Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 58 in total

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  1. Pyne S, Ravindran TKS
    PMID: 33786477 DOI: 10.1089/whr.2019.0007
    Background:
    The provision of safe abortion services upholds the realization of justice in sexual and reproductive health. Many state-level studies in India have identified poor availability of abortion services in the public sector and negative attitudes toward abortion among health providers, as potential barriers to access.
    Materials and Methods:
    A cross-sectional study was done to document the availability and utilization of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP or abortion) services and to assess public sector health providers' attitudes towards safe abortion. It was carried out in a representative district of West Bengal, using a facility checklist and a validated attitude scale.
    Results:
    Only 11 of 42 public health facilities had both trained doctors and equipment to provide MTP services. Twelve facilities provided MTP services, of which only three urban-based secondary-level facilities provided second trimester MTPs. There were female providers in just 2 of the 12 MTP-providing facilities. Among the 64 health providers interviewed, 40% were trained to provide MTP. According to the attitude scale, 38% had a negative attitude toward the provision of safe abortion services. There was no statistically significant association between attitudes of health providers and provision of MTP. However, there appeared to be a subtle process of gatekeeping in operation, such as making MTP conditional on acceptance of contraception, requiring the husband's consent, and so on.
    Conclusions:
    The study shows the poor availability of abortion services in public sector facilities in a district of West Bengal, although all public health facilities from the primary health center level upwards are authorized to provide abortion services.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  2. Najafi F, Abdul Rahman H, Hanafiah M, Momtaz YA, Ahmad Z
    PMID: 23413716
    There is a high rate of unintended pregnancies in Malaysia due to low contraceptive use. Only 30% of married women use modern contraceptive methods. Emergency contraception (EC) is used within a few days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding EC pill use among Malay women. A cross sectional study was conducted among married female staff using stratified random sampling from 15 faculties in the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). Data about sociodemographic factors, reproductive health, knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding EC use were gathered using validated self-administered questionnaire. The response rate was 87%. Half the 294 subjects who participated had a low knowledge, 33.0% a moderate knowledge and 17.0% a good knowledge about the EC pill. Eighty-eight percent of respondents had a positive attitude and 12.0% a negative attitude toward EC. Eleven percent of respondents had previously used EC. Unplanned and unwanted pregnancies were reported by 35.0% and 14.0% of respondents, respectively. Most respondents lacked knowledge about the indications for using EC, its mechanism of action, when it can be used and its side effects. Our findings show a need to educate women about EC.
    Study site: 15 faculties in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. Selangor, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/statistics & numerical data*
  3. Narasimhan M, Pillay Y, García PJ, Allotey P, Gorna R, Welbourn A, et al.
    Lancet Glob Health, 2018 10;6(10):e1058-e1059.
    PMID: 30031731 DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(18)30316-4
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services/economics*
  4. Freeman T, Miles L, Ying K, Mat Yasin S, Lai WT
    Sociol Health Illn, 2023 Jun;45(5):947-970.
    PMID: 34227694 DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.13323
    Despite the centrality of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), women migrant workers in Malaysia face an environment inimical to their SRH needs. Drawing on qualitative case study material, we present the first empirical application of the capability approach (CA) to explore the reproductive health needs of women migrant workers in a developing country, offering an original analysis of the capability for SRH of these women. Specifically, we explore the resources available to them; their opportunities and freedoms ("capabilities"); and factors that mediate transformation of resources into capability sets ("conversion factors"). While SRH information and health care are notionally available, women migrant workers face multiple challenges in converting resources into functionings, constraining the achievement of capability for SRH. Challenges include language barriers, personal beliefs, power relations between workers and employers and the consequences of current migration policy. We consider the scale of the challenges facing these women in securing SRH rights, the difficulties of operationalising the CA within such a setting, and the implications of our findings for the adequacy of the CA in supporting marginalised populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  5. Kpokiri EE, Wu D, Srinivas ML, Anderson J, Say L, Kontula O, et al.
    Sex Transm Infect, 2022 02;98(1):38-43.
    PMID: 33846277 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054822
