Objetivo: Descrever a iniciação sexual e o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e estimar fatores associados a estas condutas, em adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos de idade, de escolas da rede pública de ensino secundário da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra probabilística e representativa de 768 adolescentes com idade entre 13 e 17 anos, de escolas secundárias públicas da Ilha de Santiago em 2007. A associação foi testada pelo teste de proporção, qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Fisher e regressão logística. Para estimar os fatores associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e preservativo, foi analisada a sub-amostra de 368 adolescentes sexualmente ativos. O início da vida sexual, o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e o uso de preservativo foram analisados como desfechos. Foram consideradas variáveis independentes: características sociodemográficas, afetivo-sexuais e comportamentais. Foi utilizada regressão logística para análise simultânea dos fatores, considerando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino, os fatores associados ao início da vida sexual foram: idade maior que 14 anos, ser católico e consumir bebidas alcoólicas. Entre as adolescentes do sexo feminino, possuir mais de nove anos de estudo e parceria afetivosexual foram associados ao início da vida sexual. Entre os 368 adolescentes, 69,3% referiram ter usado métodos anticoncepcionais na sua última relação sexual, sendo mais freqüentes o preservativo (94,9%) e a pílula (26,4%). Fatores significativos e positivamente associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais na última relação foram: morar em município da capital (OR=2,02; IC95%: 1,23;3,32), ter namorado anteriormente à época da entrevista (OR=2,82; IC95%: 1,51;5,26) e ter mais de oito anos de estudo (OR=2,03; IC95%: 1,23;3,33). A prevalência de uso de preservativo na última relação sexual foi de 94,9%. Fatores associados ao uso de preservativo na última relação foram: religião não católica (OR=0,68, IC 95%: 0,52;0,88) e parceria afetivo-sexual no período anterior à pesquisa (OR = 5,15, IC 95%: 1,79; 14,80). Conclusões: Ao contrário de outros contextos da África Subsaariana, foram constadas taxas elevadas de uso de preservativo por adolescentes no início da vida sexual. Os adolescentes podem iniciar a vida sexual de maneira mais segura se tiverem informação, educação sexual e acesso a métodos de prevenção à gravidez e IST. O elevado uso de preservativo e a associação entre escolaridade e utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais entre adolescentes na última relação sexual podem expressar resultados positivos das políticas de saúde sexual e reprodutiva atuais, contribuindo para diminuição da infecção por HIV. Todavia, a influência da religião e da parceria afetivo-sexual no uso de preservativo revela a necessidade de ações de prevenção voltadas para segmentos religiosos não católicos e que não possuem parceria afetivo-sexual. Este estudo oferece elementos para a reflexão sobre o delineamento de políticas de redução da vulnerabilidade dos jovens às IST/Aids e sobre os limites e desafios da promoção do uso do preservativo e educação sexual focando as relações desiguais de gênero. / Objective: To describe the onset of sexual life and the use of contraceptive methods and to estimate factors associated among adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a probabilistic and representative sample of 768 adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools was carried out in Santiago Island, Cape Verde, in 2007. The association was verified by means of test of proportions, Pearsons chi-square, Fishers exact and logistic regression. The subsample of 368 sexually active adolescents was analyzed to estimate the factors associated with contraceptive methods and condom use. The first sexual intercourse and contraceptive methods and condom use were analyzed as outcomes. Sociodemographic, sexual-affective and behavioral characteristics were the independent variables. Logistic regression was used for simultaneous analysis of factors at a 5% significance level. Results: Among male adolescents, the factors associated with the first sexual intercourse were: age over 14 years, being catholic and alcohol consumption. For female adolescents, having more than nine years of schooling and sexual-affective partnership were associated with the first sexual intercourse. Among the 368 adolescents, 69.3% reported use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse; the most frequent methods were condom (94.9%) and pill (26.4%). Significant and positive factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse were: living in the capital (OR=2.02; 95%CI: 1.23;3.32), having dated previously the study (OR=2.82; 95%CI: 1.51;5.26) and having more than eight years of schooling (OR=2.03; 95%CI: 1.23;3.33). The prevalence of condom use in the last sexual intercourse was 94.9%. Factors associated with condom use in the last sexual intercourse were: being non-catholic (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.52;0.88) and having affective-sexual partnership previously the study (OR=5.15, 95%CI: 1.79;14.80). Conclusions: Contrary to other Sub-Saharan Africa contexts, high rates of condom use in adolescents first sexual intercourse were observed. Adolescents are able to begin sexual life more safely as long as they are provide with information, sexual education and access to contraceptive and STI prevention methods. The high condom use and the association between schooling and contraceptive methods utilization in the last sexual intercourse may express positive outcomes from the current sexual and reproductive health policies, accounting for the decrease in HIV infection. However, the influence of religion and sexual-affective partnership on condom use indicates the need for preventive measures targeted at noncatholic groups and those without affective-sexual partnership. This study contributes for the reflection upon the design of policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young people to STI/AIDS and the limits and challenges to promote condom use and sexual education focusing on gender inequalities.

