Most of diseases arise from world’s poverty belt of tropical and subtropical region, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa and 67 per cent of the total population are women, thus focus lies on women for improving the global health condition. The health scope of developed or developing countries monitors men’s health while overlooking women’s health.

Primary health care programs need to focus on improving family planning and reproductive health. Awareness of reproductive health and family planning services among women helps to create healthier households as well as reduction in maternal and child deaths. This strengthens countrys economic growth, employment, food security, health and other critical areas of social and economic development.

Reproductive health in Tropics

The key to promote development and reduce poverty is to improve sexual and reproductive health in tropical and subtropical areas. The human right for womens health goes beyond their reproductive capacity and reproductive health services are no longer limited to population control and safe motherhood. The leading cause of death for women of childbearing age worldwide is reproductive health problems and many women still have little access to reproductive health services, such as family planning, maternal health care and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The family planning and reproductive health programs target issues of child marriage, gender based violence, sexually transmitted diseases and post abortion care. Men and women ought to have access to affordable, safe and effective methods ofbirth control; healthcare servicesof reproductive medicineand implementation of health education programs forsafepregnancyandchildbirth.

Importance of Family Planning

The foremost global reproductive health issue is family planning that determines the world’s population and economy. Family planning is important part of sexual and reproductive rights. Proper family planning ensures safe motherhood, healthy families and prosperous communities. The effects of family planning on human development and availability of food resources in developing countries is significant. Social and political factors in underdeveloped countries have devastating effects on most vulnerable and least privileged women. When a woman bears children too closely together or too early or too late in life, the health risk associated with the mother and baby are high. Maternal mortality reduction is also achievable with family planning.
The aim of family planning services is to prevent unwanted pregnancies, secure desired pregnancies and limit the size of families. Since women bear children, they should have the freedom to decide the family size. Imposing family planning into state laws; easy availability of family planning commodities and services; emphasising on the family planning to adolescents and members of various religious denominations; and adequate training of healthcare assistants and counselors are key strategies to promote family planning.
The government worldwide have implemented national reproductive health and family planning programs for delivery of qualityservice and training of health care workers. These programs are designed to promote womens reproductive health. Family planning requires educating women on contraceptive methods to improve health systems forecast. The availability of modern contraceptive methods to avoid or delay pregnancy is necessary. Family planning services have also included genetic counselling and educating men in their programs. Various studies have shown that family planning can be improved by providing men with information on contraceptives, involving them in counselling sessions and increasing awareness on the concept of shared decision-making.

Online Course in Tropical Medicine

James Lind Institute (JLI) provides an online program in Advanced PG Diploma in Global Sexual & Reproductive Health Management that can help in understanding and dealing with issues and problems related to Reproductive Health.
For more information please visit: www.jliedu.com