    Population health surveys are rarely comprehensive in addressing sexual health, and population-representative surveys often lack standardised measures for collecting comparable data across countries. We present a sexual health survey instrument and implementation considerations for population-level sexual health research. The brief, comprehensive sexual health survey and consensus statement was developed via a multi-step process (an open call, a hackathon, and a modified Delphi process). The survey items, domains, entire instruments, and implementation considerations to develop a sexual health survey were solicited via a global crowdsourcing open call. The open call received 175 contributions from 49 countries. Following review of submissions from the open call, 18 finalists and eight facilitators with expertise in sexual health research, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), were invited to a 3-day hackathon to harmonise a survey instrument. Consensus was achieved through an iterative, modified Delphi process that included three rounds of online surveys. The entire process resulted in a 19-item consensus statement and a brief sexual health survey instrument. This is the first global consensus on a sexual and reproductive health survey instrument that can be used to generate cross-national comparative data in both high-income and LMICs. The inclusive process identified priority domains for improvement and can inform the design of sexual and reproductive health programs and contextually relevant data for comparable research across countries.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/statistics & numerical data*
  6. Nanda P, Tandon S, Khanna A
    Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2020 12;28(1):1831136.
    PMID: 33073718 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1831136
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  7. Lim SC, Yap YC, Barmania S, Govender V, Danhoundo G, Remme M
    Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2020 Dec;28(2):1842153.
    PMID: 33236973 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2020.1842153
    Despite increasing calls to integrate and prioritise sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in universal health coverage (UHC) processes, several SRH services have remained a low priority in countries' UHC plans. This study aims to understand the priority-setting process of SRH interventions in the context of UHC, drawing on the Malaysian experience. A realist evaluation framework was adopted to examine the priority-setting process for three SRH tracer interventions: pregnancy, safe delivery and post-natal care; gender-based violence (GBV) services; and abortion-related services. The study used a qualitative multi-method design, including a literature and document review, and 20 in-depth key informant interviews, to explore the context-mechanism-outcome configurations that influenced and explained the priority-setting process. Four key advocacy strategies were identified for the effective prioritisation of SRH services, namely: (1) generating public demand and social support, (2) linking SRH issues with public agendas or international commitments, (3) engaging champions that are internal and external to the public health sector, and (4) reframing SRH issues as public health issues. While these strategies successfully triggered mechanisms, such as mutual understanding and increased buy-in of policymakers to prioritise SRH services, the level and extent of prioritisation was affected by both inner and outer contextual factors, in particular the socio-cultural and political context. Priority-setting is a political decision-making process that reflects societal values and norms. Efforts to integrate SRH services in UHC processes need both to make technical arguments and to find strategies to overcome barriers related to societal values (including certain socio-cultural and religious norms). This is particularly important for sensitive SRH services, like GBV and safe abortion, and for certain populations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services*; Reproductive Health/standards*
  8. Khosla R, Mishra V, Singh S
    Sex Reprod Health Matters, 2023 Dec;31(4):2269003.
    PMID: 37930349 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2269003
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  9. Allotey PA, Diniz S, Dejong J, Delvaux T, Gruskin S, Fonn S
    Reprod Health Matters, 2011 Nov;19(38):56-68.
    PMID: 22118142 DOI: 10.1016/S0968-8080(11)38577-1
    This paper addresses the challenges faced in mainstreaming the teaching of sexual and reproductive health and rights into public health education. For this paper, we define sexual and reproductive health and rights education as including not only its biomedical aspects but also an understanding of its history, values and politics, grounded in gender politics and social justice, addressing sexuality, and placed within a broader context of health systems and global health. Using a case study approach with an opportunistically selected sample of schools of public health within our regional contexts, we examine the status of sexual and reproductive health and rights education and some of the drivers and obstacles to the development and delivery of sexual and reproductive health and rights curricula. Despite diverse national and institutional contexts, there are many commonalities. Teaching of sexual and reproductive health and rights is not fully integrated into core curricula. Existing initiatives rely on personal faculty interest or short-term courses, neither of which are truly sustainable or replicable. We call for a multidisciplinary and more comprehensive integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights in public health education. The education of tomorrow's public health leaders is critical, and a strategy is needed to ensure that they understand and are prepared to engage with the range of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues within their historical and political contexts.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health/education*
  10. Soleymani S, Abdul Rahman H, Lekhraj R, Mohd Zulkefli NA, Matinnia N
    Reprod Health, 2015;12:77.
    PMID: 26318873 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0070-3
    BACKGROUND:
    The main sexual and reproductive health issues among young people are premarital sexual intercourse, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted diseases including Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge related to sexual and reproductive health among Malaysian postgraduate students in a public university in Malaysia.

