scholarly journals Study on Vājīkarana Drugs (Aphrodisiacs) for the Promotion of Reproductive Health - A Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 9-16
Author(s):  
P. L. T. C. Liyanage ◽  
W. M. S. S. K. Kulatunga
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Neonatal Death ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Piper Nigrum ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Authentic Texts ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Sexual Power

Background: Vājīkarana - Aphrodisiacs / Virilification Therapy is one branch of Ashtanga Ayurveda. It deals with preservation and promotion of sexual potency of a healthy man, conception of healthy progeny, and management of sexual and reproductive ailments. Vājīkarana drugs have been selected for the present review due to high prevalence of reproductive disorders among young people below age 40 years, recorded neonatal death caused by congenital anomalies and the urgency of effective medicines in the community. Objectives: To identify Vājīkarana drugs mentioned in Bhaisajya Rathnavali and analyze the pharmacodynamics properties of commonly used Vājīkarana drugs. Methodology: The review was mainly based on Vājīkarana drugs mentioned in Bhaisajya Rathnavali by Acharya Govinda Das Sen and commonly used and mostly available drugs have been analyzed according to their pharmacodynamics properties. Collected pharmacodynamics properties from authentic texts and journal articles were tabulated and analysis was done by using SPSS. Results: Out of 67 Vājīkarana formulae, 208 single drugs were identified which included 83.65% of herbal origin drugs and 74.6% of drug formulae were used to increase the sexual power. 37.3% of the formulae were prepared as Churna (Powder) and most frequently used Anupana (Vehicle) was cow’s milk. Among frequently used & commonly available 10 drugs, Maricha - Piper nigrum has been used in majority of formulae (26.8%). Pharmacodynamics analysis revealed that 80% of drugs were Madhura rasa (sweet in taste), 70% were Guru guna (heavy in property), 70% were Shita virya (cold in potency) and 80% were Madhura vipaka (sweet in post digestive action). Based on modern science, 60% of the drugs had tonic action. Conclusion: Vājīkarana formulae mentioned in Bhaisajya Rathnavali were mainly used to increase the sexual power of man. Madhura rasa, Guru guna, Shita virya and Madhura vipaka were the pharmacodynamics properties of commonly used drugs in the formulae.

scholarly journals Kenya: Communities support adolescent reproductive health education

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Young People ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Transition To Adulthood ◽  
Appropriate Technology ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Rural Kenya ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Attitudes And Behavior ◽  
Hiv Aids

Young people in Kenya have limited knowledge of reproductive health (RH) and face many challenges in their transition to adulthood. Chief among these challenges is the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS among adults and its increasing incidence among rural youth. In 1999, FRONTIERS initiated a three-year project in Kenya to test the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost of interventions to improve adolescent RH. The project, implemented jointly with the Kenyan government and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), was part of a four-country study that examined ways to improve knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. The study took place in six rural communities in Kenya’s Western Province. Two sites received community and health interventions. Two additional sites also received a third school-based intervention, in which teachers, peer educators, and guidance counselors were trained to teach a “life skills curriculum” that included modules on RH, sexuality, and HIV/AIDS. Two control sites received the prevailing government services. As noted in this brief, community, health, and school interventions in rural Kenya increased understanding and discussion of adolescent RH, including prevention of HIV/AIDS, and encouraged safer sexual behavior among young people.

scholarly journals Study of prevalence of chlamydial infection and other STIs in youth in the Kursk Region on results of the regional dedicated programme

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 25-29
Author(s):  
N. S Anisimova ◽  
I. Yu Leonova ◽  
L. A Bredikhina ◽  
L. V Knyaz'kova ◽  
N. I. Starodubova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Young People ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Chlamydial Infection ◽  
Reproductive Function ◽  
Prevention Of Infection ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Perinatal Center ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
Kursk Region

Young people are at high risk for STIs. Along with this, for youth there is typical a low level of knowledge about STIs and prevention of infection. Therefore, an important element of prevention is the informing young people about STIs and their implications for reproductive health. The purpose of the study - to evaluate the prevalence of STIs among young people, who voluntarily turned in a perinatal center for examination after the outreach. A high prevalence of STIs among youth Kursk region was established as in the group with complaints and in cases without them. The first place in the structure of STI is occupied by chlamydial infection (77.5%). The creation and work of centers for the prevention of STIs among young people is a key mechanism in the prevention of disorders of the reproductive function in adolescents.

