Medical Education In Sexual And Reproductive Health

A unique and inspirational guide to the creation of an integrated medical education framework for family planning and reproductive health.

"While this book's focus is on integrating training after contraception and abortion become legal, many, if not all of the systems and approaches described in this book are equally applicable in countries where abortion is illegal or access to abortion and contraception is limited. Our educational concepts and approaches may seem too complex, expensive or impractical for resource-poor countries where family planning services, no matter how poorly delivered, are judged adequate or are so controversial that ignoring them is the safest course. In fact, this attitude perpetuates the status quo, prevents progress or leads to a deterioration of health care. In the context of family planning, this view is particularly detrimental. It reinforces the perception that family planning and reproductive health have little status or value in health care delivery, and therefore in medical education. Ensuring a properly informed, motivated, and caring workforce to drive research and policy must be the aim of every country. Education of that workforce is paramount for promoting health in general and reproductive health in particular. While legalization of abortion is an essential element in promoting women's and public health, the advocates for reform and those responsible for implementation often do not consider the essential link: the systemic education of all involved in providing the care, for which we hope this book will offer inspiration and guidance"--

The concept of reproductive health promises to play a crucial role in improving women's health and rights around the world. It was internationally endorsed by a United Nations conference in 1994, but remains controversial because of the challenge it presents to conservative agencies: it challenges policies of suppressing public discussion on human sexuality and regulating its private expressions. Reproductive Health and Human Rights is designed to equip healthcare providers and administrators to integrate ethical, legal, and human rights principles in protection and promotion of reproductive health, and to inform lawyers and women's health advocates about aspects of medicine and healthcare systems that affect reproduction. Rebecca Cook, Bernard Dickens, and Mahmoud Fathalla, leading international authorities on reproductive medicine, human rights, medical law, and bioethics, integrate their disciplines to provide an accessible but comprehensive introduction to reproductive and sexual health. They analyse fifteen case-studies of recurrent problems, focusing particularly on resource-poor settings. Approaches to resolution are considered at clinical and health system levels. They also consider kinds of social change that would relieve the underlying conditions of reproductive health dilemmas. Supporting the explanatory chapters and case-studies are extensive resources of epidemiological data, human rights documents, and research materials and websites on reproductive and sexual health. In explaining ethics, law, and human rights to healthcare providers and administrators, and reproductive health to lawyers and women's health advocates, the authors explore and illustrate limitations and dysfunctions of prevailing health systems and their legal regulation, but also propose opportunities for reform. They draw on the values and principles of ethics and human rights recognized in national and international legal systems, to guide healthcare providers and administrators, lawyers, governments, and national and international agencies and legal tribunals. Reproductive Health and Human Rights will be an invaluable resource for all those working to improve services and legal protection for women around the world. Updates to this book, and information on translations to French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Arabic are now available at www.law.utoronto.ca/faculty/cook/ReproductiveHealth.html

"This volume presents the highlights of current global thinking about sexual and reproductive health. Major changes have taken place in the last 15 years in the way decision-makers think about the subject and the manner in which programmes deliver comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. The turning point was the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994. ICPD was a watershed for several reasons. First, more than in any of the preceding United Nations population conferences, the issue of population was clearly placed as being central to sustainable development. Second, the narrow focus on population growth ("the population bomb") which had been a neo-Malthusian concern and preoccupation ever since the Club of Rome published its 1972 report Limits to Growth, was replaced by the comprehensive concept of (sexual and) reproductive health. Third, and linked to the definition and introduction of the reproductive health concept, was the strong call for a paradigm shift away from a policy environment driven by demographic considerations (sometimes to the point of using coercion in family planning services in order to reach demographic targets) to an environment that recognized the right of individuals to make their own choices. And, last but not least, ICPD as well as the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) held the following year in Beijing, People's Republic of China, strongly emphasized that the rights of women and men to good sexual and reproductive health are firmly grounded in universal human rights"--Provided by publisher.

Report and background material of a national consultation for gender sensitisation in medical education in India, held at SNDT Women's University, Bombay, by Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies, Trivandrum, India, and Centre for Enquiry into Health & Allied Themes, Bombay, India, on Jan. 31, 2002.

"CIRHT, The Center for International Reproductive Health Training of the University of Michigan."

Sexual and Reproductive Health at a Glance provides a highly-illustrated, visual introduction to all aspects of sexual and reproductive health, from basic clinical examination skills to the management of acute Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancy. Covering topics which are often difficult to access as an undergraduate or junior doctor, Sexual and Reproductive Health at a Glance focuses on the fundamental principles in delivering effective contraception and sexual health care. It features high-yield information on the essential clinical topics covered in the Community Sexual and Reproductive Health (CSRH) curriculum. Presented in the familiar, easy-to-use, at a Glance format, Sexual and Reproductive Health at a Glance: • Provides a quick revision of basic anatomy, physiology and clinical skills • Offers balanced coverage of both male and female GU pathology, STIs and contraception • Includes material on practical gynaecological procedures performed in the out-patient setting • Presents a holistic approach to issues dealt with in this specialty • Takes a global perspective by addressing SRH issues in different cultures and resource-limited settings • Includes a companion website at www.ataglanceseries.com/sexualhealth featuring a selection of case scenarios and interactive flashcards for self-test This brand new title will provide an invaluable resource for medical and healthcare students, junior doctors, SRH trainees and busy clinicians working in other specialties.