    METHODS:
    A cross-sectional study was carried out among postgraduate students by systematic random sampling technique. A pre-tested self administered questionnaire was used to collect the data.

    RESULTS:
    Out of 434 respondents, the majority of students were female (78.6 %) and single (78.3 %). The overall mean age of respondents was 27.0 ranging from 20 to 46 years of age. The main sources of information for sexual and reproductive health awareness were the internet (78.6 %) and newspaper (61.8 %). The majority (97.9 %) of the students knew that AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease. Most of them believed that the spread of sexually transmitted diseases was through shaking hands (92.1 %). Use of condoms was perceived to be the best way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases (88.4 %). Sexual and reproductive health knowledge was significantly associated with the students' age, marital status and faculty. The socio-demographic factors and current educational status accounted for a significant 9 % of the variability in sexual and reproductive health knowledge, f (7, 426) = 11, p <0.001.

    CONCLUSIONS:
    The postgraduate students' level of knowledge on sexual and reproductive health was not satisfactory. Sexual and reproductive health knowledge was associated with the students' marital status and faculty. Intervention programs related to sexual and reproductive health are recommended.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  11. Bourke A, Kelleher C, Boduszek D, Morgan K
    Reprod Health, 2015;12:14.
    PMID: 25884222 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-015-0005-z
    Findings on the demographic and sexual health characteristics associated with the experience of a crisis pregnancy are important to inform the public health policy of a country, including Ireland. Studies from other jurisdictions have suggested that certain demographic groups are at risk for unintended pregnancies and the disparity between the groups has been growing in recent years. Ireland is a country which experienced much economic and societal change in the first decade of the 21(st) century; changes which are likely to have affected demographic variables pertaining to sexual health. The current study had two aims: to investigate changes in the socioeconomic characteristics associated with crisis pregnancies over a seven year period [2003 to 2010], and to investigate the recent [2010] socioeconomic risk factors associated with crisis pregnancies in Ireland.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health*
  12. Mud Shukri MI, Baharom A
    PLoS One, 2023;18(12):e0295933.
    PMID: 38117759 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295933
    It is socially natural that adolescents engage in romantic relationship. However, there are negative health implications when they are not properly monitored and guided. The engagement in unsafe sexual practices has been reported to cause various adverse health and social implications affecting Malaysian adolescents. To date, why adolescents engage in romantic relationship has remained understudied. Prior studies on adolescent romantic relationship mainly focused on the western context. Hence, the reported findings are deemed not applicable for the Malaysian population. There are insufficient data on the prevalence and determinants of adolescent romantic relationship within the Malaysian context. Thus, the current study aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of romantic relationship among adolescents in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Adopting a cross-sectional research design, this study's self-administered questionnaire survey, which was conducted from 25 May 2021 to 5 June 2021 in residential areas that were part of the "Healthy Community Empowers the Nation" programme (KOSPEN), involved 396 adolescents who fulfilled the study's selection criteria. In terms of age, the respondents were of between 14 and 19 years old, with median age (IQR) of 19 (2). Adolescent romantic relationship in this study recorded prevalence of 24.1%, which was comparatively lower than that of the western countries. The results further revealed social media use (AOR: 2.162, 95% CI: 1.202-3.888, p = 0.01), pornography website surfing (AOR 2.748, 95% CI: 1.517-4.977, p = 0.001), poor SRH knowledge (AOR: 3.885, 95% CI: 2.144-7.040, p < 0.001), and depression (AOR: 2.830, 95% CI: 1.323-6.055, p = 0.007) as significant determinants of adolescent romantic relationship. Thus, this study demonstrated the significant role of social media use, pornography website surfing, SRH knowledge, and depression on adolescent romantic relationship. Further longitudinal studies to investigate the temporal relationships between depression and romantic relationship are recommended. The highly significant association between SRH knowledge and romantic relationship in this study suggests that strategies on improving the level of SRH knowledge among adolescents should be prioritised.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  13. Ismail NH, Ibrahim SF, Jaffar FHF, Mokhtar MH, Chin KY, Osman K
    Molecules, 2021 Jan 27;26(3).
    PMID: 33513715 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26030649
    Phytochemical contents of honey are presumed to be beneficial to the female reproductive system (FRS). However, the biological effects of honey supplementation (HS) in vivo on the FRS remain unclear. This review aims to investigate the current literature on the effects of HS on the FRS, particularly on the sex hormone profile and reproductive organs (uterus and vagina). A systematic literature search using Scopus, MEDLINE via Ovid and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Records were screened and identified for preclinical and clinical studies addressing the effects of HS on the FRS. Data on populations, interventions, outcomes and methodological quality were extracted. Studies were synthesised using tables and written summaries. Of the 198 identified records, six fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All six records were used for data extraction: two experimental studies using rats as the model organism and four human clinical studies of honey on female reproductive health. HS elevated the progesterone levels, restrained body weight increase, prevented uterine and vaginal atrophies in ovariectomised rats, attenuated symptoms of candidiasis and improved oxidative status in patients. Current evidence shows that short-term HS following surgical or physiological menopause exerts an oestrogenic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect on the FRS. However, insufficient long-term studies preclude any definitive conclusions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  14. Shaiful BI
    Malays Fam Physician, 2008;3(1):58-60.
    PMID: 25606115
    In 2006, I was awarded a scholarship from Universiti Sains Malaysia for Fellowship training at Monash University (MU) for one year. The objective of the training programme was to develop knowledge and skills in several areas, including androgen deficiency, male infertility, prostate disease, testicular tumours, sexual dysfunction and sexually transmitted diseases. The training programme consisted of attachments with clinical specialists, completion of a course work module and a research project. After completion of the training programme, I believe that Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) will benefit from undertaking the training programme that I had completed. It will enable PCPs to assume leadership roles in this multidisciplinary area. The ability of PCPs in handling sexual and reproductive health issues in men will definitely be a more cost effective form of care for patients, particularly as the number of specialists is limited, and even more importantly, it will be satisfying for the patient and the physician.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  15. Othman S, Kong SZ, Mohd Mydin FH, Ng CJ
    Malays Fam Physician, 2019;14(1):10-17.
    PMID: 31289626
    Early sexual debut, partner violence, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections contribute to negative health outcomes among adolescents. While the primary care clinics offer accessible sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to adolescents, it is uncertain whether adolescents are aware of and utilize these services. This study aimed to examine Malaysian adolescents' knowledge, utilization and barriers to primary care services for SRH. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from August to November 2011 among adolescent from five randomly selected schools in Selangor, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess their knowledge, attitudes, sexual behaviors and utilization of SRH services. A total of 680 adolescents participated in the study. One in ten of the adolescents were aware of the availability of SRH services, and only 6.9% of them had ever visited a primary care clinic for SRH. About 75% of them felt uncomfortable going to a primary care clinic for SRH services. Knowledge and utilization of primary care clinics for SRH among adolescents in Malaysia is poor.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services; Reproductive Health
  16. Nagandla K, Kumar K
    Malays Fam Physician, 2020;15(2):2-9.
    PMID: 32843939
    Objective: To determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and compare its obstetric and perinatal outcomes with those of non-teenage pregnancy.