scholarly journals Engaging young people in the design of a sexual reproductive health intervention: Lessons learnt from the Yathu Yathu (“For us, by us”) formative study in Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvin Simuyaba ◽  
Bernadette Hensen ◽  
Mwelwa Phiri ◽  
Chisanga Mwansa ◽  
Lawrence Mwenge ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Iterative Process ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Post Exposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Research Activities ◽  
Lessons Learnt

Abstract Background Meeting the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) requires their meaningful engagement in intervention design. We describe an iterative process of engaging AYP to finalise the design of a community-based, peer-led and incentivised SRH intervention for AYP aged 15–24 in Lusaka and the lessons learnt. Methods Between November 2018 and March 2019, 18 focus group discussions, eight in-depth interviews and six observations were conducted to assess AYP’s knowledge of HIV/SRH services, factors influencing AYP’s sexual behaviour and elicit views on core elements of a proposed intervention, including: community-based spaces (hubs) for service delivery, type of service providers and incentivising service use through prevention points cards (PPC; “loyalty” cards to gain points for accessing services and redeem these for rewards). A total of 230 AYP (15 participated twice in different research activities) and 21 adults (only participated in the community mapping discussions) participated in the research. Participants were purposively selected based on age, sex, where they lived and their roles in the study communities. Data were analysed thematically. Results Alcohol and drug abuse, peer pressure, poverty, unemployment and limited recreation facilities influenced AYP’s sexual behaviours. Adolescent boys and young men lacked knowledge of contraceptive services and all AYP of pre and post exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. AYP stated a preference for accessing services at “hubs” located in the community rather than the health facility. AYP considered the age, sex and training of the providers when choosing whom they were comfortable accessing services from. PPCs were acceptable among AYP despite the loyalty card concept being new to them. AYP suggested financial and school support, electronic devices, clothing and food supplies as rewards. Conclusions Engaging AYP in the design of an SRH intervention was feasible, informative and considered responsive to their needs. Although AYP’s suggestions were diverse, the iterative process of AYP engagement facilitated the design of an intervention that is informed by AYP and implementable. Trial registration This formative study informed the design of this trial: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04060420. Registered 19 August, 2019.

Sexual and Reproductive Justice for LGBTQI Youth in Policy Responses Across Eastern and Southern Africa

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Lynch ◽  
Finn Reygan
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽  
Gender Diversity ◽  
Minority Youth ◽  
Reproductive Justice ◽  
Policy Narratives ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
Eastern And Southern Africa ◽  
And Gender

Both significant progress and profound backlash have occurred in the inclusion of sexual and gender diversity across eastern and southern Africa. This includes the decriminalization of homosexuality in Mozambique in 2015 and the introduction of the Anti-Homosexuality Act (later annulled) in Uganda in the preceding year. Simultaneously there is increased pressure on Ministries of Education to engage more robustly with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) education in education systems across the region. Emerging regional research points to a narrow, heteronormative focus in comprehensive sexuality education; access barriers to sexual and reproductive health services; and pervasive school-related gender-based violence, including homophobic and transphobic violence. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a key role in developing best practice in advancing the SRHR of sexual and gender minority youth and are therefore a valuable resource for government SRHR policies and programmatic responses. The regional SRHR education policy landscape is underpinned by two policy narratives: that of young people’s SRHR as a public health concern and a focus on young people’s human rights. These policy narratives not only underpin SRHR policy in the region but also in many instances are drawn on in CSO advocacy when positioning the SRHR of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) young people as an important policy concern. These two dominant policy narratives, however, have a narrow focus on young people’s risks and vulnerabilities, may inadvertently perpetuate stigma and marginalization of LGBTQI youth, and may limit youth voice and agency. These narratives also do not sufficiently engage local sociocultural and structural conditions that drive negative SRHR outcomes for young people in the region. Research, advocacy, and policy development toward the full realization of the SRHR of sexual and gender minority youth can address some of the limitations of health and rights-based policy narratives by drawing on a sexual and reproductive justice framework. Such a framework expands the policy focus on health risks and individual rights to include engagement with sociocultural and structural constraints on young people’s ability to exercise their rights. A sexual and reproductive justice framework provides a more robust toolkit when working toward full inclusion of sexual and gender diversity in regional school-based SRHR policy and programs.

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