Articles
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Female Genital Cutting and HIV/AIDS Among Kenyan
Women / Kathryn M. Yount and Bisrat K. Abraham
Female genital cutting (FGC) and HIV/AIDS are both highly prevalent in
sub-Saharan Africa, and researchers have speculated that the association
may be more than coincidental. Data from 3,167 women aged 15–49 who
participated in the 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) are
used to test the direct and indirect associations of FGC with HIV. Our
adjusted models suggest that FGC is not associated directly with HIV,
but is associated indirectly through several pathways. Cut women are
1.72 times more likely than uncut women to have older partners, and
women with older partners are 2.65 times more likely than women with
younger partners to test positive for HIV. Cut women have 1.94 times
higher odds than uncut women of initiating sexual intercourse before
they are 20, and women who experience their sexual debut before age 20
have 1.73 times higher odds than those whose sexual debut comes later of
testing positive for HIV. Cut women have 27 percent lower odds of having
at least one extra-union partner, and women with an extra-union partner
have 2.63 times higher odds of testing positive for HIV. Therefore, in
Kenya, FGC may be an early lifecourse event that indirectly alters
women’s odds of becoming infected with HIV through protective and
harmful practices in adulthood. (Studies in Family Planning 2007; 38[2]:
73–88) (offsite
link*)
- Intimate Partner Violence and Increased
Lifetime Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infection Among Women in Ukraine
/ Annie Dude
Population-based, cross-sectional data from 3,587 ever-married Ukrainian
women aged 17–44 are used to examine the association between physical
violence perpetrated by a sexual partner (defined as kicking, hitting,
slapping, pushing, or attacking with a weapon) and sexual health
knowledge, sexual behavior, and the likelihood of reporting a sexually
transmitted infection (STI). Such violence, both past and recent, is
found to be associated with increased lifetime risk of acquiring an STI.
Women who have been abused by a sexual partner, whether in the past 12
months or less recently, are significantly less likely to use condoms
currently, and are significantly more likely to report having had
multiple sexual partners in the past year. Findings from the study
indicate that physical violence perpetrated by a sexual partner is
associated with risky sexual behaviors and increased risk of sexually
transmitted infection in Ukraine, and may constitute a barrier to
prevention of HIV/STI transmission. (Studies in Family Planning 2007;
38[2]: 89–100) (offsite
link*)
- Women’s Education and the Timing of
Marriage and Childbearing in the Next Generation: Evidence from Rural
Bangladesh / Lisa M. Bates, Joanna Maselko, and Sidney Ruth Schuler
In traditional settings where early marriage and early childbearing
persist, decisions about age at marriage are often made by parents, and
mothers-in-law tend to have considerable influence in hastening the
initiation of childbearing. This study analyzes data from a 2002 survey
in six villages in rural Bangladesh to test the hypothesis that
daughters of women with more education marry later and that
daughters-in-law of more educated women initiate childbearing at a
slower rate. Using Cox proportional hazard models, we find significant
associations between the educational level of mothers and the age at
marriage of their daughters and between the educational level of
mothers-in-law and the timing of first birth among their
daughters-in-law, although the association between the former attenuates
when controlling for other variables. We also find that these
associations do not appear to be mediated by the senior women’s level of
empowerment. We conclude that in rural Bangladesh there is a significant
relationship between female education in one generation and the timing
of marriage and childbearing in the next. (Studies in Family Planning
2007; 38[2]: 101–112) (offsite
link*)
Reports
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The Reach and Effect of Radio Communication
Campaigns on Condom Use in Malawi / Dominique Meekers, Ronan Van
Rossem, Martha Silva, and Andrew Koleros
This study uses data from the 2004 Malawi Demographic and Health Survey
to assess the reach of selected radio programs about family planning and
health in Malawi and their effect on condom use and discussion of family
planning. The results show that such radio programs in Malawi reach a
broad audience: eight of the 12 programs were heard by at least half of
the respondents, although women were less effectively reached than men.
For both women and men, the radio programs were found to have a
significant impact on family planning discussion with one’s partner. The
programs’ effect on condom use was limited, however. A positive
association was found with ever use of condoms, but no association was
found with condom use at last intercourse. This limited impact suggests
that such radio communication campaigns need to be informed by research
identifying the specific constraints to current condom use in Malawi.
(Studies in Family Planning 2007; 38[2]: 113–120) (offsite
link*)
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The Prevalence of and
Risk Factors for Reproductive Morbidities Among Women in Oman / Ruth
Mabry, Asya Al-Riyami, and Magdi Morsi
Drawing from a sample of 1,365 ever-married nonpregnant women in Oman
who underwent a gynecological examination and laboratory tests as part
of the 2000 National Health Survey, this study examines the prevalence
of and risk factors associated with reproductive morbidities among women
in Oman. Of the respondents, 4 percent had a sexually transmitted
infection (STI), 25 percent had a reproductive tract infection (RTI), 10
percent suffered from genital prolapse, and 11 percent had a urinary
tract infection (UTI). Younger women were two times more likely than
older women to have an STI. More empowered women were more likely to
have any RTI. Women with six or more children were more than three times
more likely to have experienced genital prolapse, compared with those
who had fewer children. UTIs were significantly associated with urban
residence, being empowered, and having six or more children. A
comparative analysis with other countries in the Arab world showed some
variations in prevalence and risk factors. In light of the wide
prevalence of reproductive morbidities, reproductive health services in
Oman should be strengthened. (Studies in Family Planning 2007; 38[2]:
121–128) (offsite
link*)
Data
- Congo 2005: Results from the
Demographic and Health Survey (offsite
link*)
- Ethiopia 2005: Results from the Demographic
and Health Survey (offsite
link*)
Book Reviews (offsite
link*)
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The Human Drama of Abortion: A
Global Search for Consensus /
Aníbal Faúndes and José S. Barzelatto
Reviewed by Stanley K. Henshaw
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Re-thinking Sexualities in
Africa / Signe
Arnfred, editor
Reviewed by Beth Maina Ahlberg
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Behind the Silence: Chinese
Voices on Abortion / Nie Jing-Bao
Reviewed by Yan Che
* Journal subscribers will be able to access a PDF
of the article online; nonsubscribers will be given access after paying
a fee.
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