Poor women in remote areas are the least likely to receive adequate health care. This is especially true for regions with low numbers of skilled health workers, such as sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The main factors that prevent women from receiving or seeking care during pregnancy and childbirth are: poverty distance to facilities lack...
The Women, Media and Change (WOMEC), a non-governmental organization has organised a forum to sensitise adolescent girls living in Kpone, a suburb in Tema as part of its efforts to mark the 16 Days of activism against gender-based violence, last week. It was on the theme ‘16 days of activism against gender-based violence: implications for...
From the beginning of time, women have been child bearers. Their role is central in society. They are caretakers, conscience, farmers, educators, and entrepreneurs. As I sat to write this piece, a colleague naively suggested, “this article will only make an impact if it is published on International Women’s Day and in an election year”....
Early pregnancies among adolescents have major health consequences for adolescent mothers and their babies Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the leading cause of death among girls aged 15–19 years globally Low- and middle-income countries account for 99% of global maternal deaths of women aged 15–49 years Adolescent mothers aged 10–19 years face higher risks of...
The exceptional measures governments and health authorities used during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as lockdowns, quarantine or reorganizing health services, directly affected the full realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights. This was particularly the case for women and girls. These impacts are felt at many levels and require a major rethinking of international health...
Worldwide, complex conflicts and humanitarian crises continue to ravage communities and hinder the overall well-being and prosperity of societies. Women are often the most impacted by these crises, bearing the brunt of conflict and paying a higher price of the devastation – from increased gender discrimination and violence, to the waning of gender-sensitive structures and...
At least 10 million unintended pregnancies occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years in the developing world. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for 15–19-year-old girls globally. Of the estimated 5.6 million abortions that occur each year among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years 9 million are unsafe, contributing...
