Featured Issue: African Journal of Reproductive Health, Vol.17 No.4

African Journal of Reproductive Health has recently been updated on Bioline. This issue includes an editorial by Friday Okonofua, "Prevention of Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy in Africa: Need for more Research and Innovation". The article discusses the health risks and social consequences of child marriage. The rates of the practice is highest in South-East Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, where they are as high as 75%. Child marriage can prevent girls from reaching their fullest potential, both socially and in an educationally. Child marriage can also have extreme health risks, including STIs, cervical cancer, malaria, maternal mortality and obstetrics fistula. The articles in this issue have a focus on child marriage and the risks associated with the practice.

Articles include one by Mainthia et al., "A Model for Improving the Health and Quality of Life of Single Mothers in the Developing World", in which the "Single Mothers Program" was created in Kenya to help single mothers suffering from problems such as incomplete schooling and economic hardship. The program provided education, training and start-up capital for the women to run their own businesses. The program was tested for effectiveness through the surveys which were completed before and after the program. The results indicated that the women were more educated in the use of contraceptives, had higher literacy rates, increased their incomes, and were more positively perceived by their communities. Overall, the results indicated that the program was effective and could be the model for similar programs in other communities.

For this article and other articles from this issue, click here.