Tag: Reproductive Health

featured, Reproductive Health, Women, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

Kansas Scores Victory for Abortion Rights

In the first statewide referendum after the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, Kansas voters overwhelmingly voted to protect abortion rights. Before yesterday’s primaries polls suggested an abortion ban would ultimately prevail in Republican-led Kansas. Still, even in some of the most conservative counties, “no” votes outpaced overall votes for Republican candidates. 

With a massive primary voter turnout of 800,000 the “no votes” won by over 17% with only 96% of votes counted thus far. 

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Africa, Blog, Family Planning, featured, Reproductive Health

Why sexual and reproductive law for east African countries is being resisted

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Anthony Idowu Ajayi, African Population and Health Research Center and Nicholas Okapu Etyang, African Population and Health Research Center

Six of the countries of the East African Community – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania – recently concluded public hearings on a new sexual and reproductive health bill. Proponents of the bill argue that it will improve access to sexual and reproductive health which, in turn, will improve other public health and development indicators such as maternal mortality and HIV infection rates. But the bill has faced fierce opposition since it was first tabled in 2017. The Conversation Africa’s Ina Skosana spoke to researchers Anthony Ajayi and Nicholas Etyang to unpack what the bill covers and where the sticking points are

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Blog, featured, Reproductive Health, Women, Women's Rights

Idaho Lawmakers Send Texas Copycat 6-Week Abortion Ban to Governor’s Desk

Women, pregnant people, and reproductive rights activists are reeling about the nation’s latest blow to abortion rights. Yesterday, Idaho became the first state to pass a copycat abortion ban that successfully became law in Texas last year. Now, the Idaho bill is on its way to the desk of Idaho governor, Brad Little, to officially become law.

Anti-abortion activists have seen several state legislative and court ruling successes for their cause of late. And this summer there are real concerns that the Supreme Court may effectively reverse Roe v. Wade as more states, upwards of 26, seek to also ban abortion and allow costly litigation against abortion providers. 21 states already have trigger bans meaning that if the Supreme Court reverses Roe v. Wade, abortion bans will automatically be in effect. States are starting to fall into place like dominoes in abortion bans. Kentucky Republicans advanced a copycat Mississippi abortion ban on abortions after 15 weeks and Florida also passed abortion bans after 15 weeks. The Idaho and Texas abortion bans are more punitive at six weeks. Since the bill passed in Texas, abortions dropped 60 percent.

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Blog, Reproductive Health, South America, Women, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

Venezuela’s Health Systems are crumbling – and Harming Women in Particular

Health workers and patients protesting at the Hospital Dr. Jose Maria Vargas in Caracas, Venezuela. EPA/Edwinge Montilva

Pia Riggirozzi, University of Southampton

Venezuela sits on the world’s biggest oil reserves, but in terms of GDP growth per capita, it’s now South America’s poorest economy. It is mired the worst economic crisis in its history, with an inflation rate in the region of 500%, a volatile exchange rate, and crippling debts that have increased fivefold since 2006.

The economic crisis is inflaming a longstanding “economic war” between the government and the business sector – and a dangerous cycle of protest and repression is further polarising Venezuela’s already divided society.

In this scenario, violence of all sorts is approaching what could be a point of no return. The very ability of democracy to combine forces of transformation and resistance is at stake.

Continue reading “Venezuela’s Health Systems are crumbling – and Harming Women in Particular”

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Africa, Blog, featured, Products With a Purpose, Reproductive Health, Sustainability, United States, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

8 Simple Ways to Provide Free Menstrual Products to Girls and Women in Need (Updated)

Every 28 days, millions of girls and women in developing countries miss school or work – up to 50 days per year – because they lack access to affordable menstrual products. And, it’s not just a problem in poor countries. Right here in the United States, women and girls who lack means often need both menstrual health education and reusable menstrual products.

The eight companies and organizations provide menstrual products in the United States and in Africa. Here are ways you can help them on their missions to provide women and girls with products that simply make their lives easier.

Continue reading “8 Simple Ways to Provide Free Menstrual Products to Girls and Women in Need (Updated)”

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Blog, Maternal Health, newborn health, newborns, Poverty, Reproductive Health, Sustainability, Sustainable Development Goals, Women, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

Midwives and The Right of Women to Give Birth the Way They Want

Image 20170210 8651 ier8xz

Lydia Mwanzia, Moi University

Giving birth is a significant life event that should aim for a healthy baby and mother. There are growing calls for women to give birth in their preferred birth positions. But this requires midwives to be trained in a way that enables them to respect the choices that women make. The Conversation Africa’s health editor Joy Wanja Muraya asked Lydia Mwanzia to explain why women have the right to make choices, and the important role played by midwives.

