Gender Studies

Breaking stereotypes about going to clinics: Towards a pro-male health system Written by Malefetsane Soai

Men’s attitude towards healthcare systems seem to be similar worldwide–they shun going to medical check-ups for a variety of reasons, even if their lives are in grave danger.(2) The greatest challenge for health policymakers with respect to men, is thereforeto encourage more men to go to medical check-ups in order to stem some of the diseases that are specifically claiming the lives of men, such as prostate cancer.

This paper seeks to unearth the factors that inhibit men from developing health-seeking behaviours and exploresthe best ways in which a men-specific healthcare system and services can be developed to cater for men...[more]

Malefetsane Soai works for Consultancy Africa Intelligence’s Public Health Unit.

 

“Stop Making Excuses” : Accountability for Maternal Health Care in South Africa

How Universal is Access to Reproductive Health: A Review of the Evidence

This new report by UNFPA analyses three often overlooked indicators of reproductive health: the adolescent birth rate, the contraceptive prevalence rate, and the unmet need for family planning.The report clearly demonstrates that intensified efforts are needed to extend reproductive health to all, and that quality data are essential to monitor progress and identify priorities for action. Available in English. \

From UN Pulse: Permanent Link: UNFPA:How Universal is Access to Reproductive Health:A Review of the Evidence

Estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank

 

Overview

Millennium development goal (MDG) 5 Target 5A calls for the reduction of maternal mortality ratio (MMR) by three quarters between 1990 and 2015. It has been a challenge to assess the extent of progress due to the lack of reliable and accurate maternal mortality data – particularly in developing-country settings where maternal mortality is high. As part on going efforts, the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank revised and improved earlier methods to estimate maternal mortality in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2008; and developed methodology to present trends in maternal mortality from 1990 to 2008 at country, regional, and global levels.

This report highlights the following.

• Ten out of 87 countries with maternal mortality ratios over 100 in 1990, are on track with an annual decline of 5.5% between 1990 and 2008. At the other extreme, 30 made insufficient or no progress since 1990.

   

• The study shows progress in sub-Saharan Africa where maternal mortality decreased by 26%.

   

• In Asia, the number of maternal deaths is estimated to have dropped from 315 000 to 139 000 between 1990 and 2008, a 52% decrease.

   

• 99% of all maternal deaths in 2008 occurred in developing regions, with sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for 57% and 30% of all deaths respectively.

Download report
[pdf 2.31MB]

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Methods

Technical report [pdf 2.31Mb]

Files and programmes [zip 3.31Mb]
Data and programmes (R and STATA) used for computing the maternal mortality estimates

 

http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241563567_eng.pdf

"This literature review examines the link between mental health and women’s reproductive health. It explores the key issues affecting women throughout the life cycle and provides an evidence base that highlights the effects of these development processes on women.

The authors note that this review focuses specifically on women due to the lack of available data on the issues pertaining to the reproductive health of men. They also argue that studies of this nature are needed because reproductive health issues have the tendency to have a greater impact on the lives of women due to changes that are physical, emotional, social and economic in nature."

The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new report on Women Health: Women and health: today's evidence tomorrow's agenda highlights both women’s health needs and their contribution to the health of societies.

UN Pulse Permanent Link: Women and health 

BBC women's health
BBC Women's Health is part of the Lifestyle section of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) website. The site provides general information on common aspects of women's health, and is divided into six categories: Your Body, Your Mind, Health Issues, Wellbeing, Reproductive Health and Sexual Health. Topics covered include puberty, the menopause, breast awareness and eating disorders. All articles are reviewed by a qualified doctor.

BBC Women's Health also provides useful links to related news articles, radio and television programmes on the BBC website, as well as links to relevant external sites such as NHS Direct. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/womens_health/

The gender and access to health services study : final report
The Department of Health commissioned the Men’s Health Forum to undertake this study into the different ways women and men access health services with a view to providing an evidence base to help determine key gender health priorities for health service. This, the final report, considers the evidence, looking at some of the main areas of health service work - cardiovascular disease, obesity, mental health and cancer - and making recommendations for policies and further research.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolic

Permalink Docuticker

Transgender Health
This document answers questions about health concerns faced by transgender college students. Some of the topics discussed include depression and anxiety, transitioning to the opposite gender, female-to-male (FTM) health topics (such as that "[i]t is still possible to become pregnant while on testosterone, although infertility occurs after continued use"), and male-to-female (MTF) concerns (such as silicone and oil injections). From Brown University Health Services. Annotation copyright LII.ORG
URL: http://www.brown.edu/Student_Services/Health_Services/Health_Education...
LII Item: http://lii.org/cs/lii/view/item/25868

A new report, Countdown to 2015: Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival, finds that treatment for potentially fatal illnesses and other vital health services largely fail to reach women and children in need, despite some progress (full text, pdf, 4 MB). The report, a collaborative effort of United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, universities, and other institutions and individuals, tracks progress towards Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, to reduce child and maternal mortality respectively. UN Pulse   Permanent Link: Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival

 

Changing the Face of Medicine
Changing the face of medicine is an online exhibition created by the National Library of Medicine, U.S.A. It portrays the many ways women "have influenced and enhanced the practice of medicine." The exhibition provides biographical information and features women physicians. Intute.ac.uk
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/changingthefaceofmedicine/

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a report WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women. This report presents initial results based on interviews with 24 000 women. The report concludes with 15 recommendations to strengthen national commitment and action on violence against women. You may download the summary in English, French and Spanish. Permanent Link: Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women UN Pulse

Women Wading Through The Web: A Health Toolkit is an online resource to help women navigate the maze of health information on the Internet. From The New Women's College Hospital, Ontario, Canada

Peter Scott's Library blog