scholarly journals Missing men, missing infertility: The enactment of sex/gender in surveys in low- and middle-income countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-87
Author(s):  
Jasmine Fledderjohann ◽  
Celia Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Reproductive Justice ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Population Policies ◽  
Survey Instruments ◽  
Fertility Data

Abstract Although reproduction involves (at least) two sexed bodies, men are often missing from in/fertility research. Surveys such as the widely-used Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) engage in often unintentional yet highly consequential practices of gendering. Here we identify two processes through which surveys have the potential to render male infertility invisible: defining the population at risk of infertility in an exclusionary way; and designing survey instruments to select out some groups/issues. Compiling information about survey samples and inclusion criteria in the DHS, and combining this with a qualitative examination of instrument design, we identify areas of men’s invisibility across time and place. While inclusion of men in DHS samples has increased over time, some men (e.g. single and divorced, transgender) remain missing in many survey settings. This is problematic from a reproductive justice perspective. Survey results, which both reflect and contribute to men’s invisibility, are widely used as an evidence-base for family and population policies. Moreover, reproductive health services are only made available to those whose reproductive health needs are recognized; men’s exclusion from the reproductive discourse contributes to the stratification of reproduction. Men’s underrepresentation in in/fertility data also reinforces the notion that reproduction is a woman’s domain, and so contributes to a system that places responsibility for reproduction on women. It is vital to explore how gender is enacted or ‘done’ in such research.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13221
Author(s):  
Salima Meherali ◽  
Bisi Adewale ◽  
Sonam Ali ◽  
Megan Kennedy ◽  
Bukola (Oladunni) Salami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
School Closure ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Adolescents living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are struggling with accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, and COVID-19 has escalated the problem. The purpose of this review was to identify and assess the existing literature on the impact of the pandemic on SRH needs and access to services by adolescents in LMICs. A scoping review was conducted to collate findings on the topic. Searches were performed on eight databases. Data were extracted and categorized into various themes. After removing duplicates and performing a full-text reading of all articles, nine articles were included in our review. Our findings generated several themes related to adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health during the COVID-19 pandemic. These include (1) limited access to sexual and reproductive health services, (2) school closure and increased rate of early marriages, (3) sexual or intimate partner violence during COVID-19, (4) disruption in maternity care, (5) adolescents’ involvement in risky or exploitative work, (6) intervention to improve sexual and reproductive health services during COVID-19, and (7) policy development related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Several recommendations were made on policies—for instance, the use of telemedicine and community-based programs as a way to deliver SRH services to adolescents during and after a pandemic.

scholarly journals Abortion and the COVID-19 pandemic: insights for Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávia Bulegon Pilecco ◽  
Cecilia Anne McCallum ◽  
Maria da Conceição Chagas de Almeida ◽  
Flávia Jôse Oliveira Alves ◽  
Aline dos Santos Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Reproductive Rights ◽  
Legal Abortion ◽  
Reproductive Health Services ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Existing Problems ◽  
Middle Income Countries

The COVID-19 pandemic may accentuate existing problems, hindering access to legal abortion, with a consequent increase in unsafe abortions. This scenario may be even worse in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Latin America, where abortion laws are already restrictive and access to services is already hampered. Our objective was to understand how different countries, with an emphasis on Latin Americans, have dealt with legal abortion services in the context of the COVID-19. Thus, we conducted a narrative review on abortion and COVID-19. The 75 articles included, plus other relevant references, indicate that the pandemic affects sexual and reproductive health services by amplifying existing problems and restricting access to reproductive rights, such as legal abortion. This impact may be even stronger in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Latin America, where access to legal abortion is normally restricted. The revision of sources in this article underlines the urgent need to maintain legal abortion services, both from women’s perspective, in support of their reproductive rights, but also from that of the international commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Thereby, Latin American countries must place reproductive rights as a priority on their agendas and adapt legislation to accommodate alternative models of abortion care. Furthermore, our results underscore the need for clear information on the functioning of sexual and reproductive health services as essential for understanding the impact of the pandemic on legal abortion and to identify the groups most affected by the changes.

