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Assessing the impact of CHARM2, a family planning program on gender attitudes, intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and marital quality in India
No full textUsing a two-armed cluster randomised controlled trial, CHARM2 (Counselling Husbands to Achieve Reproductive health and Marital equity), a 5-session gender equity and family planning intervention for couples in rural India, showed an impact on family planning outcomes in primary trial analyses. This study examines its effects on gender-equitable attitudes, intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, and marital quality. We used multilevel mixed-effects models to assess the intervention impact on each outcome. Both male (aIRR at 9 months: 0.64, C.I.: 0.45,0.90; aIRR at 18 months: 0.25, C.I.: 0.18,0.39) and female (aIRR at 9 months: 0.57, C.I.: 0.46,0.71; aIRR at 18 months: 0.38, C.I.: 0.23,0.61) intervention participants were less likely than corresponding control participants to endorse attitudes accepting physical IPV at 9- and 18-month follow-ups. Men in the intervention, compared to those in the control condition, reported more gender-equitable attitudes at 9- and 18 months (ß at 9 months: 0.13, C.I.: 0.06,0.20; ß at 18 months: 0.26, C.I.: 0.19,0.34) and higher marital quality at the 18-month follow-up (ß: 0.03, C.I.: 0.01,0.05). However, we found no effects on women’s experiences of IPV, reproductive coercion, or marital quality. CHARM2 shows promise in improving men’s and women’s attitudes towards gender equality and male perceptions of marital quality. Still, IPV and reproductive coercion reductions may require more intensive programming than that provided within this 5-session model focused on family planning
Application of the integrated gateway model on child nutrition behaviors in Niger
No full textObjective: To identify potential gateway factors and behaviors that are associated with infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices in the Maradi and Zinder regions of Niger through application of the Integrated Gateway Model. Methods: We analyzed data from 2,727 married women of reproductive age including details on child feeding practices for their 2,551 children between the ages of 0 to 23 months. We assessed the association of three gateway behaviors (i.e., any antenatal care, facility delivery, and communication on nutrition practices) and gateway factors (i.e., behavioral determinants, exposure to information, decision-making agency, and woman’s group participation) on four IYCF practices (i.e., early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding, minimum meal frequency, and minimum dietary diversity) while controlling for age, parity, educational attainment, and household wealth. Results: We found antenatal care was associated with exclusive breastfeeding of children 0–5 months [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.17 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.33)], and minimum meal frequency of children 6–23 months [aOR: 1.10 (95% CI: 1.03–1.17)], and facility delivery was associated with early initiation of breastfeeding among children 0–5 months [aOR: 2.08 (95% CI: 1.39–3.12)]. We found negative associations with exclusive breastfeeding and communication on nutrition practices with husbands, family/friends, and health workers. Exposure to nutrition messages through radio, women’s groups participation, and with health workers was positively associated with minimum dietary diversity. Self-efficacy was positively associated with both early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding among children 0–5 months and minimum dietary diversity among children 6–23 months. Women’s agency was positively associated with early initiation of breastfeeding. Conclusion: The association of antenatal care and facility delivery with child nutrition outcomes suggest intervening before a woman becomes pregnant or early in her pregnancy could improve nutrition outcomes. Programs strengthening the continuum of care should identify gateway behaviors to maximize adoption of priority health behaviors
Understanding the education profiles of eight Latin American countries
Get PDFDespite significant progress in improving primary enrollment and attainment for girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in recent years, gender disparities in education persist and hinder opportunities for girls. Educational attainment for girls has plateaued in numerous countries, with only a few making significant strides in narrowing the gender gap. Moreover, attainment alone does not always translate to improved learning. Gender-related barriers such as school environments that are not conducive to learning and the experience of violence, early and forced marriage, and early childbearing, as well as a lack of support for girls’ education impede attainment and learning. The Population Council’s GIRL Center was commissioned by a private grantmaking foundation to conduct a scoping review and analysis to identify investment opportunities in East and Southern Africa and Latin America. The aim was to identify countries with both a need to advance girls’ education and skills and existing traction with potential for significant systemic progress in a five-year period. This brief contains profiles of eight Latin American countries (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia) and summarizes insights on key education indicators, school environment, gender-related barriers to education, and policies related to education
Reclaiming African leadership to end FGM/C
No full textBy exploring the history of the fight against FGM/C, this SRHM blog aims to inspire African changemakers to reclaim the legacy of past generations. Celebrating past initiatives led by Africans will strengthen their rightful role as leaders in the forefront of continuous endeavors to enable change in their communities and beyond
Pakistan@2050: Demographic change, future projections, and development opportunities
Get PDFPakistan@2050 is a unique volume that provides comprehensive evidence and insights into the linkages between population dynamics and development. It illustrates Pakistan’s position regarding demographic transition and offers a regional comparison. The study highlights how population trends and dynamics significantly shape development outcomes, emphasizing the need to integrate these factors into both short-term and, most importantly, long-term planning and policy decisions. Long-term planning in Pakistan has faced persistent challenges related to poverty, climate change, and a tendency towards reactive rather than proactive interventions. These approaches often overlook the impact of high population growth on development gains.
