Interregional
Programmes
Reproductive health
Population and
development strategies
Advocacy
...............................................
Africa
Arab States
Central and Eastern Europe
Asia and the Pacific
Latin America and the
Caribbean
|
Reproductive health
The activities supported by UNFPA in the area of reproductive health are geared
towards, inter alia, researching new methods of safe and effective contraception,
developing tools for diagnosis of STDs, expanding the availability of contraceptives, and
providing information to technical and managerial personnel involved in reproductive
health services. During 1997, the Fund also supported research and related activities in
an area that it considers to be of the highest priority –– adolescent
reproductive health.
A common agenda and framework to facilitate activities in the promotion of policies and
programmes for reproductive health services for adolescents have been developed by a
combined WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF technical group on programming for adolescent health. Parallel
to this effort was the initiation of the groundwork for trials and a feasibility study of
integrated approaches for systematic programming to improve adolescent reproductive
health, which will involve the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Uganda.
UNFPA supported research projects with WHO and The Population Council on a number of
fertility-regulating methods. At The Population Council, research continued on several
methods of contraception, including contraceptive rings, subdermal implants for women, the
transdermal system for women, spermicides and microbicides. As part of the WHO Special
Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP),
which UNFPA co-sponsors with UNDP and the World Bank, acceptability studies were conducted
on the female condom in several countries and data were collected for a multi-centre study
on the use and acceptability of the calendar method of fertility regulation. Research on
additional fertility-regulating uses of antiprogestogens continued. Research on new
injectables for women were conducted, as were activities related to male contraception,
such as hormonal methods of inhibiting sperm production and the use of plant-derived
products. Male contraceptive methods under investigation also included subdermal implants,
the transdermal system, and an immunocontraceptive. Research work continued on methods of
emergency contraception. In the field of STD prevention and diagnosis, HRP is
collaborating with UNAIDS and a number of NGOs and other agencies in studies on the
acceptability and STD-preventing capability of new barrier methods, vaginal microbicides
and a vaccine against chlamydial genital tract infection. The Programme for Appropriate
Technology in Health (PATH) conducted studies and field trials of one-step tests for
accurate diagnosis of syphilis and gonorrhoea.
As part of the effort to strengthen reproductive health programmes, a project with WHO is
in the process of producing several guidelines, including on the prevention, early
diagnosis and management of cervical cancer; on the prevention and care of STDs, including
HIV/AIDS, in reproductive health services; and on improving access to quality care in
family planning. The main effort in facilitating the availability of contraceptives to
countries is the Global Initiative on Contraceptive Requirements and Logistics Management
Needs in Developing Countries, which is detailed on page 24 of this annual report.
UNFPA continued its support for activities at the intercountry level for South-South
cooperation in the area of reproductive health. Centres for South-South cooperation have
been established in Indonesia, Mexico, Thailand and Tunisia on the basis of the success of
these countries in implementing national programmes related to reproductive health and
their experience in sharing such success with other developing countries. During the last
year, UNFPA-funded projects in each of these centres facilitated the training of programme
managers and service providers from other developing countries. In April 1997,
representatives of the four centres met at UNFPA headquarters to share experiences and to
discuss the institutional and financial sustainability of the centres. Their examination
found, among other things, that the activities of the centres reflect careful planning and
a strong commitment to sharing lessons learned.
During 1997, the intergovernmental initiative "Partners in Population and
Development", launched at the ICPD by 10 countries (Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt,
Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia and Zimbabwe), strengthened its field
activities. At its 1997 Board meeting, the Partners accepted China and Pakistan as new
members and adopted a strategic framework, an operational plan and a communication
strategy. The Partners’ Secretariat, located in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was consolidated
as a central point for networking and for identifying South-South opportunities in the
field of reproductive health. The Secretariat promoted the formulation of initiatives in
east and west Africa, Colombia, Indonesia and Mexico.
|
Page 23 of
25