1. the Millennium Development goals and Reproductive Health: Lessons from the Developing World
Joseph Ocran
Department of Sociology
University of Ghana, Legon
Harriet takyi
Department of Sociology & Social Work, KNust, Kumasi
&
2012 Annual Conference of the Ghana Geographical Association and Ghana Geography Teachers’ Association 1 – 4 AUGUST, 2012

2. Outline Rationale Sexual & Reproductive Health (SRH)
Regional challenges and Innovations (Bolivia, Yemen, East & South East Asia)
Generic Afflictions of the developing world
The future of Sexual Reproductive Health

3. Rationale
MDG 5: Improve maternal health (reducing Maternal Mortality by 75% in 2015; universal access to reproductive health – the most underfunded of the health-related MDGs.)
Understanding the social complexities that aid or impede the fight for health within a programming context.
Transforming knowledge into concrete steps to address health and social issues within a reflection-action cycle.

5. Sexual & Reproductive Health
Safe Motherhood (antenatal, safe delivery, and postnatal care)
Family planning services
Prevention and treatment of unsafe abortion and post-abortion care, reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases
Information and counseling on human sexuality, sexual behaviour, parenting and sexual health

6. East and South East Asia
Challenges
Ethnic and religious minorities’ vulnerability (MMR per 100,000) – China 43, Tibet 399; Thailand 24, Satun & Pattani,(Muslim) Provinces 90 & 49 respectivelr”
Male service providers roles in family planning (Indonesia)
Religious opposition to contraception (Philippines, Indonesia)

7. East and South East Asia
Innovation
Incorporating favourable religious/cultural tenets e.g. Buddhist doctrine of self discipline in fight against HIV/AIDS
Promoting male participation through male networks in Cambodia, China, Malaysia (re- socialization)

8. Bolivia
Challenges
Persistent inequality between urban and rural areas (TFR – 3.1 and 5.5 per woman in urban and rural areas respectively)
Inadequate numbers of skilled health professionals
Cultural barriers – delivery considered private act and attended by husband only; puerperal infection rituals
Excessive ethnocentrism (looking down on the “other” culture)

9. Bolivia Innovation Communication skills development through workshops
Closer collaboration with communities – community advisory committee; traditional health service provider consultancies

10. Yemen
Challenges
1. bridging the community midwives pre-service training within the midwifery curriculum, considering their low background;
2. getting a quota of community midwives positions in the national human resources budget plan in order to meet the needs at governorate and district levels;
3 ensuring quality reproductive health services in the absence of a coherent health information system, including a human resource mapping and a monitoring and evaluation mechanism;
4 reducing the cultural barriers in using reproductive health services

11. Yemen
Innovation
Integration and articulation of the National Reproductive Health and Neonatal Strategies with the midwifery programme
Finalizing the plan for continuous professional development and the database system within a National Strategy for Health Human Resources
The initiatives to ensure provision of reproductive health services in remote areas

12. Generic Afflictions Low budget mobilization
Low levels of community participation
Disconnect between national policy/programme and state of affairs
Harmful Cultural practices (FGM, vaginal practices, )
Myths, misconceptions & attitudinal concerns
Weak human and institutional capacity

13. The future of Sexual Reproductive Health
The need to emphasize coordination and avoid overlap and redundancy
Political commitment and stability
Understanding socio-cultural and socio- economic conditions underlying high-risk sexual and reproductive health
Directing programmes at the appropriate targets (prudent spending)
Education (especially of girls/women)
Robust leadership and governance structure

14. Joseph Ocran josephocran@yahoo.com &
THANK YOU!
Joseph Ocran &
harriet takyi
2012 Annual Conference of the Ghana Geographical Association and Ghana Geography Teachers’ Association
August 2012