Choices for women Safety and Health
By, Diepiriye S. Kuku-Siemons
The health of Indian women is intrinsically linked to their status in society. The Indian constitution grants women equal rights with men, but strong patriarchal traditions persist, with women’s lives shaped by customs that are centuries old. The fact that the typical female advantage in life expectancy is not seen in India suggests there are systematic problems with women’s health.
A factor that contributes to India’s high maternal mortality rate is the reluctance to seek medical care for pregnancy. The estimates nationwide are that only 40-50 percent of women receive any antenatal care. It is estimated that pregnancy-related deaths account for one-quarter of all fatalities among women aged 15 to 29, with well over two-thirds of them considered preventable. For every maternal death in India, an estimated 20 more women suffer from impaired health.
Research has shown that numerous pregnancies and closely spaced births erode a mother’s nutritional status, which can negatively affect the pregnancy outcome (e.g. premature births or low birth-weight babies). Mothers also suffer various increased health risks.
Even though India has a long history of activism for women’s welfare and rights, and women’s economic rights are well within public debate. Yet, India has ample room for improvement in the area of reproductive rights and choice of bearing a child. The government has launched a range of programs to increase economic opportunities for women. Nonetheless, there appear to be no existing programs to address the cultural and traditional discrimination against women that leads to her abject conditions. There is still a reticence to accept women’s right to choose methods that she considers safe and convenient and help her decide birth of her child. Though strides have been made for reproductive rights, there is still a great deal to be done insofar as reproductive justice.
Since 1970, the use of modern contraceptive methods has risen from 10 percent to 40 percent, yet with great variance between northern and southern India. The most striking aspect of contraceptive use in India is the predominance of sterilization. There have also been programs designed to motivate and inform couples, as well as programs aimed at making services more accessible to couples. This represents important tools of government and private sector agencies concerned with improving maternal and child health. The fact still remains, however, that female sterilization is the main form of contraception in India; over two thirds of the married women using contraception have been sterilized, which accounts for more than 85 percent of total modern contraception use. Further, female sterilization accounts for 90 percent of all sterilizations. This indicates that women overwhelmingly carry the responsibility of reproduction. With a lack of ability to choose from even among such few choices, this responsibility easily becomes a burden.
Unwanted pregnancies terminated by unsafe abortions also negatively impact women’s health. Reducing fertility is an important element in improving the overall health of Indian women. Increasing the use of contraceptives is one way to manage fertility. While the knowledge of contraceptive methods is nearly universal in India, only 36 percent of married women aged 13 to 49 currently use a modern form of contraception.
Contraception Use
Actual use of contraception may be considered a function of:
(1) Interest or motivation in delaying, spacing, or limiting childbearing
(2) Accessibility of contraceptive services to a specific population.
Just and effective access may, in turn, be defined as:
(1)Awareness or knowledge and information of sources of contraceptive methods and other services
(2)Proximity to one or more sources of those services
(3)The extent to which other constraints exist that limit utilization of those services. Such constraints may include the cost of contraception, social barriers, and the quality of services available
The overall poor quality or inaccessibility of reproductive health services harms women’s health. Despite a large increase in the number of women using contraceptives and limiting their fertility, there is still an unmet need for contraceptives in India. Nearly 20 percent of married women in India want to either delay their next birth or have no more children. Most of the unmet need among younger women is for spacing births rather than limiting. This implies a great need for long-term spacing, non-terminal methods. Fortunately, there are a plentitude of available options such as: Oral pills (both low dose combined oral contraceptives and progestin-only contraceptives), the DMPA injectable contraceptive (meant for mid-term spacing), Norplant implants, Intrauterine Devices (IUD’s), condoms, vaginal creams and spermicides and diaphragm cap.
Misinformation is preventing access to safe and effective methods like injectables (DMPA), implants etc. Right information and counseling can increase a woman’s options and give her the freedom to choose a method that is best suited to the woman’s health needs as well as the couples’ consensual reproductive desires. Education, health care services, job training, as well as access and freedom to use reproductive methods and technologies all contribute to an environment where women can decide and make choice that create a healthy and safe life for herself, her family, and her posterity.
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Total words: 848
Diepiriye S. Kuku-siemons
http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-issues-articles/choices-for-women-safety-and-health-76666.html
Why do Pro-Life’ers refuse to admit what Planned Parenthood’s true goals are?
