FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION Long-term complications • urinary problems (painful urination, urinary tract infections); • vaginal problems (discharge, itching, bacterial vaginosis and other infections • menstrual problems (painful menstruations, difficulty in passing menstrual blood, etc.) • scar tissue and keloid • sexual problems (pain during intercourse, decreased satisfaction, etc.) increased risk of childbirth complications (difficult delivery,...

Female Genital Mutilation Immediate complications • severe pain • excessive bleeding (haemorrhage) • genital tissue swelling • fever • infections e.g., tetanus • urinary problems • wound healing problems • injury to surrounding genital tissue • shock • death

Female Genital Mutilation Key facts • Female genital mutilation (FGM) involves the partial or total removal of external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. • The practice has no health benefits for girls and women. • FGM can cause severe bleeding and problems urinating, and later cysts, infections,...

The Health of Adolescents Adolescence is the phase of life between childhood and adulthood, from ages 10 to 19. It is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health. Adolescents experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth. This affects how they feel, think, make decisions, and...

    Sexual health Sexual health is fundamental to the overall health and well-being of individuals, couples and families, and to the social and economic development of communities and countries. Sexual health, when viewed affirmatively, requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and...

Factors that contribute to adolescent pregnancies  Adolescent pregnancies are a global problem occurring in high-middle-and low-income countries  Around the world, however, adolescent pregnancies are more likely to occur in marginalized communities.  It is commonly driven by poverty and lack of education and employment opportunities  In many societies, girls are under pressure...

    Providing solutions for pre-term pregnancy issues More than three quarters of premature babies can be saved with feasible, cost-effective care, such as essential care during childbirth and in the postnatal period for every mother and baby. There must be provision of antenatal steroid injections (given to pregnant women at risk of preterm labour...

Preterm and child survival Preterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. There are sub-categories of preterm birth, based on gestational age: • extremely preterm (less than 28 weeks) • very preterm (28 to 32 weeks) • moderate to late preterm (32 to 37 weeks). Induction or caesarean birth...

The issue of sexual and reproductive human rights (SRHR) transverses race. The taboo of discussing a sexually transmitted disease is a global issue and the stigma it brings with it affects those diagnosed universally. “Will I get HIV from kissing” still remains one of the top google searches – exemplifying worldwide misconceptions regarding the disease. ...

HIV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI), hence the general consensus is that sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) can be a panacea to achieving zero incidence of HIV cases. To a certain degree, it is a compelling notion, but ending HIV takes more than just SRHR. Interestingly though, the HIV crisis seems to have stimulated...