Introdução: A mortalidade materna é um grande problema de Saúde Pública no Brasil e no mundo. Atinge muitas mulheres e representa um indicador de pobreza e iniquidade social. Objetivo: Analisar as mortes maternas ocorridas no município de São Paulo em uma série histórica de 2000 a 2008. Métodos: Estudo ecológico, que analisou os óbitos maternos ocorridos em residentes do município de São Paulo entre os anos de 2000 a 2008. Foram utilizados dados das Declarações de Óbito e dos relatórios do Comitê de Mortalidade Materna. O mapa de exclusão/inclusão social e as áreas homogêneas dos 96 distritos administrativos foram utilizados como unidades de análise. Foram calculadas as razões de mortalidade materna, o percentual de subnotificação de causas maternas declaradas e fator de correção. Foram analisadas as causas que ocultavam os óbitos maternos. A análise de tendência da mortalidade para o município foi realizada por meio de modelos de regressão polinomial e a para análise de correlação utilizou-se o teste de correlação de Pearson. Foi considerado o nível de significância de 5 por cento (p<0,05). Para análise do preenchimento das variáveis 43 e 44, as Declarações de óbito foram localizadas no arquivo morto da Prefeitura Municipal. Resultados: Ocorreram 877 óbitos. A Razão de Mortalidade Materna (RMM) foi de 53,2 óbitos/100.000 Nascidos Vivos. A série histórica apresentou tendência decrescente estatisticamente significativa, com redução de 1,73 ao ano. As menores RMM foram encontradas nas áreas homogêneas de menor exclusão social, e as maiores, nas áreas de maior exclusão. As áreas mais excluídas apresentaram risco de morte materna aproximadamente três vezes maior que na área menos excluída. A correlação de Pearson revelou moderada correlação negativa entre a RMM e o índice de exclusão/inclusão global (-0,37), o índice de desenvolvimento humano (-0,40) e de autonomia (-0,36). As principais causas de morte materna foram as obstétricas indiretas. O percentual médio de subnotificação das causas maternas foi de 45,38 por cento, e o fator de correção médio foi 1,83. Destacou-se o grande percentual de causas mal definidas declaradas. Entre 2004 a 2006, 43,4 por cento das declarações apresentaram os campos 43 e 44 preenchidos corretamente. A maioria das declarações apresentou três diagnósticos informados. Conclusões: A RMM mostrou relação com as condições socioeconômicas. É necessário maior investimento em treinamentos para o correto preenchimento das Declarações de óbito. É necessário a implementação mais efetiva de ações de saúde voltadas para a mortalidade materna / Background: Maternal mortality is a big problem of public health in Brazil and in the world. Affects many women and is an indicator of poverty and social inequity. Objective: To analyse maternal deaths occurred in the city of São Paulo in a series from 2000 to 2008. Methods: Ecologic study, which analyzed maternal deaths that occurred among residents of city of São Paulo during the years 2000 to 2008. Data were used from deaths certificates and reports of the Committee on Maternal Mortality. The map of social inclusion/exclusion and homogeneous areas of the 96 districts were used as units of analysis. We calculated maternal mortality ratios, the percentage of underreporting of maternal causes and the correction factor. We analyzed the causes that hid maternal deaths. The analysis of trends in mortality for the city was conducted using polynomial regression models and for correlation analysis used the test of correlation of Pearson. It was considered the significance level of 5 per cent (p<0,05). For examination of completing the variables 43 and 44, the deaths certificates were located in the archive of the city. Results: There were 877 deaths. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) was 53,2/100.000 live births. The series showed trend decreasing statistically significant, with a decrease of 1,73 per year. The lower MMR were found in homogeneous areas with lower social exclusion and higher than areas with higher exclusion. Areas most excluded showed risk of maternal deaths about three times higher than in area less excluded. The correlation of Pearson showed moderate negative correlation between MMR and index inclusion/exclusion overall (-0,37), the index of human development (-0,40) and the index of autonomy (-0,36). The main causes of maternal deaths were obstetric indirect. The mean percentage of underreporting of maternal causes was 45,38 per cent , and the correction factor medium was 1,83. We emphasize the high percentage of illdefined causes declared. During 2004 and 2006, 43,4 per cent of the declarations presented fields 43 and 44 filled in correctly. Most declarations presented three diagnoses listed. Conclusion: The MMR showed relationship with socioeconomic conditions. It is necessary greater investment in training for correct completion of death certificates. It is necessary the implementation more effective heath actions to maternal mortality

