Reproductive Health in the Middle East and North Africa : Well-Being for All
This reproductive health review of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region provides an overview of the issues and establishes a base of knowledge upon which a strategy could be constructed. Despite achievements in the population and health s...
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| Language: | English en_US |
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Washington, DC: World Bank
2013
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2001/07/1552079/reproductive-health-middle-east-north-africa-well-being-all http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13952 |
| Summary: | This reproductive health review of the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region provides an
overview of the issues and establishes a base of knowledge
upon which a strategy could be constructed. Despite
achievements in the population and health sectors during the
last decades, several reproductive health issues remain,
while new challenges have emerged. Major reproductive health
issues in the region include high maternal mortality,
particularly in Yemen, Morocco, Egypt, and Iraq; high
fertility and slowing fertility decline; early marriage and
high teenage fertility; the increasing prevalence of
sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS; and female
genital cutting in Egypt and Yemen. There is a correlation
between reproductive health issues, a country's level
of social development, and the size of gaps within a
country; between men and women, urban and rural, rich and
poor. Therefore, it is necessary to plan and implement
programs targeted to specific issues and underprivileged
groups; develop effective and sustainable health systems
with high-quality services; raise awareness and change
behaviors of both the public and policymakers; and empower
women. Strong political commitment is essential to
overcoming social and cultural constraints. Possible
intervention components and possible roles of the World Bank
are suggested. |
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