African Journal of Reproductive Health 

About: African Journal of Reproductive Health is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Population & Reproductive health. It has an ISSN identifier of 1118-4841. Over the lifetime, 1426 publications have been published receiving 25451 citations.

Birth preparedness, complication readiness and fathers' participation in maternity care in a northern Nigerian community.

Abstract: The role of men in maternity care in Africa is understudied, despite their economic dominance and decision making power. In a patriarchal society like northern Nigeria, pregnancy and childbirth are often regarded as exclusively women’s affairs. Using data from interviewer administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews; we assessed birth preparedness, complication readiness and male participation in maternity care in Ungogo, a northern Nigerian community. Majority of pregnancies were unplanned (96%). Only 32.1% of men ever accompanied their spouses for maternity care. There was very little preparation for skilled assistance during delivery (6.2%), savings for emergencies (19.5%) or transportation during labour (24.2%). Young paternal age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2-2.6), formal education (AOR=1.9, 95%CI=1.1-3.4) and non-Hausa Fulani ethnicity (AOR=2.3, 95%CI=1.4-3.3) were independent predictors of male participation in maternity care. There is a need to increase involvement of men in their partner’s maternity care through peer-led, culturally-sensitive community education and appropriate health system reforms (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[1]:21-32).

Early Marriage in Africa – Trends, Harmful Effects and Interventions

Abstract: This article explores the pattern of early marriage in Africa. It focuses on the sub-Saharan region as an area with the highest rates of early marriage in the world. The harmful effects of early marriage are explored in terms of impact on the health, education and economic well-being of young girls. The paper outlines a framework for analyzing global, regional and local initiatives to curb early marriage and examines the application of these interventions in sub-Saharan countries. Regional patterns are then examined and countries which have made progress in reducing age of marriage are compared to countries in which age of marriage amongst girls has reminded low. The paper concludes on the note that countries with the highest rates of early marriage are also the countries with the highest rates of poverty and highest population growth rates. The paper argues for a sub-regional strategy to address the problem of early marriage in the zone with the highest incidence.

Sexual Behavior, Knowledge and Information Sources of Very Young Adolescents In Four Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract: Adolescents are a key target group for HIV and pregnancy prevention efforts, yet very little is known about the youngest adolescents: those under age 15. New survey data from 12-14 year olds in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda are used to describe their sexual activity, knowledge about HIV, STIs and pregnancy prevention, and sources of sexual and reproductive health information, including sex education in schools. Results show that very young adolescents are already beginning to be sexually active and many believe their close friends are sexually active. They have high levels of awareness but little in-depth knowledge about pregnancy and HIV prevention. Multiple information sources are used and preferred by very young adolescents. Given their needs for HIV, STI and pregnancy prevention information that is specific and practical and considering that the large majority are attending school in most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, school-based sex education is a particularly promising avenue for reaching adolescents under age 15. (Afr J Reprod Health 2007; 11[3]:28-43). RESUME

An empirical investigation of attitudes towards wife-beating among men and women in seven sub-Saharan African countries