A vitamina D é uma molécula versátil que possui ação genômica e não genômica em múltiplas reações dos seus órgãos que possuem a expressão de seu receptor (VDR), inclusive do trato reprodutivo de ambos os sexos, além dos seus clássicos efeitos no metabolismo ósseo, e na homeostase do cálcio e fosfato. Novas evidências a partir de estudos experimentais e com humanos sugerem que a vitamina D está envolvida nas funções dos órgãos reprodutivos masculinos, influenciando na espermatogênese. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência dos níveis séricos de 25(OH)D com os parâmetros de qualidade seminal em homens normozoospérmicos e com alterações nos parâmetros seminais. Nesse estudo retrospectivo, dos 508 pacientes atendidos no período de 2009 até 2017 com todas as dosagens séricas e análise seminal, selecionamos os dados de 260 pacientes que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão, de uma clínica médica de Andrologia da cidade de São Paulo. Eles foram divididos em dois grupos: Grupo normozoospermicos (NZG; N=124) e Grupo com parâmetros Seminais Alterados (SAG; N=136). Foram considerados as dosagens séricas de 25(OH)D, e as variáveis de confusão ambientais, como uso de álcool, tabaco, sedentarismo, índice de massa corporal (IMC), e presença de varicocele. As analises seminais foram realizadas e classificadas de acordo com o manual da OMS 2010, e foram consideradas para o estudo os parâmetros de pH, volume, motilidade total e progressiva, morfologia por OMS e Kruger. Além disso, foram consideradas os exames de Cariótipo e Micro deleção no Cromossomo Y. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o SPSS versão 19.0. Correlação de Spearman, Mann-Whitney e um modelo de regressão multivariada foram aplicadas. Significância considerada foi de P <= 0.05. A distribuição das médias dos níveis séricos de 25(OH)D foi significativamente menor nos pacientes do grupo com parâmetros seminais alterados (P =0.016), e foi encontrado uma correlação positiva entre os níveis séricos de 25(OH)D e todos os parâmetros de qualidade seminal analisados, excetos de pH e volume. Foi descrita correlação forte entre 25(OH)D e motilidade total (r=0,225; P =0,001). Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo mostram que os níveis séricos de 25(OH)D possuem uma correlação positiva com os parâmetros de motilidade, concentração e morfologia do espermatozoide, de forma independente. Esses achados indicam que a adequação dos níveis de vitamina D podem ser um importante coadjuvante no tratamento da infertilidade masculina / Vitamin D is a versatile signaling molecule, that targets also male reproductive organs, in addition to the classic effects on bone, calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Accumulating evidence from animal and human studies suggests that it is involved in reproduction functions in both genders. This study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D correlation with semen quality in male with seminal parameters alteration and normozoospermic diagnosis. We selected 260 men (aged 18 to 60 y.o.) from a private andrology reference medical clinic for this observatory study. They were divided in two groups: Normal seminal parameters (NZG N=124) and Abnormal seminal parameters (SAG N=136). 25(OH) vitamin D serum concentration were collected such as lifestyle data available. Semen was analyzed according to WHO 2010 guidelines, ph, volume, motility, concentration, morphology, strict criteria and sperm functional tests were performed (ROS, CK, beads). In addition, karyotype, frequency of varicocele, smoking, alcohol ingestion, and body composition were considered. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS program version 19.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Spearman correlation, Mann-Whitney test and regression model were applied. Statistical significance was considered with P value < 0. 05. The 25(OH)D average distribution concentration were significant lower in Abnormal seminal parameters group (P =0.016), and all parameters had a positive correlation with 25(OH)D serum levels. The highest coefficient value was observed in the association of total motility with Vitamin D (P =0.001). Our results demonstrated that 25(OH)D levels has a positive influence on spermatogenesis and semen quality, suggesting that vitamin D replacement should highly be concerned on male fertility treatment