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Blog, Reproductive Health, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

Seeking Stories on Reproductive Health

World Pulse, a social network connecting women who work for change, is currently looking for stories on reproductive health and choices. World Pulse’s story prompt:  How do the laws in your country affect your reproductive health and choices? What are the most important victories, setbacks, and pressing issues you face? Do you have a story about legislation that affects you personally or someone you know? Or … Continue reading Seeking Stories on Reproductive Health

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#MaternalHealthChat, Africa, Blog, Breastfeeding, featured, Maternal Health, maternal mortality, midwives, newborn health, newborns, Preterm Birth, Reproductive Health, Unites States, Updates, Women, Women and Girls

Announcing #MaternalHealthChat Starting November 8 With Jacaranda Health

We are very pleased and excited to announce our new weekly chats all about maternal health with some of the leading maternal health experts, researchers, practitioners, and organizations in the world under the #maternalhealthchat hashtag. Starting on Tuesday, November 8 at 1 PM EST with Jacaranda Health we will host 30-minute chats each week all about maternal and reproductive health as well as the health of newborns. We will dig … Continue reading Announcing #MaternalHealthChat Starting November 8 With Jacaranda Health

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Africa, Blog, Clean Water and Sanitation, Reproductive Health, Women and Girls, Women's Rights

Featured Video: Periods Change Lives

Once girls get their period in low- and middle-income countries where resources are low, their lives change — sometimes irreparably.

When girls get their periods they oftentimes have to drop out of school and work around their home instead. And on top of that, many cannot afford sanitary napkins.

Irise International, an East African organization, is fighting the stigma of menstruation and providing easy, affordable solutions for girls when they get their periods.

See their work in their video: Periods Change Lives

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Africa, Blog, Family Planning

10 Top Tweets from the Family Planning Conference: Day 2

Choosing ten top tweets from day two of the International Conference on Family Planning wasn’t easy.  Thousands of experts, researchers, those representing NGOs, and stakeholders are in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this week at the largest conference on family planning and reproductive health. Below are ten tweets we feel are informative and provide fantastic discussion points about the issues and solutions for family planning access and … Continue reading 10 Top Tweets from the Family Planning Conference: Day 2

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Africa, Blog, Family Planning

[Photos] Family Planning Kits from Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa

I have been fortunate to visit health posts and family planning clinics in a handful of countries. One of the things I always ask to see while visiting are family planning kits used for educational purposes for clients. Some of the kits have been fancy, others have been fairly rudimentary, but they all serve the same purpose: educating women about their options to space or … Continue reading [Photos] Family Planning Kits from Ethiopia, Zambia, South Africa

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Africa, Blog, Family Planning, Women and Girls

10 Top Tweets from the #FamilyPlanning Conference: Day 1

Today was the first day of the International Conference on Family Planning in Addis Ababa. With thousands of participants at the conference there was a flurry of tweets throughout the day. Here are ten tweets we identified as extremely informative. You can also follow the conversation at a host of hashtags: #FP2020,  #FullAccess, #FamilyPlanning, and #ICFP2013. Related articles Top 12 Twitter Handles to Follow During This Week’s #FamilyPlanning … Continue reading 10 Top Tweets from the #FamilyPlanning Conference: Day 1

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Africa, Blog, Family Planning, Women and Girls

Top 12 Twitter Handles to Follow During This Week’s #FamilyPlanning Conference #ICFP2013

This week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 4000 experts, researchers, journalists, and stakeholders are embarking upon a robust conversation about family planning and how critical it is for 222 million women in the developing world that lack access to family planning services, commodities, and education. We have identified 12 top Twitter handles to follow during the International Conference on Family Planning from November 12 – 15 … Continue reading Top 12 Twitter Handles to Follow During This Week’s #FamilyPlanning Conference #ICFP2013

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Africa, Asia, Blog, South America, Updates, Women and Girls

Our Newest Partner: Marie Stopes

We are happy to announce that we have partnered with Marie Stopes, one of the leading global organizations that works for reproductive healthcare for all. Marie Stopes International (MSI) is an international non-profit organization that provides quality family planning and reproductive healthcare to the poorest and most vulnerable individuals across 42 countries. Their mission is to provide individuals with a choice: the choice of when … Continue reading Our Newest Partner: Marie Stopes

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Africa, Asia, Blog, Women and Girls

Key Tweets from Investing in Women’s Reproductive Health Session #WD2013

(Above) Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO , Global Fund for Women Storify by Social Good Moms Mon, May 27 2013 19:42:41 Key Tweets from Investing in Women’s Reproductive Health Session On the first day of the Women Deliver 2013 conference, here are key tweets we read during the plenary session: Investing in Women’s Reproductive Health Equals Investing in Economic and Social Progress for Everyone WatSanCollabCouncil@WatSanCollabCou … Continue reading Key Tweets from Investing in Women’s Reproductive Health Session #WD2013

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