The Center for International Reproductive Health Training at the University of Michigan (CIRHT) partners with academic institutions in developing countries to integrate competency-based pre-service training in Family Planning and Comprehensive Abortion Care, revamping research culture and improving the quality of care, ultimately strengthening capacity for life-saving reproductive health services.
This news review is one way we hope to keep an ongoing conversation with our partners and the global reproductive health community. (Hyperlinks in the text lead to relevant articles.)
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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.
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Vicitms of Sexual Violence
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We have added an important lecture to the Ethiopian partner Family Planning multimedia course materials.
Management of Victims of Sexual Assault
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The video can be seen
here
.
Click
here to access more Learning Coursework Resources and videos via the Learning Resources section of the UM-CIRHT website.
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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."
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“After years of preparation, the results of the rigorous ECHO study were released on June 13, sharing a mix of good and sobering news. On the very positive side - there was no substantial difference in risk of HIV acquisition among women using DMPA-IM, the LNG implant, or the copper IUD. These methods are safe and highly effective, even in areas where HIV prevalence is high. That’s the good news.”
However, it would be a huge mistake to conclude that all is well: the study has generated other findings that clearly show business as usual is woefully insufficient and fundamental change is desperately needed.” Among which, it did point out a high HIV incidence, as well as other high rates of other SDIs in the study participants.
Lisa Noguchi’s commentary “How should we listen to ECHO,” published in The Lancet, concludes, “Decision makers need to listen to the voices of women and girls.”
ECHO Study Release
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The US abortion access battle
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The controversial "
abortion reversal" laws are being put to a scientific test, to the dismay of anti-abortion advocates.
For the full report, click
here.
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Midwifery Champion - Correction
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Last month we saluted our colleague in Ethiopia, Selamawit Lake Fenta, who was chosen by the International Confederation of Midwives as an #IDM2019 Champion for the International Day of the Midwife.
We wrongly identified her university affiliation: She is head of the Department of Midwifery, College of Medical and Health Sciences at Bahir Dar University.
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More Conference Materials Available
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Session videos and Powerpoint presentations have been added to the archive of the UM-CIRHT conference in Addis Ababa. Have a look at:
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July 2019 African News References
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News from 31 countries across Africa!
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Angola
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
DRC
Egypt
Ethiopia
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Republic of Congo
Rwanda
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
South Africa
South Sudan
Tanzania
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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June 2019 African News References
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News from 28 countries across Africa!
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Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
CAR
Cameroon
Cote d’Ivoire
DRC
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Lesotho
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
South Africa
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe
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Family Planning Learning Resources
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Additional learning resources, including instructional videos and University of Michigan OB-Gyn Grand Rounds have been added. Click on the icon below for more:
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Research resources can be found on the Taubman Health Sciences Library Open Access Research Guide, including:
- RSS feeds to keep current in the biomedical and health sciences literature
- Research and clinical (point of care) databases
- Selected open access journals
- Freely available online health sciences books
- Health and epidemiology data sources
- Evidence-based medicine (EBM) guides and resources
- Selected freely available health-related mobile resources
The objective of the guide is to be a starting point for use of evaluated information resources in education, research and practice, and not a exhaustive content repository.
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Research and Resource References for July
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2019
Blueprint for Sexual and Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice
, July 2019; see also
Describing 'Future We Want to Live In' Scores of Groups Unveil New Blueprint for Reproductive Rights, Common Dreams, 15 Jul 2019;
Blueprint For Sexual And Reproductive Health, Rights, Justice Released, Endorsed By 80 Organizations, KFF, 16 Jul 2019
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Research and Resource References for June
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Global and General News References for July
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Global and General News References for June
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Reproductive Health Professionals Changing Lives
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