scholarly journals Suitability of Measurement Tools for Assessing the Prevalence of Child Domestic Work: A Rapid Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2357
Author(s):  
Nicola S. Pocock ◽  
Clara W. Chan ◽  
Cathy Zimmerman
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Domestic Work ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Measurement Tool ◽  
Current Standard ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Measurement Tools ◽  
Survey Instruments ◽  
Nationally Representative

Child domestic work (CDW) is a hidden form of child labour. Globally, there were an estimated 17.2 million CDWs aged 5–17 in 2012, but there has been little critical analysis of methods and survey instruments used to capture prevalence of CDW. This rapid systematic review identified and critically reviewed the measurement tools used to estimate CDWs in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO registration: CRD42019148702). Fourteen studies were included. In nationally representative surveys, CDW prevalence ranged from 17% among 13–24-year-old females in Haiti to 2% of children aged 10–17 in Brazil. Two good quality studies and one good quality measurement tool were identified. CDW prevalence was assessed using occupation-based methods (n = 9/14), household roster (n = 7) and industry methods (n = 4). Six studies combined approaches. Four studies included task-based questions; one study used this method to formally calculate prevalence. The task-based study estimated 30,000 more CDWs compared to other methods. CDWs are probably being undercounted, based on current standard measurement approaches. We recommend use of more sensitive, task-based methods for inclusion in household surveys. The cognitive and pilot testing of newly developed task-based questions is essential to ensure comprehension. In analyses, researchers should consider CDWs who may be disguised as distant or non-relatives.

scholarly journals Finding Children with High Risk of Non-Vaccination in 92 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Decision Tree Approach

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 646
Author(s):  
Thiago M. Santos ◽  
Bianca O. Cata-Preta ◽  
Cesar G. Victora ◽  
Aluisio J. D. Barros
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Decision Tree ◽  
Immunization Coverage ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Demographic And Health Surveys ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Agenda 2030 ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Tree Approach ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Reducing vaccination inequalities is a key goal of the Immunization Agenda 2030. Our main objective was to identify high-risk groups of children who received no vaccines (zero-dose children). A decision tree approach was used for 92 low- and middle-income countries using data from Demographic and Health Surveys and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys, allowing the identification of groups of children aged 12–23 months at high risk of being zero dose (no doses of the four basic vaccines—BCG, polio, DPT and measles). Three high-risk groups were identified in the analysis combining all countries. The group with the highest zero-dose prevalence (42%) included 4% of all children, but almost one in every four zero-dose children in the sample. It included children whose mothers did not receive the tetanus vaccine during and before the pregnancy, who had no antenatal care visits and who did not deliver in a health facility. Separate analyses by country presented similar results. Children who have been missed by vaccination services were also left out by other primary health care interventions, especially those related to antenatal and delivery care. There is an opportunity for better integration among services in order to achieve high and equitable immunization coverage.

scholarly journals The burgeoning role of global health diplomacy to alleviate suffering of cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-233
Author(s):  
Melissa Adomako ◽  
Alaei Kamiar ◽  
Abdulla Alshaikh ◽  
Lyndsay S Baines ◽  
Desiree Benson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Global Health ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
Global Health Diplomacy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Health Diplomacy ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
And Control ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract The science of global health diplomacy (GHD) consists of cross-disciplinary, multistakeholder credentials comprised of national security, public health, international affairs, management, law, economics and trade policy. GHD is well placed to bring about better and improved multilateral stakeholder leverage and outcomes in the prevention and control of cancer. It is important to create an evidence base that provides clear and specific guidance for health practitioners in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) through involvement of all stakeholders. GHD can assist LMICs to negotiate across multilateral stakeholders to integrate prevention, treatment and palliative care of cancer into their commercial and trade policies.

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