Women's reproductive rights are a big deal. Everyone agrees that having access to sexual and reproductive healthcare is a basic human right. But, focusing only on how many women use modern contraception is like looking at a puzzle with only a few pieces. It doesn't show the whole picture. There's a new way of thinking about this. Researchers in northwest Tanzania ha...
In Kenya, nearly half of the population is under 25. This age group is particularly vulnerable to unintended pregnancies. Young women in this group often struggle with consistent contraceptive use and sometimes engage in risky sexual behaviors. Why does this matter? Because it can lead to unwanted pregnancies and possibly unsafe abortion. However, the link betwe...
Let's dive into a topic that often stays hush-hush: birth control pills among married rural Indian women. You might expect a lack of knowledge, but hold onto your hats! It turns out, these women are more informed than many would guess. A closer look was taken at women living in the rural areas of Mahesana District, Gujarat, India. Surprisingly, on average, these wome...
Imagine going to the doctor for advice on birth control. What if the doctor pushed you into alternative remedies against your wishes? When a healthcare provider gives pressure either applying or shying away from contraception usage, that's called contraceptive coercion. In 2023, isn't it astounding to see that force pushed by healthcare workers impact how a...
A recent study has sparked interest in a potential new method for pregnancy termination. The drug in question, ulipristal acetate, is better known as the active ingredient in the contraceptive morning-after pill Ella. Unlike mifepristone, which has been a focal point for legal battles, ulipristal acetate might offer a fresh alternative. The study, published in NEJM ...
Religion is often seen as a big factor in whether young women use contraception or not. But what do young women in Burkina Faso, Kenya, and Niger really think? Between August and November 2022, researchers talked to married and unmarried young women, ages 18-24, who use modern contraception and practice either Christianity or Islam. In each of these countries, many y...
Street women in Ethiopia face immense challenges, including limited access to healthcare. These women, who earn their living on the streets by begging or sleeping rough, are often overlooked and marginalized. This study delved into how these women use modern contraceptives and what factors influence their choices. One of the key findings was that street women have l...
In Pakistan, family planning services can do wonders for women's health and society's well-being. These services can lower the risks of maternal and infant deaths by reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The government has been working hard to promote these services among the people. But how effective are these programs? It all boils down to how much women kno...
Scientists in Jammu, India, recently looked into how different contraceptive methods affect the microbes living in the vagina and the risk of reproductive tract infections (RTIs) in married women. They studied 796 women of reproductive age, asking about their contraceptive choices and history of RTIs. The team found that over half (53. 1%) used some form of contracep...
Using contraception is a smart way to prevent unexpected pregnancies. But did you know that women who were born in other countries and now live in the US are less likely to use it compared to women born here? This study wanted to figure out why that is. They looked at data from a big survey done in 2017-2019. They focused on 708 foreign-born women who were between 15...