OK… Planned Parenthood does give abortions… We all know this… But that is but ONE of the reasons they exist…
Their goal is to give FULL DISCLOSURE AND SEXUAL EDUCTION to every human they can get to listen so that Abortions are NO LONGER NECESSARY!
Planned Parenthood’s GOAL is to never have to perform another abortion EVER AGAIN. That would be the greatest thing in the universe for them! To put away the equipment and only bring it out in case of rape or the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother.
They want EVERYONE on earth to understand that yes, abstinence is the #1 way to not get pregnant and not get an STD, but since people WILL have sex no matter how much you tell them not to, they should be told the ways to prevent transmission of STD’s and prevent pregnancy so that when they go out and have the sex the abstinence only people tell them not to have, they have the knowledge to stop pregnancy and STD’s.
Why do people that are so anti-abortion stand in the way of the very education and methods of pregnancy prevention that would eliminate the need for a majority of abortions in the first place?
Why do they perpetuate the misinformation that Plan-B (A.K.A. The Morning After Pill) is "Immoral" and "The Abortion Pill" when it is nothing but bold faced lies?
Supporting Abstinence Only Education and the outright lies that are told in those ‘classes’, in the long term, perpetuate the need for abortions and disease that they scream so very loud about.
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So my question is:
If you are anti-abortion, why do you also protest the education that would reduce the need for abortions in the first place?
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http://www.plannedparenthood.org
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate and provider. For more than 90 years, we’ve done more than any other organization in the United States to improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices.
* Planned Parenthood provides quality health care and services.
* Planned Parenthood offers medically accurate information.
* Planned Parenthood advances effective health policies.
Brainwashed ?
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Romans 1:18-32 for starters, and the FACT ‘they’ are in cahoots with, "Anti Christ Liberal Union"!! Period!
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It hurts their feelings that someone would abort a baby.
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Because that doesn’t fit as nicely into their agenda. Also, I’m sure some would argue that sex ed and distributing contraceptives is a bad thing in itself.
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learning about the real world hurts their brain, so they only need a few facts to attack
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The basis of the foundation of Planned Parenthood, as established by its originator is eugenics. She believed that the social underclass was having too many children.
I am pro choice, but I know history.
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Their name is pretty self explanatory, and some of the conspiracy theories that are thrown out about the organization are just ridiculous.
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because any organization that doesn’t spout biblical quotes and put words in simple sentances with with one syllable words for them to understand is "evil".
actually we should applaud the "anti-choicers" (what you call pro life), since they understand the word abortion and it is more than one syllable.
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Because there is no such thing as "pro-life" – it’s a euphemism for the anti-choice movement. It’s not about saving souls, or babies, or any of that. Their goal is to reduce women to the role of gestation tanks.
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Most pro lifers are religious zealots who are incapable of listening to anyone else’s opinions.
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Propaganda is fun
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They have blinders on. Once they so much as see the letters that spell the word "abortion" – even if those letters aren’t actually spelling that word – they go absolutely nuts. They can’t focus on anything else. Remember, to a fundie, there’s no "grey" – its all black and white.
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Utter lies, I know people who worked there and witnessed utter horrors.
There have been enough abortions since the legalization to populate NYC 4 times.
And M Sanger hated black people. Here is what Martin Luther King’s niece said :
Dr. Aveda King, neice of the late great Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., told a gathering ,
….that the killing of a quarter of the black population of the US has not been from the lynch mobs of her childhood days, but from abortionists, who plant their killing centers in minority neighborhoods and prey upon women who think they have no hope.
The great irony, she said, is that abortion has done what the Klan only dreamed of.
YOU ARE A LIAR.
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I think we should focus on those goals of prevention and support rather than the abortion issue. It isn’t going anywhere, it is a necessary thing. lets work on lowering the numbers instead.
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Because ‘Pro-Lifers’ are hypocrites.
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I’m a Christian & personally believe abortion is wrong. & pre-marital sex for that matter. Though I’m not fully pro-life because I think that even if abortion is illegal it will still happen, it just won’t be safe & even more lives will be lost (though it’s never safe for the baby, is it?).
Anyway, I’ve always acknowledged that planned parenthood is not totally a bad thing. I believe that absitnence-only sex-ed is the stupidest thing ever! Teens need to know how to be safe. & That includes a full required health course with ample info on STD’s & protection & birth control.
I agree with the person who said thet we should focus on reducing the need for abortions, not outlawing abortion.
Don’t group all "pro-lifer’s" together. There are always many different levels within any belief.
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why is this in relig???? we know but we arent thrilled
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Abortion is murder. No matter what other things a company/organization is doing, abortion is still murder.
