WOMEN'S EDUCATION, EMPOWERMENT, AND CONTRACEPTIVE USE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FINDINGS FROM RECENT DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEY'S - African Population Studies, Vol. 28, No. 2s

Gender equality: while we have come along way to an equal path for both men and women, there is still much work to be done. The United Nations' new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being finalized at this very moment with much talk and recognition being on equality for women within the developing world. It is within this goal that brings attention to women having adequate access to education and tools for sexual and reproductive health; the choice to choose their family size, according to Sarah Shaw. 

Sarah Shaw is the author of the Guardian's article: "Sustainable development must prioritise women's sexual health" and states that the governments around the world are now accepting the fact that the key to achieving a world without poverty, is the rights of women and their sexual and reproductive health. Having access to adequate women's healthcare services is of great importance, as well as educating them. Most cannot deny this fact. Women are the foundation of our society, they give birth to us and they should have the same rights as men do when it comes to their health and well-being, amongst many other rights they deserve, but do not receive at this present time. 

While there is much talk - Shaw goes on to suggest - between now and September, while in discussions of the post-2015 development proposals, there is no guarantee that the references of sexual and reproductive health will remain in the original document. And so it begins, the push to continue the talk and public opinion on the importance of this crucial issue. Equality of rights has come far, lets continue the push to empower women. To not, would mean the utter breakdown of the new Sustainable Development Goals and continue the existence of deprivation and poverty throughout the Global South. 

Larsson et al. in their journal: "Women's Education, Empowerment, and Contraceptive Use in Sub-Saharan Africa: Findings From Recent Demographic and Health Surveys" echo the need for better sexual and reproductive healthcare services. 

According to Larsson et al., fertility remains higher and contraceptive levels are substantially lower in sub-Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the developing world. In their paper, the authors used information on individuals and couples from recent Demographic and Health Surveys that took place in Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, and Zambia. They used both a bivariate and multivariate method to examining the determinant of contraceptive use among married women (age 15-49), with special emphasis on women's education and empowerment. 

The results indicated that education was an important determinant of contraceptive use, but mattered less in choice of method effectiveness. The overall impact of education was similar in all countries studied, except for Kenya, where it was non-existent. Empowerment of women was less important in determining contraceptive use. 

It is suggested within the study that efforts to increase contraceptive use in general and the use of modern methods needs to be addressed. Specifically, emphasis needs to be taken on providing basic education for all women and on changing gender roles.   


For this journal and others from this issue, click here.

Ninety-five per cent of women in Hatcliffe, Zimbabwe have faced gender-based violence - African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol.18 No.1 #WHO

On November 21, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a story on the worldwide need to address violence against females, both young and old.

The African Journal of Reproductive Health, in particular, has several articles addressing physical and sexual abuse against women and girls, as well as issues on child brides and spousal abuse. A recent article in vol.18 no.1 called "Gender Based Violence and its Effects on Women’s Reproductive Health: The Case of Hatcliffe, Harare, Zimbabwe" by Mukanangana et al. explores how violence against women can affect their reproductive health. According to Mukanagana et al. in their article, gender-based violence (GBV) is caused by existing traditional power norms and ways of thinking towards women that can prove to be detrimental to a woman's health. 

WHO says that one in three women globally will experience sexual violence by partners and non-partners in their lifetime. Yet, how will GBV affect women's health? Mukanagana et al. aim to uncover this by conducting a study in Zimbabwe. Women from Hatcliffe in Harare Province in Zimbabwe, between the ages of 15 and 49 were included in the study. This is because of their reproductive age and their vulnerability at this age to GBV. Both qualitative and quantitative research was conducted with group discussions and surveys.

The results indicated that 95 per cent of women in Hatcliffe have faced physical abuse in their lifetime. 66 per cent of abused women were between the ages of 25 and 39 years old. 47 per cent of women who were physically abused were married. Results also indicated that education level was related to the vulnerability of physical abuse. 77 per cent of women who were physically abused had primary education, while 20 per cent of abused women had secondary education, and three per cent of abused women had higher education levels. The study also provides qualitative interviews and statements from participant and "Victim Friendly" officers.

Mukanagana et al. conclude that GBV is prevalent in Hatcliffe, however there is minimal reporting of these cases and victims are silenced due to economic, cultural and religious factors, as well as factors related to current policies. Counselling and education, as well as information provided to both men and women about gender-based violence could help break this culture of silence. The introduction and implementation of policies are needed in order to protect women and their reproductive health from gender-based violence.    

Patients who received analgesics intravenously were reported to have better post-operative pain management - Tanzania Journal of Health Research Vol.16 No.1

Vol.16 no.1 of the Tanzania Journal of Health Research is being featured on the blog today. 

This issue includes "Postoperative pain management outcomes among adults treated at a tertiary hospital in Moshi, Tanzania" by Masigati et al. This study examines the challenges and effects of post-operative pain when left untreated in patients at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Moshi, Tanzania from August 2011 to March 2012. Pain and satisfaction numerical rating scales were used to assess the satisfaction and post-operative pain of patients. These assessments occurred 24 hours and 48 hours after operation on 124 patients. Over 45% of patients reported to have experienced pain when resting, and 44% experienced pain during movement. Patients who received analgesics intravenously were reported to have better post-operative pain management than patients who received intramuscular analgesics.

This issue also includes "Knowledge and perception on tuberculosis transmission in Tanzania: Multinomial logistic regression analysis of secondary data" by Ismail & Josephat. Tuberculosis is an ongoing health concern in Tanzania and was declared a national public health emergency in 2006. Multinominal Logistic Regression analysis was used to measure the effect of knowledge of TB. Data from the 2007-2008 Tanzania HIV/AIDS national survey and the Malaria Indicator Survey. The results indicated that the higher the age and education, the higher knowledge of TB. The results also indicated that people in urban areas had higher TB knowledge than people in rural areas. People who owned a radio or telephone had greater knowledge than those who did not. The study concluded that socio-economic factors such as age, education and place of residence, as well as owning a telephone or radio, systematically affected knowledge of tuberculosis transmission.

For these articles and others from this issue, click here.