    Method: This retrospective hospital-based case-control study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban. The study made use of the Malaysian National Obstetric Registry (NOR) records of teenage pregnant women aged 11-19 at Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban over a 12-month period between May 2015 and May 2016 (n=164). Socio-demographic profiles, obstetric outcomes, and perinatal outcomes were detailed for each pregnant woman. The results were compared to a control group of 169 pregnant women aged 20-30 who also delivered in hospital Tuanku Ja'afar Seremban during the same period. The aim of this study was to assess the obstetric outcomes of teenage pregnancy and to compare them with those of the control group. A chi-squared test was used to identify the statistical significance of the relationship between teenage pregnancy rates and obstetric outcomes. Results with p <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Results: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy was 2.8%. The mean age of the teenage group was 17.9; that of the control group was 26.4. Teenage mothers had a significantly higher risk of anemia (p<0.05), episiotomy (p<0.001), preterm labor (p<0.001), and delivering low-birthweight babies (p<0.001). There were no significant differences between the two groups in mode of delivery, antenatal complications, birth outcomes, APGAR scores at 5th minute, or neonatal complications.

    Conclusion: The prevalence of teenage pregnancy in this study is relatively low but is associated with an increased risk of some perinatal complications. The primary care physician's role is pivotal in educating adolescents on sexual health, providing continual care in hospitals, and empowering teenagers in their reproductive health decisions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  17. Malek KA, Abdul-Razak S, Abu Hassan H, Othman S
    Malays Fam Physician, 2019;14(3):37-45.
    PMID: 32175039
    Introduction: Managing adolescent pregnancy in the primary care setting is complex, as it requires doctors to navigate through a combination of medical, social, financial and legal needs. Objective: This study explores the perspectives of private general practitioners on their roles and challenges in managing adolescent pregnancy in Malaysia.