Bakgrund: Ungdomars sexuella och reproduktiva hälsa och rättigheter (SRHR) är ett viktigt folkhälsoarbete och barnmorskan har en central roll när det kommer till att nå ungdomarna med kunskap och information. Det förefaller finnas få studier om barnmorskors uppfattningar om vad ungdomar behöver veta mer om när det kommer till deras sexuella och reproduktiva hälsa och rättigheter. Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva barnmorskors uppfattningar om vad ungdomar behöver veta mer om inom området sexuell och reproduktiv hälsa och rättigheter. Metod: Kvalitativ intervjustudie med åtta semistrukturerade intervjuer med barnmorskor. Datamaterial analyserades med en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat: Barnmorskorna uppfattade att ungdomarna hade behov av att veta mer om kroppsutveckling. Även mer om sexuellt överförbara infektioner (STI) och preventivmedel samt att killarna behövde veta mer om deras reproduktiva ansvar. Ungdomarna behövde också veta mer om sexuella relationer och rättigheter, innefattande bland annat lagar och homosexualitet. Barnmorskorna ser idag en ökning av sexuella problem bland ungdomarna och barnmorskorna hade en gemensam uppfattning om att det beror på pornografikonsumtion. Slutsats: Barnmorskor har insikt i vad ungdomar behöver veta mer om inom SRHR. Det finns fortfarande brister i undervisning och utbildning till ungdomar inom SRHR och det är angeläget att fokusera och investera i arbeten för att stärka och främja ungdomars SRHR. Klinisk tillämpbarhet: Denna studie lyfter barnmorskors uppfattningar om vad ungdomar behöver veta mer om inom ämnet SRHR. Studien kan användas i klinisk verksamhet till förbättringsarbeten för olika yrkeskategorier som arbetar med ungdomar gällande SRHR. / Background: The sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young people is an important public health work and the midwife has a central role in reaching the young people with knowledge and information. There seem to be few studies on midwives' perceptions about what young people need to know more about when it comes to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the views of midwives about what young people need to know more about in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Method: Qualitative interview study with eight semi-structured interviews with midwives. The data material was analyzed with a qualitative content analysis with inductive approach. Result: The midwives perceived that the young people needed to know more about body development. In addition, more about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and contraceptives and that the young men needed to know more about their reproductive responsibilities. The youth also needed to know more about sexual relations and rights, including, among other things, laws and homosexuality. The midwives today see an increase in sexual problems among young people and the midwives had a common view that this is due to pornography consumption. Conclusion: Midwives have insight into what young people need to know more about in SRHR. There are still shortcomings in education for young people within SRHR, and it is important to focus and invest in work to strengthen and promote young people's SRHR. Clinical application: This study highlights the views of midwives on what young people need to know more about in the subject of SRHR. The study can be used in clinical activities for improvement work for various occupational categories that work with young people regarding SRHR.

Objetivo: Descrever a iniciação sexual e o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e estimar fatores associados a estas condutas, em adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos de idade, de escolas da rede pública de ensino secundário da Ilha de Santiago, Cabo Verde. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com amostra probabilística e representativa de 768 adolescentes com idade entre 13 e 17 anos, de escolas secundárias públicas da Ilha de Santiago em 2007. A associação foi testada pelo teste de proporção, qui-quadrado de Pearson ou Fisher e regressão logística. Para estimar os fatores associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e preservativo, foi analisada a sub-amostra de 368 adolescentes sexualmente ativos. O início da vida sexual, o uso de métodos anticoncepcionais e o uso de preservativo foram analisados como desfechos. Foram consideradas variáveis independentes: características sociodemográficas, afetivo-sexuais e comportamentais. Foi utilizada regressão logística para análise simultânea dos fatores, considerando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Entre os adolescentes do sexo masculino, os fatores associados ao início da vida sexual foram: idade maior que 14 anos, ser católico e consumir bebidas alcoólicas. Entre as adolescentes do sexo feminino, possuir mais de nove anos de estudo e parceria afetivosexual foram associados ao início da vida sexual. Entre os 368 adolescentes, 69,3% referiram ter usado métodos anticoncepcionais na sua última relação