Reproductive health programmes provide people with the information and services they need to protect their health and the health of their families. But in many developing countries such services are severely limited, and the consequences are tragic. Over 52 million women in Africa, Asia and Latin America deliver their babies each year without a nurse, midwife or doctor present. Some 514,000 women die during or after pregnancy because they did not receive prompt treatment, and at least 7 million women suffer infection or injury. More than 330 million people acquire a sexually transmitted disease each year. Over 350 million women do not have access to a range of safe and effective contraceptive methods. Up to half of the nearly 175 million pregnancies each year are unwanted or ill-timed. Half of all new HIV infections occur in young people under age 25.

EVERY MINUTE

• 380 women become pregnant: half of them did not plan or wish the pregnancy;
  
  

• 110 women experience a pregnancy-related complication;
  
  

• 100 women have an abortion, of which 40 are unsafe;
  
  

• 11 people are newly infected with HIV/AIDS;
  
  

• 1 woman dies from a pregnancy-related cause.

The United Nations Population Fund works around the world to provide reproductive health services so people can stay healthy and plan their families and futures. Such care includes family planning, care during pregnancy and birth, counselling and prevention of infertility, prevention and treatment of reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), and dealing with the health consequences of unsafe abortion. In many countries, our programmes focus on meeting the needs of young people and hard to reach and marginalized populations who are not targeted by other projects.

ADOLESCENT REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

There are over 1 billion youth aged 15 to 24, and they need information and services to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. UNFPA works with partners to develop effective, youth-friendly, gender-sensitive services and programmes for young people. Because adolescent reproductive and sexual health is a taboo topic in many cultures, the support of parents, teachers, local leaders and health service providers is essential. But our most important partners are young people themselves. Their involvement in project planning, implementation and evaluation is critical to success.