Health systems
Talking about health, sex and pregnancy: DFID’s approach to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights in developing countries
DFID strategy places sexual and reproductive health and rights at the heart of development
Authors:
; DFID
Publisher:
Department for International Development, UK, 2004
In this document, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) summarises its strategy for promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights and reducing maternal deaths in developing countries. Key challenges include continuing high rates of maternal mortality, with more than half a million women dying each year from complications in pregnancy and childbirth; the escalating HIV/AIDS pandemic with 2 million women a year now becoming infected with the virus and many passing it on to their children; 340 million new cases of other sexually transmitted infections each year, 100 million of which are among young people, and widespread lack of access to family planning services and contraception.
The paper emphasises that good reproductive health is essential to human development. It highlights the crucial importance of timely access to skilled care in pregnancy, labour and for newborn babies. Other strategies include provision of high quality family planning services, the elimination of unsafe abortion, and better provision of good quality information, services and supplies for treating and preventing sexually transmitted infections, with a particular focus on poor women, men and young people. The paper advocates investment in better health services, improved sex education, and increased political commitment to give women’s health higher priority.
