New Study from Population and Development Review Finds Adolescent Childbearing in Iraq Has Risen Due to Increased Early Marriage Among Less-Educated Women

NEW YORK (15 December 2014) — A study published today is the first detailed assessment of whether the 8-year Iraq War had an effect on childbearing. The study found that before the war, from 1997 to 2003, adolescent fertility in Iraq was stable at just below 70 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19. However, soon after the beginning of the war, adolescent fertility rose by more than 30 percent, reaching over 95 births per 1,000 girls in 2010. The study is included in the December 2014 issue of Population and Development Review, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Population Council.

Awardees Include Bayer HealthCare, Adolescent Girls Learning Circle, and Outgoing Council President Peter Donaldson

The Population Council honored global leaders in international health and development at the first Ideas with Impact Awards ceremony in New York City on Monday night. Photos from the event are available at http://on.fb.me/1zvDUHP.

The Population Council confronts critical health and development issues—from stopping the spread of HIV to improving reproductive health and ensuring that young people lead full and productive lives. Through biomedical, social science, and public health research in 50 countries, the Council delivers solutions that lead to more effective policies, programs, and technologies that improve lives around the world.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths and complications experienced by women in Chhattisgarh. Our hearts go out to the women who died, those experiencing complications after surgery, and their families. We support rigorous investigations of the situation and hope they provide answers for the families of those who were affected, the people of India, and the Indian government.

The Population Council will present new research on novel approaches to HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and unintended pregnancy prevention at the HIV Research for Prevention Conference (HIV R4P) in Cape Town, South Africa. HIV R4P, which runs 28–31 October, is the first global scientific meeting dedicated exclusively to research on biomedical HIV prevention.

The Population Council, in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), announced today the launch of a Phase 1 trial of PC-1005 vaginal gel, a novel multipurpose prevention technology (MPT). Thirty healthy, HIV-negative women will be enrolled in the trial to evaluate the safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetic profile of PC-1005 gel.

The antiretroviral-based microbicide gel contains  MIV-150, an enzyme inhibitor that prevents HIV-infected cells from producing new virus; zinc acetate, an antiviral agent with activity against HIV and herpes simplex virus (HSV); and carrageenan, a natural product derived from seaweed that has been shown to have potent activity against human papillomavirus (HPV).

The Population Council has been awarded a five-year cooperative agreement from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) for Supporting Operational AIDS Research (SOAR). This global research project will determine how best to address challenges and gaps that remain in the delivery of HIV and AIDS care and support, treatment, and prevention services. Led by the Population Council, SOAR partners include the Johns Hopkins University, the University of North Carolina, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Futures Group, and Futures Institute. The SOAR partnership will produce a large, multi-faceted body of high-quality evidence to guide the planning and implementation of programs and policies for HIV prevention, care, and treatment.

Findings Will Highlight Risk Factors, Strategies to Improve Service Delivery for Men Who Have Sex with Men, People Who Inject Drugs, and Women

NEW YORK (15 July 2014) — The Population Council will present new research on HIV and key populations at the 20th International AIDS Conference (AIDS2014) in Melbourne, Australia, 20–25 July 2014.

Oral presentations will focus on the HIV risk behaviors of men who have sex with men, the scale-up and sustainability of community-led HIV responses developed for key affected populations, and promoting gender equity among women. 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — While all youth face vulnerability to HIV, adolescent girls face unique challenges in reducing their risk of acquiring HIV due to gender inequalities, but much HIV programming lacks a specific focus on girls and young women. Many of the countries with the highest HIV prevalence are experiencing a massive “youth bulge” in population, so even with decreasing HIV prevalence, the absolute number of young people living with HIV or at risk of acquiring HIV is estimated to grow in the next five years. Young women are especially vulnerable to HIV and have HIV infection rates nearly twice as high as those for young men. At the end of 2012, approximately two-thirds of new HIV infections in adolescents aged 15–19 years were among girls. An AIDS-free generation is not possible without addressing the specific needs of adolescents—especially girls—that put them at risk for HIV acquisition.

"Trends in Causes of Death in Low-Mortality Countries: Implications for Mortality Projections," by John Bongaarts

NEW YORK (30 June 2014) — A new study by demographer John Bongaarts, Population Council Vice President and Distinguished Scholar, has found that mortality projections from most low-mortality countries are more pessimistic than they should be. The reason for this flaw is that existing projections fail to recognize that fewer people smoke today than used to. As a result, there will be a future decline in smoking-related mortality. This suggests that with more people living longer, pension and health care costs in coming decades will likely be higher than previously estimated.