Adopting self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

AbstractInnovative people-centered care modalities including self-care interventions offer an opportunity to ensure continuity of healthcare services during COVID-19 and in post-COVID-19, as well as contribute to the achievement of universal health coverage. Parliamentarians are uniquely positioned to promote self-care interventions for sexual and reproductive health and rights through their legislative, budget allocation, oversight, and advocacy roles. However, existing health systems governance challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean region such as weak institutions setups, fragmentation of health programs, and limitation of resources could impede parliamentarians’ progress. To address these challenges, the following recommended actions should be considered: (1) promote the adaptation of sexual and reproductive health and rights service packages at primary healthcare level to integrate self-care interventions (2) govern innovative people-centered care channels including self-care interventions; and (3) engage in a dialogue with civil society and communities to meet needs, raise public awareness and generate demand.

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Sexual and reproductive health self-care interventions in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: findings from a cross-sectional values and preferences survey to inform WHO normative guidance on self-care interventions

Health Research Policy and Systems ◽

10.1186/s12961-020-00659-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Carmen H. Logie ◽

Heather Abela ◽

Tarek Turk ◽

Samantha Parker ◽

Karima Gholbzouri

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Self Care ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Future Research ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Web Based ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Abstract Background Self-care strategies for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) include practices, tools, and strategies for people to manage their health. Access to SRH services has increased in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) in the past decade. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a preliminary assessment of self-care SRH interventions focusing on access, knowledge, perceived challenges, and recommendations for the future. We aim to contribute to the evidence base on knowledge and uptake of self-care SRH strategies in the EMR. Methods We conducted an online cross-sectional Global Values and Preferences Survey (GVPS) to inform WHO guideline development on self-care interventions for SRH. Recruitment was web-based and included hosting the survey on the WHO Department of Reproductive Health and Research website, and sharing the survey link to diverse SRH websites. Analyses included the subsample of respondents living in EMR countries. We first conducted descriptive statistics of sociodemographic and self-care intervention responses. We then conducted bivariate analyses to examine statistically significant differences in knowledge for each intervention between EMR and non-EMR regions. We extracted open-text responses and applied thematic analysis techniques. Results There were 53 respondents from the EMR spanning 14 countries, including16 health care providers (HCP) and 37 laypersons. Qualitative responses (n = 16) suggest that (a) perceived benefits of self-care SRH strategies include enhanced SRH access, knowledge, and improved SRH outcomes; (b) perceived concerns include misuse and safety; (c) linkage to care following self-care SRH interventions can consider mobile phone apps, hotlines, health care liaisons, and community outreach; (d) HCP want additional training on strengthening therapeutic alliances with patients and practical information on interventions; and (e) future research can focus on reproductive health, condom use, service barriers, and implementation. EMR respondents reported lower knowledge levels than non-EMR respondents on the following strategies: diaphragm/cervical cap, contraceptive patch, web-based SRH information, post-exposure prophylaxis, re-exposure prophylaxis, and HIV treatment. Conclusions Knowledge of self-care SRH strategies varies by intervention type in the EMR. Future research with larger and more representative samples can inform regional self-care SRH implementation. Knowledge dissemination, stigma reduction, accessibility, and training of health care professionals are key domains for advancing access to self-care SRH strategies in the EMR.

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Integrating sexual and reproductive health and rights package in national health policies, programmes and practices in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/2019.25.10.763 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (10) ◽

pp. 763-764

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

National Health ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Health Policies ◽

National Health Policies

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Tobacco industry commissioned reports on illicit tobacco trade in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: how accurate are they?

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/emhj.20.131 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (11) ◽

pp. 1320-1322

Author(s):

Erin Sandberg ◽

Allen WA Gallagher ◽

Raouf Alebshehy

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Tobacco Industry ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Illicit Tobacco Trade

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Correlation of Caesarean Section Rates to Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in the Eastern Mediterranean Region; A Population Based Ecological Study

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3391364 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Bismeen Jadoon ◽

Mahaini Rames ◽

Karima Gholbzouri ◽

Maha El-Adawy ◽

Mona A. Elawady ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caesarean Section ◽

Neonatal Mortality ◽

Mediterranean Region ◽

Ecological Study ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Population Based

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Global Prevalence Estimates of Toxascaris leonina Infection in Dogs and Cats

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9060503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 503

Author(s):

Ali Rostami ◽

Seyed Mohammad Riahi ◽

Vahid Fallah Omrani ◽

Tao Wang ◽

Andreas Hofmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mediterranean Region ◽

Eastern Mediterranean ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Eastern Mediterranean Region ◽

Global Prevalence ◽

Stray Cats ◽

Prevalence Estimates ◽

Meta Regression ◽

Paratenic Hosts ◽

Toxascaris Leonina

Toxascaris leonina is an ascaridoid nematode of dogs and cats; this parasite affects the health of these animals. This study estimated the global prevalence of Ta. leonina infection in dogs and cats using random effects meta-analysis as well as subgroup, meta-regression and heterogeneity analyses. The data were stratified according to geographical region, the type of dogs and cats and environmental variables. A quantitative analysis of 135 published studies, involving 119,317 dogs and 25,364 cats, estimated prevalence rates of Ta. leonina in dogs and cats at 2.9% and 3.4%, respectively. Prevalence was highest in the Eastern Mediterranean region (7.2% for dogs and 10.0% for cats) and was significantly higher in stray dogs (7.0% vs. 1.5%) and stray cats (7.5% vs. 1.8%) than in pets. The findings indicate that, worldwide, ~26 million dogs and ~23 million cats are infected with Ta. leonina; these animals would shed substantial numbers of Ta. leonina eggs into the environment each year and might represent reservoirs of infection to other accidental or paratenic hosts. It is important that populations of dogs and cats as well as other canids and felids be monitored and dewormed for Ta. leonina and (other) zoonotic helminths.

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