) for ANC, taka 432 (US$6) for delivery and taka 132 (US$1.83) for PNC. For each additional kilometer, cost increased by taka 9 (US$0.12) for ANC, taka 30 (US$0.44) for delivery and taka 7 (US$0.11) for PNC. Currently a flat rate of taka 100 (US$1.4) for each is given; based on findings, the program should reconsider the transportation allowance.

The study aimed at testing the hypothesis that quality of inter-spousal relationship significantly influences abortion risks in peri-urban Nigeria. The data is from the FHWS-2010 closed-cohort study of 784 couples residing in selected households in peri-urban communities in Osun State, Nigeria. Among the 621 women who reported ever been pregnant, 21.9% had experienced either induced or spontaneous abortion. The Cronbach's alpha for the 27 scale index of quality of relationship was 0.877. Two logistic regression models were performed to test the hypothesis. The results from the first model showed that two items on trust, one variables for marital-satisfaction and three for communication were significant predictors of abortion risk. The second model with the inclusion of other spousal variables showed that only one variable on trust, one from marital-satisfaction, one from communication and wealth status were significant in predicting abortion risk.

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is a critically important and problematic area in sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated one in ten young women experience a premarital birth by age 20. Given the situation, achieving the MDGs will include addressing the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people in the fight against reproductive problems. Using both quantitative and qualitative research approaches, the study examined the structures and main features of traditional teachings and practices and their relevance for adolescent sexuality and reproductive health in Ghana. Evidence from five (5) focus group discussions from a sample size of 30 women selected from adolescent mothers with three generations of women showed that there are traditional beliefs, teachings and practices, including health in general and adolescent sexuality and reproductive health in particular. These included preparation for motherhood, sexuality, sexual relations, pregnancy, post partum sexual abstinence, good hygiene and nutrition practices. The results have implications for health policy and planning regarding the incorporation of traditional health teachings and practices into the adolescent sexuality and reproductive health

The paper is an attempt to know the levels and trends of pregnancy loss in India. According to WHO, there is a slight improvement in maternal mortality ratio from the past decades in developing countries. The study is based on the three rounds of District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS). Different indicators are made for estimating the pregnancy loss in India.

The levels and trends of pregnancy outcomes are also analyzed for the major states of India among which Haryana showed continuously increasing with high percentages of pregnancy wastages during these three successive periods 1998-99, 2002-04 and 2007-08. Spontaneous abortion only in Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu showed the continuously increasing percentages in three successive time periods.

On the contrary, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh show only very less percentages of pregnancy wastages during the same period. The present paper helps to understand the present scenario of pregnancy loss in India.