an Eldis Resource
Mental health aspects of women’s reproductive health: a global review of the literature
Linking women’s mental and reproductive health
Authors:
S. Allanson; J. Astbury; M. Bandyopadhyay; United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society, School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
Publisher:
World Health Organization , 2009
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.
While the review is not exhaustive, it includes data from high- and low-income countries and the data provided is of relevance to practitioners and academics addressing issues related to gender, human rights and sexual and reproductive health.
This multi-agency body of work addresses the following:
- Key issues such as reproductive health from an international health perspective
- Reproductive health within the context of gender and human rights
- Issues related to pregnancy child birth and the post partum period
- The psychosocial aspects of fertility regulation
- Spontaneous pregnancy loss
- Menopause
- Gynaecological conditions
- Women’s health in the context of HIV and AIDS
- Infertility and assisted reproduction
- Female genital mutilation
There are disparities related to access and utilisation of health services and as a result the overall health of women based on socio-economic factors. Furthermore, while efforts have been made to address the factors that contribute to the differences in reproductive health status and outcomes, there is a lack of emphasis particularly in developing countries on the mental health effects of reproductive health issues. Despite the available evidence that highlights the direct link between changes in mental health and reproductive ill health.
The authors conclude by reiterating the need for further study on women’s reproductive health in a variety of contexts ranging from poor health to sexual based violence. It is against this back drop that they highlight the need to address reproductive health issues and their impact on the mental health of women.