It is vital to incorporate demographic trends and realities into our planning for health, education, employment, urbanization, the environment, and all socioeconomic sectors. Simultaneously, we must recognize how these demographic realities amplify the threat posed by poverty, as well as weaknesses in the health and education systems.
The report provides insights into the level of support the government must offer to ensure that families receive the necessary services, accurate information, and resources to make safe and effective reproductive decisions. Pakistan must unify its perspective and goals regarding population issues. Solutions should address both the challenges of a growing population and the perception that it may threaten stability and development gains. Attempts to enforce a reduction of birth rates solely through numerical targets have proven to be misguided, as they can distort population structures, provoke backlash from certain groups, and cause distrust in government intentions.
Instead, the report underscores the importance of investing in human capital and adopting a rights-based approach as more relevant, rewarding, and sustainable. This approach involves improving the quality of education and healthcare—especially sexual and reproductive health and family planning—and creating an enabling environment for informed reproductive choices. This will only be effective if population dynamics are genuinely integrated into planning, with key performance indicators identified for success across all sectors
The Population Council’s Center for Biomedical Research Implements an End-to-End Approach to Product Development
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No full textAfrica stands at a crossroads, with its future prosperity hinging on the policy and investment decisions it makes today. The continent has an opportunity to shape the trajectories of generations to come by investing in the success of a pivotal population: its adolescent girls. With over 145 million adolescent girls calling Africa home, the potential for transformative change is immense. Yet challenges persist: from high rates of child marriage to limited educational opportunities. Over half of African girls ages 15 to 19 are out of school or married or have children. How can African countries overcome these challenges to ensure that adolescent girls enter adulthood empowered to thrive? Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa, published by the World Bank, offers a groundbreaking road map for change
Family planning and contraception in people with multiple sclerosis: Perspectives for obstetricians, gynaecologists, and other health care professionals involved in reproductive planning
No full textPurpose: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often diagnosed in people of reproductive age. However, family planning counselling is not always integrated within MS care. Decisions on family planning can be further complicated by potential side effects associated with several disease-modifying therapies. While neurologists may lack training in contraceptive use and family planning counselling, obstetricians and gynaecologists (OB-GYNs) and other health care professionals involved in reproductive life planning (RHCPs) may lack detailed knowledge and experience around the use of contemporary MS treatments. Material and methods: Through a modified Delphi consensus programme, a multidisciplinary steering committee of 13 international experts developed practical clinical recommendations on contraceptive use and family planning for people with MS (PwMS). This article offers insights to help OB-GYNs and RHCPs implement these recommendations, focusing on contraceptive decision-making and MS medications. Results: The perspectives discussed emphasise providing education on MS to OB-GYNs and other RHCPs, enabling informed counselling for PwMS and their partners regarding contraception and family planning. Close collaboration among the multidisciplinary team, including neurologists, is crucial in providing reproductive care for PwMS. Conclusions: The detailed perspectives provided aim to enable OB-GYNs and other RHCPs to provide informed counselling for PwMS and their partners regarding contraception and family planning
Conclusions: Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa
No full textAfrica stands at a crossroads, with its future prosperity hinging on the policy and investment decisions it makes today. The continent has an opportunity to shape the trajectories of generations to come by investing in the success of a pivotal population: its adolescent girls. With over 145 million adolescent girls calling Africa home, the potential for transformative change is immense. Yet challenges persist: from high rates of child marriage to limited educational opportunities. Over half of African girls ages 15 to 19 are out of school or married or have children. How can African countries overcome these challenges to ensure that adolescent girls enter adulthood empowered to thrive? Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa, published by the World Bank, offers a groundbreaking road map for change