sexual, sendo mais freqüentes o preservativo (94,9%) e a pílula (26,4%). Fatores significativos e positivamente associados ao uso de métodos anticoncepcionais na última relação foram: morar em município da capital (OR=2,02; IC95%: 1,23;3,32), ter namorado anteriormente à época da entrevista (OR=2,82; IC95%: 1,51;5,26) e ter mais de oito anos de estudo (OR=2,03; IC95%: 1,23;3,33). A prevalência de uso de preservativo na última relação sexual foi de 94,9%. Fatores associados ao uso de preservativo na última relação foram: religião não católica (OR=0,68, IC 95%: 0,52;0,88) e parceria afetivo-sexual no período anterior à pesquisa (OR = 5,15, IC 95%: 1,79; 14,80). Conclusões: Ao contrário de outros contextos da África Subsaariana, foram constadas taxas elevadas de uso de preservativo por adolescentes no início da vida sexual. Os adolescentes podem iniciar a vida sexual de maneira mais segura se tiverem informação, educação sexual e acesso a métodos de prevenção à gravidez e IST. O elevado uso de preservativo e a associação entre escolaridade e utilização de métodos anticoncepcionais entre adolescentes na última relação sexual podem expressar resultados positivos das políticas de saúde sexual e reprodutiva atuais, contribuindo para diminuição da infecção por HIV. Todavia, a influência da religião e da parceria afetivo-sexual no uso de preservativo revela a necessidade de ações de prevenção voltadas para segmentos religiosos não católicos e que não possuem parceria afetivo-sexual. Este estudo oferece elementos para a reflexão sobre o delineamento de políticas de redução da vulnerabilidade dos jovens às IST/Aids e sobre os limites e desafios da promoção do uso do preservativo e educação sexual focando as relações desiguais de gênero. / Objective: To describe the onset of sexual life and the use of contraceptive methods and to estimate factors associated among adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools in Santiago Island, Cape Verde. Methods: A cross-sectional study with a probabilistic and representative sample of 768 adolescents aged 13-17 years from public high schools was carried out in Santiago Island, Cape Verde, in 2007. The association was verified by means of test of proportions, Pearsons chi-square, Fishers exact and logistic regression. The subsample of 368 sexually active adolescents was analyzed to estimate the factors associated with contraceptive methods and condom use. The first sexual intercourse and contraceptive methods and condom use were analyzed as outcomes. Sociodemographic, sexual-affective and behavioral characteristics were the independent variables. Logistic regression was used for simultaneous analysis of factors at a 5% significance level. Results: Among male adolescents, the factors associated with the first sexual intercourse were: age over 14 years, being catholic and alcohol consumption. For female adolescents, having more than nine years of schooling and sexual-affective partnership were associated with the first sexual intercourse. Among the 368 adolescents, 69.3% reported use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse; the most frequent methods were condom (94.9%) and pill (26.4%). Significant and positive factors associated with the use of contraceptive methods in the last sexual intercourse were: living in the capital (OR=2.02; 95%CI: 1.23;3.32), having dated previously the study (OR=2.82; 95%CI: 1.51;5.26) and having more than eight years of schooling (OR=2.03; 95%CI: 1.23;3.33). The prevalence of condom use in the last sexual intercourse was 94.9%. Factors associated with condom use in the last sexual intercourse were: being non-catholic (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.52;0.88) and having affective-sexual partnership previously the study (OR=5.15, 95%CI: 1.79;14.80). Conclusions: Contrary to other Sub-Saharan Africa contexts, high rates of condom use in adolescents first sexual intercourse were observed. Adolescents are able to begin sexual life more safely as long as they are provide with information, sexual education and access to contraceptive and STI prevention methods. The high condom use and the association between schooling and contraceptive methods utilization in the last sexual intercourse may express positive outcomes from the current sexual and reproductive health policies, accounting for the decrease in HIV infection. However, the influence of religion and sexual-affective partnership on condom use indicates the need for preventive measures targeted at noncatholic groups and those without affective-sexual partnership. This study contributes for the reflection upon the design of policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of young people to STI/AIDS and the limits and challenges to promote condom use and sexual education focusing on gender inequalities.