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Yeah that is why the minute you walk into one of their offices they shove an abortion brochure in your face…been there
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apeman605 is correct. The woman who started Planned Parenthood was actually a racist who was trying to keep blacks from having so many kids.
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I do agree with the basic principals and goals of Planned Parenthood organizations and think they do a good service by educating people. My problem is when a woman uses abortion as a form of birth control. I’m talking about women who get pregnant over & over again & have several abortions. I’ve known 2 women who have had 4 each and I feel that is just wrong. Both were smart enough and educated enough to know what got them pregnant in the first place but chose to not use birth control. My wife is 50 yrs old and has never been pregnant because she used the pill & other forms of birth control since the age of 18. My problem is with the clinics continuing to give abortions to those women who are too lazy or don’t care enough to protect themselves. I have never fathered a child either because I always used protection even if the girl told me she was using something. It seems like common sense to me. As for the morning after pill, I think it’s great if people will go get it. At some point, we all have to realize that there are times when abortion is perfectly understandable such as rape or incest. It should not be a form of birth control! I understand that Planned Parenthood is working to stop this through educating people. I don’t blame them for the stupidity of others.
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Whoever commits abortion or assists with an abortion has committed murder. God has commanded people to not kill others. Abortion is killing human life. God also commanded us to not be sexually immoral. Fornication is sin. A person either honors God or they have chosen evil. God’s people honor life. A murderer may have done good in their life, but murder is murder. A society that condones abortion will reap God’s wrath.
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"Abortion is murder"
This is the only response you will get. Rather than consider your ideas, point out the flaws, and give an intelligent response that helps refine your idea, you will only get the brainwashed utterances.
The role of abortion in our society is a sad one. It will never be a joyous procedure by its very nature, and like everything else people will abuse it. However, to say people cannot get them is a large governmental protrusion into our daily lives. Should the government have the final word on your pregnancy?
Personally, I cannot think of a circumstance where I would want my partner to get an abortion. I’m a very lucky person, and I could probably take on that responsibility due to the fact that I would have plenty of people to help me. Others aren’t so lucky. I’ve noticed that many pro-life people are ignorant to anything outside pop culture, and have never experienced living from paycheck to paycheck.
The right to an abortion, no matter how terrible a procedure it is, is still a right. You don’t have to like it, but that’s not an excuse to remain ignorant to the world.
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well pro-lifers have no real arguement, so they resort to lies and ignorance. they THINK that planned parenthood is an abortion industry, even though the majority of their profits come from birth control, sex ed, STI/STD counseling and testing, prenatal care, gynecological exams, and other sexual health issues.
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The main concern of the "Pro-Choicers" is not the guarded protection of the life in the womb. Instead, the main concern is the "rights" of the mother over and against the rights of the child growing in her. The child, who cannot exercise its own will, is killed. And, in order to make the killing more palatable, the baby is called a "fetus", or "non-viable", or "not yet human", etc. This eases the conscience. But, for those who say the baby isn’t ‘viable’, have you ever seen a sonogram of an abortion? You can see the ‘non-viable fetus’ retracting from the instruments of death and seeking self preservation. It wants to live. Some would respond by saying that even a rodent wants to live. But what is in the womb of the mother is human.
The Bible says for people to protect the weak and down trodden. But with abortionists, the rights of the baby are sacrificed to the rights of the mother — and the father doesn’t even have any rights. The mother cries out that the life in here is part of her body and that she has the right to do with her body as she wills.
True love does not seeks its own, but is other centered. It gives. "For God so loved the world he GAVE his only begotten son…" (John 3:16). Abortion is the ultimate in selfishness. It puts the mother’s convenience and desires above the life of her own baby. To kill the baby in the womb means to consider oneself more important than anyone else.
Even in nature, as far as I understand, animals don’t kill what is in their own wombs. People are the only ones who kill their young while still unborn. In this society of "self esteem," "personal accomplishments," and "empowerment," true love is losing out and death is winning.
However, there is hope in Jesus. If you’ve had an abortion, you can be forgiven by the Lord. All you need to do is confess it to the Lord Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. That is what I did years ago when the girl I lived with became pregnant and had an abortion. I was guilty. As a man, the inner turmoil and guilt I felt was horrible. I can’t imagine what it would be life for a woman. Nevertheless, the Lord has graciously forgiven me and her. I say this only in the hopes that others would come to find the sweet forgiveness found in Jesus.
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