    Methods: Nineteen private general practitioners in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur participated in in-depth interviews in 2015. A topic guide was used for interview navigation. Participants were asked to discuss their experiences and approaches in managing pregnant adolescents. We used purposive sampling to recruit consenting private general practitioners who had experience in managing adolescent pregnancy. The verbatim transcripts of the audio-recorded interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Data reached saturation at the nineteenth in-depth interview. Results: Two themes emerged. Under the theme 'inadvertent advocator,' participants described their tasks with regards to building trust, calming angry parents and delivering comprehensive counseling and care related to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, including requests for abortions. Theme two, 'challenges of private general practitioners,' refers mainly to personal and religious conflicts arising from a request for an abortion and deficiencies in support and multidisciplinary integration within their practice settings.

    Conclusion: General practitioners practicing in the private sector identify themselves as active players in supporting pregnant adolescents but face many challenges arising from the personal, religious, professional and community levels. Addressing these challenges is important for optimal care delivery to pregnant adolescents in this community.

    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  18. Kamrani, M.A., Sharifah Zainiyah, S.Y., Hamzah, A., Ahmad, Z.
    MyJurnal
    Adolescents are known to obtain information regarding sexual and reproductive health from a variety of sources and not just during formal lessons in schools. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the source of information on sexual and reproductive health among Form four secondary schools girls in the Klang Valley as well as parents’ relationship profile. A total of 520 secondary school girls were recruited for the study. In this study, the source of information on puberty and sexual topics were categorized as follows: first level of importance - mothers, second level of importance - siblings, third level of importance - fathers, fourth level of importance - friends, fifth level of importance - teachers and sixth level of importance - books/internet. A majority of respondents agreed that their mothers were the first level of importance they sought for information on puberty (74.8%) and sexual topics (53.8%). Thirty nine point three percent (39.3%) of respondents reported it was very easy to have a dialogue with their mothers while only 10.0% of the respondents said it was very easy to have a dialogue with their fathers. While this was the case, only 6.3% of the respondents reported discussing sex-related matter with their mothers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  19. Giaze TR, Shuid AN, Soelaiman IN, Muhammad N, Jamal JA, Fauzi MB, et al.
    J Tradit Complement Med, 2019 Oct;9(4):393-400.
    PMID: 31453136 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2019.01.002
    Background: Marantodes pumilum var. alata (MPva), popularly known as Kacip Fatimah, is widely used to maintain female reproductive health, facilitate post-partum recovery and manage symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis in South-East Asia. This study aims to further evaluate the osteoprotective potential of MPva in view of reports of its bone-protective properties in postmenopausal condition.

    Methods: Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were sorted into 5 groups (n = 6) namely: MPv (leaf treatment); MPr (root treatment); ERT (estrogen treatment); OVXC (untreated ovariectomized control) and Sham (untreated sham-operated control). All rats (except the Sham) were ovariectomized to induce a state of estrogen deficiency that simulates menopause. Two weeks after ovariectomy, the rats were treated for 8 weeks with oral gavages of estrogen and plant extracts. The ERT group received 64.5 μg/kg/day dose of estrogen while MPv and MPr groups received 20 mg/kg/day dose of leaf and root extracts, respectively. At the end of treatment, left femora were excised from euthanized rats and investigated for changes in bone micro-architecture, mineral density, and biomechanical properties.

    Results: Bone volume fraction, degree of anisotropy and structure-model-index of bone were significantly improved (p 

    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health
  20. Murshid ME, Haque M
    J Popul Ther Clin Pharmacol, 2020 06 11;27(2):e87-e99.
    PMID: 32621461 DOI: 10.15586/jptcp.v27i2.677
    The United States of America (USA) is one of the largest bilateral donors in the field of global health assistance. There are beneficiaries in 70 countries around the world. In 2015, the USA released US$638 million for the improvement of global health status by promoting family planning services. Unfortunately, in 2017, Trump administration reinstated Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule (GGR). This policy prevents non-US nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from receiving US health financial assistance if they have any relationship with abortion-related services. This restriction pushed millions of lives into great danger due to the lack of comprehensive family planning services, especially lack of abortion-related services. This article has attempted to let the readers know about the impacts of GGR around the world and how global leaders are trying to overcome the harmful effects of this rule. Finally, it proposes some solutions to the impacts of the extension of Mexico City Policy.
    Matched MeSH terms: Reproductive Health Services/economics; Reproductive Health Services/legislation & jurisprudence
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