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  • Title: Reproductive health care among women in Africa: currents trends and the future.
    Author: Mtimavalye Lar.
    Journal: J Obstet Gynaecol East Cent Africa; 1982 Jun; 1(2):48-53. PubMed ID: 12313666.
    Abstract:
    This paper concludes that reproductive health and health care in African countries must be improved in view of the prevalence of high rates of maternal and perinatal mortality. There is also need for more accurate figures, and better documentation of morbidity affecting the reproductive health of women. Maternal morbidity and perinatal mortality here are largely attributable to preventable factors, and therefore, maternal-child health services must be expanded. While the incidence of involuntary abortions reflects poor antenatal care, voluntary abortions are part of a growing problem of adolescent pregnancy and unwanted pregnancy. There is a lack of knowledge of and access to contraceptive usage, especially among young, unmarried women, demonstrating an unmet need for family planning services. The problem of sexually transmitted diseases has the possible consequence of increased infertility. In order to be successful, efforts to reduce the grim figures of maternal and perinatal mortality must be directed at the large sections of the population who live in rural areas, following studies to determine their specific problems. The target populations must be included in decisions affecting their health and health care. Governments must initiate services, provided by trained personnel, designed to ensure their proper and fuller utilization. All levels of service providers must become involved in research and training activities aimed at improving the health status of mothers and infants. The focus of higher institutions of learning and research must be on problems unique to the African situation and ethnic groups, realizing that methods imported from elsewhere may not be appropriate to African populations. Knowledge thus derived needs to be widely disseminated. In view of limited resources, the possibility of shared expenses needs to be explored. Lessons from Western experiences at reducing maternal and perinatal mortality must be incorporated in the African efforts to upgrade services.
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