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Research issues
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Sexual and reproductive health
Sexual and reproductive health
Every year, almost 4 million babies die
during the first 4 weeks of life, mostly in poor countries.
Access to health is far from being fair.
Let's change that together.
Photo credit © "River of Life Competition" 2004/WHO
Context
Despite various global commitments to sexual and reproductive health for all, inequalities and problems exist. Around the world – and especially in low- and middle-income countries - many adolescents do not have access to information about sex and sexuality; many couples lack access to modern means of family planning; and many women die needlessly due to lack of antenatal and emergency obstetric services.
Research plays an essential role in identifying and overcoming the effects of social and economic inequalities and health system deficiencies. The evidence needed to address the sources of these inequalities, however, has been scanty. Furthermore, many sexual and reproductive health problems are invisible even to the individuals themselves, as a result, for example, of a lack of information, cultural taboos or shame.
Much more research is needed to make the invisible visible.
What the Global Forum does
In partnership with the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), the Global Forum has been organizing a consultative process to identify research gaps in sexual and reproductive health and approaches to closing them.
A first outcome of the ongoing process, the publication Research issues in sexual and reproductive health for low- and middle-income countries:
- supports policy-makers and programme managers in establishing a global research agenda on sexual and reproductive health cutting across research disciplines and in creating a favourable policy environment;
- proposes a framework for analysing and filling gaps in knowledge of sexual and reproductive health problems.
Resources
Further reading:
Research Issues in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Low- and Middle-income Countries
Partner:
The UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP)