dim., 12 févr. 2012 21:56:41 +0000 dim., 12 févr. 2012 21:56:41 +0000 http://www.unfpa.org UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. UNFPA – because everyone counts. en-us serrano@unfpa.org (Alvaro Serrano) gruber@unfpa.org (Kimberly Gruber) http://www.unfpa.org/images/unfpalogoxs.gif 80 36 The world's largest international source of funding for population and reproductive health programmes http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/8834 This report takes stock of the progress of sexual and reproductive health initiatives of the UNFPA and World Health Organization in four countries in 2011: Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Senegal and Tajikistan. The studies also focus on how the role of the country offices of the two agencies has changed in the context of sexual and reproductive health.     http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/8825 Four reports commissioned by UNFPA offer insights into socio-cultural dynamics in Asian countries, with an emphasis on how religion influences their maternal and child health. The reports explore the main challenges that health workers are facing and provide recommendations for action. Common challenges noted include harmful traditional practices, affordability and quality of care,  and  service provider attitudes. Recommendations are aimed at increasing access to and utilization of maternal and child health services by addressing affordability, staff training, policies, information, attitudes of service providers, gender inequalities, management issues and community relations. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6423 UNFPA's Maternal Health Thematic Fund, initiated in early 2008, represent a focused effort to accelerate progress towards saving women's lives and achieving universal access to reproductive health, as outlined in Millennium Development Goal 5. This report outlines the activities, results and achievements from 2009 and looks ahead at future challenges. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6532 This publication looks at current data, trends and differentials in universal access to reproductive health, the second target of Millennium Development Goal 5 (MDG5.b). Focusing on the  three indicators within that target (adolescent fertility, contraceptive prevalence and the unmet need for family planning), the report clearly demonstrates that intensified efforts are needed to extend reproductive health to all, and that quality data are essential to monitor progress and identify priorities for action. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6598 This inter-agency report presents the global, regional, and country estimates of maternal mortality in 2008 and assesses trends in maternal mortality levels since 1990. These new estimates show that notable progress, but the annual rate of decline is less than half of what is needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal target of reducin... http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/5848 This report collects and analyses data from the 68 countries that account for at least 95 per cent of maternal and child deaths. It produces country profiles that present coverage data for a range of key health services, including: Contraceptive use. Antenatal care. Skilled attendance at delivery. Postnatal care. Child health. Financial investments in maternal, newborn and child health. Equity of access, health systems and policy. The 2010 report reviews progress over 2000–2010. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/3083 The Maternal Heath Thematic Fund Annual Report 2008 analyzes the needs of priority countries for improved delivery outcomes and outlines the strategy for moving forward. It includes summaries of needs assessments from 11 countries selected for support, including: Bénin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Madagascar, Malawi and Sudan. Both fertility and maternal mortality are very high in all of these countries. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/3085 This business plan for the Maternal Health Thematic Fund outlines its goals, guiding principles, results framework, management, governance and monitoring and evaluation processes for the period 2008-2011. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/2188 This publication contains rich research findings concerning global trends and the prevalence of female genital mutilation/cutting and its linkages with maternal and newborn health. It describes changing patterns and practices, including medicalization, and analyzes the threat FGM/C poses to the achievement of Millennium Development Goals as well as its economic and health costs. It identifies important lessons and discusses in detail case studies as well as the application of theories as a basis for accelerating the abandonment process. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/3888 These briefing cards outline why decision-makers should prioritise saving mothers’ and newborns’ lives and key investments they should make in order to achieve that goal. Designed for use by policymakers, civil society groups, and advocates, the cards explain why the world needs to invest now in maternal, newborn, and reproductive health and the strategic actions needed to improve vital health services for mothers and their newborns in the developing world. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/3073 The Emergency Obstetric Care Handbook is the revised version of the former "Guidelines for assessing the availability, use and quality of obstetric services published jointly in 1997 by UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and AMDD (the Averting Maternal Death and Disability programme of Columbia University). http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/6055 UNFPA developed the Global Programme for Reproductive Health Commodity Security to help countries plan for their own needs in this arena. The Global Programme acts as a catalyst to national action to prioritize and mainstream reproductive health commodity security into national health policies, programmes, budgets and plans. As a result, coun... http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/4127 In 2006, the European Commission, in a partnership agreement with the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), contributed nearly € 15 million to help UNFPA provide equipment and supplies for obstetric and maternal health in 17 ACP countries in conflict or post-conflict situations. The programme succeeded in reducing shortfalls and improving access to contraceptives and other reproductive health commodities, as well as building governments' capacity to plan and manage their reproductive health commodity supply systems. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/2562 Building on a legacy spanning three decades, UNFPA Country Offices in the Asia-Pacific region and their faith-based partners came together for a two-day consultation to assess the nature and impact of these partnerships in the areas of maternal health, gender equality, migration and youth welfare. This report documents the experiences and lessons learned from the varied initiatives of faith-based organizations, as well as the best practices emanating from these strategic alliances around the region. The discussions, recommendations for action and the many voices of critical faith-based actors, are all documented in this report. http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/publications/pid/4197 Over the last several years, African countries have made a tremendous effort to develop national plans to reduce maternal and newborn mortalities and morbidities, as recommended by WHO/AFRO and the African Union (Maputo Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Plan of action, 2006). As a contribution to the mid-term review of this effort, UNFPA has coordinated a review of progress in 33 countries, which indicates that efforts and technical assistance should be pursued and strengthened, in particular at the district level, and calls for the integration of national Maternal and Newborn Health plans with other national planning and budgeting processes.