This thesis explores women’s experiences of maternal birth injuries, focusing on how gender and sexuality norms affect diagnostics, everyday life and healthcare in Sweden. The empirical material consists of 383 answers to an online questionnaire. The theoretical approaches are centred on how bodies are viewed and valued in a Western society, especially in connection to the social construction of health and illness in relation to gender and reproduction. Existing medical descriptions of maternal birth injuries are explored in comparison to the participants’ own definitions. No clear definition is found and the analysis demonstrates that maternal birth injuries can cause both mental and physical injuries/consequences, arising from both vaginal and caesarean births, and a shift away from mainly focusing on physical damage caused by vaginal delivery is suggested. Everyday life is affected in several ways by the complications that the birth injuries lead to, and many participants suffer severely, both physically and mentally. A majority of the participants seek care for these complications, and their experiences of Swedish healthcare reveal an attitude wherein maternal birth injuries are seen as something normal. Many do not receive sufficient care, if treated at all, and gender and sexuality norms affect how medical personnel act and speak. This demonstrates patriarchal structures, medical hierarchies and heterosexual norms within Swedish healthcare, which devalue female-coded bodies as well as their pain and pleasures. Hence, this thesis addresses the importance of researching the effect of underlying structures on care of women in general, and of maternal birth injuries in particular. / Den här uppsatsen handlar om förlossningsskador och utgår från kvinnors erfarenheter av bemötande och behandling i Sverige. Materialet består av 383 enkätsvar. De teoretiska utgångspunkterna fokuserar på hur kroppar är värderade samt hur sjukdom och hälsa är socialt konstruerade, speciellt i relation till genus och reproduktion i västerländska kontexter. Existerande medicinska förklaringar av förlossningsskador jämförs med deltagarnas egna definitioner och det framkommer att ingen entydig definition existerar. Nuvarande fokus är främst på fysiska skador från vaginala förlossningar men eftersom analysen visar att kejsarsnittsförlossningar också kan leda till förlossningsskador samt resultera i både mentala och fysiska komplikationer/skador, föreslås ett vidgande av innebörden i termen. Vardagen påverkas påtagligt för de flesta med förlossningsskador, och många lider både fysiskt och mentalt. En majoritet av deltagarna har sökt vård men deras erfarenheter av svensk sjukvård visar på flera brister och främst en attityd av att förlossningsskador är något normalt. Flertalet får bristfällig vård om de ens behandlas, och normativa föreställningar om genus samt sexualitet påverkar hur personalen talar och agerar. Underliggande patriarkala maktstrukturer och medicinska hierarkier som nedvärderar kvinnligt-kodade kroppars erfarenheter, lust och smärta blir framträdande. Den här uppsatsen visar därför på vikten av att utforska underliggande strukturers påverkan på vård av kvinnor generellt och speciellt i relation till förlossningsskador.

Background Reproductive health and health events associated with pregnancy including induced abortions are among the most important factors for the health of fertile women. Adverse outcomes have an impact on women’s reproductive health and their overall health as well as the health of their offspring. Pregnancy and child bearing take place within a cultural context. Risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes depend on factors both associated with the individual woman as well as contextual factors. Aims This thesis investigates reproductive health indicators and their determinants for women in a rural district in Vietnam with special focus on adverse pregnancy outcomes and their determinants. In addition, this thesis explores the perspectives and experiences among pregnant women and health care professionals on maternal health care in Vietnam and risks during pregnancy and delivery. Methods The studies used quantitative and qualitative methods.  In the quantitative studies a total of 4,396 women reporting 5,838 pregnancies, and 5,521 infants were included. Parametric and non parametric tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.   For the estimation of small for gestational age a population-specific reference curve was constructed based on the mean birth weight at term in the study population. In the qualitative studies data were collected from eight focus group discussions, four with pregnant women and four with health care professionals. Manifest and latent content analysis was applied.  Main findings Women belonging to an ethnic minority or women giving birth at home were at increased risk of stillbirth.  The risk of induced abortion increased with maternal age. Neonatal mortality was estimated to 11.6 per 1000 live births and perinatal mortality to 25.0 per 1000 births. The prevalence of small for gestational age was estimated to 6.4%. Risk factors for small for gestational age included women in farming occupations and post-term birth. There was a marked decrease in perinatal mortality after 33 weeks of gestation. Contextual conditions influenced both pregnant women’s use of maternal health care and the performance of the health care professionals. The use of maternal health care was influenced by economical conditions as well as cultural norms that impeded women’s autonomy. Structural constraints included inadequate financing of the health system, including lack of staff, insufficient professional re-training, and inadequate equipment. Pregnant women in rural Vietnam created a strategy to promote a healthy pregnancy through lifestyle adjustments, gathering of information, and seeking timely medical care. Insights in pregnancy-related conditions were sought from various sources and were influenced both by Vietnamese traditions and modern medical knowledge. Conclusions Knowledge about pregnancy complications and their related signs and symptoms, and a high confidence in the maternal health care probably contribute to the relatively good maternal health status and pregnancy outcomes in Vietnam. To improve perinatal and neonatal outcomes there is a need to ensure access for all pregnant women to delivery units with surgical capacity in case of an obstetrical emergency. Also, a higher proportion of premature infants need to be born at units with access to neonatal care. This may be achieved by an improved system for referral including capacity of medical care during transportation. Other desirable improvements include antenatal identification of small for gestational age foetuses. In our study the induced abortion rate increased with maternal age and was highest among married women, indicating that induced abortions may be used as a method for family planning. The cultural norms in Vietnam limit women’s autonomy and reduce their possibility to make independent decisions about their reproductive health. Our studies emphasize the importance of adequate access for all women to maternal health care adjusted for their individual needs. A better understanding is needed of context-specific factors that influence couples’ choice of family planning methods, place of birth, and maternal health care. The communication between pregnant women and health care professionals needs further investigation. This knowledge is essential in order to develop reproductive health services that are accessible, acceptable and affordable to all.