Abstract: This study used data from the demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted between 1999 and 2001 in Benin, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe, to examine the magnitude and correlates of conditional acceptance of wife-beating among both men and women Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to investigate the independent association between different socio-demographic characteristics and acceptance of wife-beating The acceptance of wife-beating for transgressing certain gender roles was widespread in all the countries Men were consistently less likely to justify wife-beating than women Household wealth and education emerged as strongest and most consistent negative predictors of acceptance of wife-beating among both men and women Older men and women were less likely to justify wife-beating Men and women in the polygamous union were more likely to accept wife-beating, though the association was not always significant With the exception of Uganda, women working for pay were more likely to justify wife-beating than non-working women were The results indicate that dominant social and cultural norms create images of \"ideal\" women among both men and women that include definition and widespread acceptance of gender roles as well as sanction use of force to enforce these gender roles The State and its different institutions may fail to mitigate wife-beating, as sensitivity to objectively address wife-beating may be tellingly lacking Though education, economic growth, etc, can reduce acceptance of wife- eating, the process may be too slow and too late to make a substantial difference in the near future Proactive measures may be required to change attitudes towards wife-beating among both men and women Key words :Wife-beating, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, Zimbabwe, sub-Saharan Africa, attitudes, conceptual framework Resume Etude empirique des attitudes envers la violence faite a la femme chez les hommes et les femmes dans sept pays africains sub-sahariens Cette etude se sert des donnees tirees des enquetes demographique et de sante (EDS) menees entre 1999 et 2001 a Benin City, en Ethiopie, au Malawi, au Rwanda, en Ouganda et au Zimbabwe afin d\'examiner l\'ampleur et les correlats de l\'acceptation de violence contre la femme aussi bien parmi les hommes que parmi les femmes Des modeles de la regression logistique multifactoriels ont ete etablis pour verifier l\'association independante entre les caracteristiques demographiques differentes et l\'acceptation de la violence contre la femme L\'acceptation de la violence contre la femme pour avoir transgresse certains roles bases sur les roles de genre etait bien repandue dans les pays Les hommes avaient regulierement moins la possibilite de justifier l\'agression contre la femme que les femmes La richesse domestique et l\'education comptaient parmi les indices negatifs les plus reguliers de l\'acceptation de la violence chez les hommes et les femmes Les hommes et les femmes plus âges ont plus la possibilite de justifier la violence contre la femme Les hommes et les femmes dans l\'union polygame avaient plus la possibilite d\'accepter la violence domestique contre la femme, quoique l\'association n\'ait pas toujours ete remarquable A part l\'Ouganda, Les femmes qui travaillent pour etre payees avaient plus la possibilite de justifier la violence contre la femme que celles qui ne travaillent pas Les resultats ont montre que les normes sociales et culturelles dominantes creent les images des femmes « ideales » chez les hommes et les femmes qui comprennent la definition et l\'acceptation tres repandue des roles des femmes et des hommes aussi bien que l\'emploi sanctionne de la force pour faire respecter ces roles L\'Etat et ses diverses institutions manqueront peut-etre de reduire la violence contre la femme comme il manquera vraiment la sensibilite d\'aborder de maniere objective le probleme de la violence contre la femme A travers l\'education, la croissance economique, l\'on peut reduire l\'incidence de la violence domestique contre la femme Le proces sera peut-etre lent et trop tard pour faire une difference remarquable dans l\'avenir Il faudra peut-etre des dispositifs positifs pour changer des attitudes envers la violence domestique contre la femme chez les hommes et les femmes African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol 8 (3) 2004: 116-136

Adolescents\' views of and preferences for sexual and reproductive health services in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda

Abstract: Adolescents\' views of and preferences for sexual and reproductive health services highlight promising directions and persistent challenges in preventing pregnancy and HIV and treating sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) in this population. Results from nationally-representative surveys of 12-19 year-olds in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda in 2004 show that contraceptive and STI services and HIV testing are still under-utilized. A substantial proportion of sexually-active adolescents do not know of any source to obtain contraception or get STI treatment, and social-psychological reasons (e.g., embarrassment or fear) and financial cost remain common barriers to getting services. Adolescents\' preferences are overwhelmingly for public clinics, with strongly positive perceptions of confidentiality, accessibility and cost. Some gender and country differences exist, yet overall females and males\' views are similar. Results highlight the need to inform youth about sources, increase availability of government health facilities and improve youth\'s access to them, especially by reducing social barriers. Opinions des adolescents sur, et leurs preferences pour, les services de la sante sexuelle et de reproduction au Burkina-Faso, au Ghana, au Malawi et en Ouganda. Les opinions des adolescents sur, et leurs preferences pour, les services de la sante sexuelle et de reproduction mettent l\'accent sur les directions prometteuses et sur les defis persistants dans la prevention de la grossesse et du VIH et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST) dans cette population. Les resultats obtenus des enquetes a representation nationale des adolescents âges de 12 19 ans au Burkina-Faso, au Ghana, au Malawi et en Ouganda en 2004 montrent que les services des contraceptifs et des IST et le test de depistage sont encore sous-utilises. Une grande proportion des adolescents qui sont sexuellement actifs ne connaissent pas les sources pour obtenir la contraception ou le traitement pour les IST; ensuite, des raisons socio-psychologiques (l\'embarras et la peur) et le cout financier demeurent des obstacles a l\'obtention des services. Les preferences des adolescents sont largement pour des cliniques publiques avec leur fortes perceptions positives de la confidentialite, de l\'accessibilite et du cout. Il existe aussi certaines differences au niveau des genres et des pays, pourtant, en general, les opinions des mâles et des femelles sont similaires. Les resultats mettent l\'accent sur la necessite de renseigner la jeunesse sur les sources, d\'augmenter la disponibilite des etablissements de sante et d\'ameliorer l\'acces de la jeunesse a ces etablissements, surtout par la reduction des obstacles sociaux. Keywords : Africa, Adolescent, Health Services African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 11 (3) 2007: pp. 99-100