July 2019 News Review

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Two developments of note in the ongoing global discussion about reproductive rights.

An interesting commentary from International Campaign for Women’s Right to Safe Abortion on the publication of the updated WHO Essential Medicines List: “Updates to the mifepristone-misoprostol combi-pack listing include: Mifepristone-misoprostol has been moved from the Complementary List to the Core Model List of Essential Medicines; An asterisk has been removed that stated that close medical supervision is required for administration of mifepristone-misoprostol for medical abortion; Dosage form included for the combi-pack containing: mifepristone 200 milligram tablet [1] and misoprostol 200 microgram tablet [4]. However, not changed in new list: The statement “where permitted under national law and where culturally acceptable” was not removed. This is an important success and will add weight to calls for countries to approve both kinds of pills for abortion in national essential medicines lists. It’s a pity but not a surprise that the text limiting approval to countries where permitted under national law was not changed.”

Nearly 80 organizations teamed up on “The Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice,” built on five pillars, including access to reproductive health care, the preservation of reproductive rights, and the support of related research. The effort seeks to establish a proactive agenda that responds to recent “increasingly hostile attacks on reproductive autonomy and rights,” according to Planned Parenthood, one of the organizations, which also include the ACLU, and the Sierra Club. It takes on the areas of HIV/AIDS care and abortion, while also calling for expanded care access for those under 18, incarcerated people, and immigrants. The report also focuses on pregnancy and maternal health — for both within and outside the U.S., as it encourages U.S. foreign policy to make reproductive health a priority.

This happened in the same month as World Population Day, which was dedicated this year to expanded reproductive access, health and rights.

World Population Day 2019: Increasing access to contraceptives remains top priority in global family planning efforts, DKT International/Business Wire, 11 Jul 2019

This year’s World Population Day calls for reproductive health and rights, Economic Times (India), 11 Jul 2019

World Population Day: A call for global efforts to scale up family planning uptake, The New Times, 11 Jul 2019

World Population Day 2019: What you need to know, Evening Standard, 10 Jul 2019

Want to improve women’s lives and countries’ prospects for prosperity? Expand contraceptive choice, UNFPA, 10 Jul 2019

Let’s Talk About Sex – and Why Power Matters, IPS/UNFPA, 10 Jul 2019

Twenty-five years ago, leaders promised to advance women’s health and rights. Have they delivered?, UNFPA, 10 Jul 2019

Another view: On population awareness day, focus should be on sustainable living, Stockton Record, 10 Jul 2019

Academic Releases

Two University of Michigan OBGYN colleagues, Lisa H. Harris, MD, PhD and Vanessa Dalton, MD, MPH, produced an important commentary about research concerning “women with an undesired pregnancy who sought abortion care but ultimately gave birth when abortion was denied: These data matter to internal medicine physicians because they illustrate connections between reproductive health and overall health. Reports like this suggest that addressing rising rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States is a job for all physicians, not just those providing pregnancy care.”

Abortion and Women’s Physical Health: An Issue for All Physicians, Annals of Internal Medicine, June 2019

Another piece of research from one of our partners in Ethiopia: Determinants and Outcome of Safe Second Trimester Medical Abortion at Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia, Journal of Pregnancy, 7 Jul 2019.

Angola

Struggle Will Continue Until All Women and Girls Have Choices and Control Over Their Futures, UNFPA, 17 Jul 2019

Burkina Faso

Avortement sécurisé au Burkina : La CAPSSR/BF sensibilise, Sidwaya, 19 Jul 2019

Post-partum family planning in Burkina Faso (Yam Daabo): a two group, multi-intervention, single-blinded, cluster-randomised controlled trial, The Lancet Global Health, 11 Jul 2019

Burundi

Burundi Senate president, Reverien Ndikuriyo, calls Burundians for family planning, Region Week, 27 Jul 2019

La pénurie de préservatifs inquiète, Deutsche Welle/AllAfrica, 22 Jul 2019

Cameroon

Éducation à la sexualité – En quête de la bonne méthode d’enseignement, Cameroon Tribune, 19 Jul 2019