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On s’accorde à dire que les adolescents constituent l’avenir quel que soit le temps et l’espace considéré. Il est également reconnu que le développement de leur capital humain et social, nécessaire pour une vie adulte de qualité, dépend des conditions dans lesquelles ils vivent et de l’environnement dans lequel s’opérera la transition vers cette vie adulte. Plus que dans toute autre partie du monde, ce constat est encore plus d’actualité en Afrique sub-Saharienne où, à la situation socio-économique déjà précaire, s’ajoutent d’importants problèmes de santé sexuelle et reproductive auxquels font face les adolescents en particulier le VIH. Conscients de l’enjeu majeur que représente la santé des adolescents, les gouvernements en Afrique sub-Saharienne, aidés en cela par les organismes non-gouvernementaux et toute la communauté internationale, ont inscrit la promotion de stratégies efficientes en santé sexuelle et reproductive des adolescents comme haute priorité dans leurs agendas. Mais force est de constater que l’élaboration et la mise en œuvre de telles stratégies supposent la production de connaissances sans cesse actualisées ainsi que la formulation de politiques innovatrices basées sur des données probantes et éprouvées en matière de santé sexuelle et reproductive, ce qui n’est pas toujours le cas. De plus, le fait que ce segment particulier de la population ne constitue pas un groupe homogène pose un défi supplémentaire quant à l’élaboration de stratégies généralisables. Fort de ce qui précède, le présent travail, qui porte sur le Burkina Faso, le Ghana, le Malawi et l’Ouganda, fait d’abord le point sur les problèmes majeurs de santé sexuelle et reproductive auxquels fait face cette frange spécifique de la population, tout en jetant un regard critique sur les efforts déployés par les sciences sociales pour les analyser. Il apporte ensuite des réponses à des questions spécifiques de recherche que nous nous sommes posées à travers les trois articles qui constituent l’ossature de cette thèse et dont l’essentiel de l’analyse empirique peut être résumé comme suit : Dans le premier article, nous sommes partis du constat suivant : dans les quatre pays étudiés, une importante proportion des adolescents qui se déclarent non encore sexuellement actifs pensent paradoxalement que leurs chances de contracter le VIH sont très grandes. Face à un tel constat, la question que l’on est en droit de se poser est celle de savoir pourquoi sont-ils si préoccupés? Quels sont les facteurs qui déterminent cette perception du risque? Les résultats confirment ce que certaines études ont déjà démontré à savoir que les individus élaborent leur propre définition du risque qui peut ne pas se résumer nécessairement à une opposition binaire «risque/aucun risque», mais est plutôt fonction des caractéristiques individuelles mais aussi du contexte social et épidémiologique dans lesquels ils vivent. Le deuxième article de la thèse analyse le contexte dans lequel s’opère la transition vers le premier rapport sexuel chez les adolescentes des quatre pays étudiés. Il part du constat selon lequel les recherches ont très souvent abordé les comportements sexuels des adolescents sous un angle marqué par la dichotomie entre les «sexuellement actifs» et les «non encore sexuellement actifs». Or le calendrier de l’entrée en sexualité et le contexte dans lequel elle a lieu (dans l’union ou hors union) sont non seulement des marqueurs des comportements sexuels à risque vis-à-vis du VIH, mais ils conditionnent aussi et surtout la qualité de la transition vers l’entrée dans la vie adulte. Les résultats montrent ici également que le contrôle parental est significativement associé à une faible probabilité pour les adolescents d’initier la sexualité hors de l’union. Quant au troisième article, il se penche sur un cas précis de comportement à risques chez les adolescents: le multipartenariat sexuel aggravé par la non utilisation systématique du condom, pourtant le seul moyen pour l’instant (en dehors de l’abstinence) de se protéger contre les infections sexuellement transmissibles et le VIH/SIDA. Les résultats montrent entre autres que le contrôle parental est significativement associé à une faible probabilité de comportement sexuel à risque, défini ici comme étant la co-occurrence de plusieurs partenaires sexuels au cours de 12 derniers mois et la non-utilisation systématique du condom avec chacun des partenaires. Sur un plan programmatique, ce résultat est plutôt encourageant car il prouve que l’autorité parentale jadis considérée comme érodée, demeure une pierre angulaire dans les stratégies de prévention du VIH chez les adolescents. / Adolescent girls and boys represent key segments of the population for the future in all societies across the world. The readiness of these young people to assume adult roles and responsibilities in the future, both for themselves and for their countries, depends in large part on how successfully they manage their critical transitions to adulthood and on the support they receive from their families, communities and governments during this period of their lives. Investment in adolescent sexual and reproductive health is likely to be of enormous importance to the development prospects of sub-Saharan Africa and the future wellbeing of African populations, as it enables adolescents to grow into healthy and productive adults. While protecting the health of young Africans is recognized as a priority at the community, national and international levels, policies and programs, if they are to be effective, need to be evidence-based and appropriate to each local context. This thesis focuses on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in four sub-Saharan African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi and Uganda. It aims to expand the knowledge base needed to develop and implement programs and policies that will increase adolescents’ ability to prevent HIV and contribute to the creation of a safe and supportive environment essential to their growth and development. The research is organized around three empirical articles along with introductive chapters and a general conclusion, and is designed to answer a number of questions of policy importance. The first article deals with the perceptions of HIV risks by adolescents who are not yet sexually active. The topic is of considerable interest because of its potential importance for HIV prevention programs, particularly when sexually inexperienced adolescents report high levels of concern over their likelihood of contracting HIV over time. Findings show that there is no single influence on adolescents’ HIV risk perception, but rather a range of determinants that operate at the individual, environmental and community levels. This finding suggests that programs and policies should take into account factors that extend beyond the characteristics of adolescents when addressing their sexual and reproductive health needs. The second article of the thesis examines the context in which adolescent girls’ transition to first sexual intercourse occurs in the four countries. Going beyond the usual dichotomy of sexual experienced versus inexperienced adolescents, it analyzes simultaneously the factors associated with sexual initiation before and within the first union for adolescent girls aged 12-19. The results show that a high level parental monitoring is significantly associated with a decreased risk of adolescents’ becoming sexually active prior to marriage. A policy recommendation of this study is that public and nongovernmental organizations need to more fully integrate parents into their programs on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The third article examines two specific aspects of sexual risk behaviour among adolescents: multipartnership and condom use. Our findings show that adolescents who report high levels of parental control are less likely to have multiple sexual partners. In terms of policy and programmatic implications, this result again suggests that parents’ influence over their children’s behavior, widely assumed to have declined over time, remains important to reproductive health interventions in diverse contexts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Though Argentine women have made marked advancements in terms of equality since the Latin American country’s return to democracy in the 1980s, they still face barriers to the full exercise of their sexual and reproductive rights in a number of arenas. For low-income women, the added dimension of poverty further erodes the ability to seek necessary services to maintain sexual and reproductive health. As a result, high rates of maternal mortality and adolescent pregnancy persist. Given the broad socioeconomic inequality among Argentine provinces, the policies created by Argentina’s government to address sexual and reproductive health lack widespread implementation and oversight. Furthermore, a strong opposition to these policies is in place, promoted by the heavy presence of the Catholic Church in Argentine institutions and society as well as deeply entrenched perceptions of motherhood. This study identifies the social, economic, legal, cultural, and political challenges that face the sexual and reproductive autonomy of Argentine women, evaluates the current policies in place to address them, and projects potential solutions for Argentina’s government, women’s movement, and NGOs.