What's new?
HRP – celebrating 40 years of innovation
For 40 years, HRP – The UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special programme of research, development and research training in human reproduction – has been the main instrument within the United Nations system for research in human reproduction, bringing together policy-makers, scientists, health care providers, clinicians, consumers and community representatives to identify and address priorities for research to improve sexual and reproductive health.
During 2012, each month we will highlight a key achievement of HRP in its efforts to achieve universal access to reproductive health. This month highlights HRP's work on emergency contraception.
Maternal mortality dropping but still unacceptably high - new estimates
WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and The World Bank issue new global, regional and country estimates of maternal mortality. Although between 1990 and 2010, maternal mortality worldwide dropped by 47%, still every day, around 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Almost all of these deaths occurr in low-resource settings. The updated estimates use available national data on maternal mortality to characterize levels and trends of maternal mortality for 180 countries. This analysis involves a larger dataset than previous rounds and updates estimates for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, and 2010.
Inequities in the use of caesarean section deliveries worldwide
The proportion of births through caesarean section has been steadily increasing in most high- and middle-income countries despite the lack of scientific evidence for improved maternal and perinatal outcomes, signalling the performance of medically unjustified caesarean section. Caesarean sections that are potentially medically unjustified appear to command a disproportionate share of global economic resources that could be directed towards other medically necessary objectives. International efforts need to be directed towards a rational and equitable use of caesarean section.
Born too soon: first report on preterm birth
Every year 15 million babies are born preterm (more than 1 in 10 live births); more than 1 million die due to preterm complications. Preterm birth is the leading cause of newborn deaths (babies in the first four weeks of life) and the second leading cause of death in children under 5, after pneumonia. Two thirds of the more than 1 million babies who die annually as a result of being born too soon could be saved if current cost-effective interventions were made available to all.
This first-ever report on preterm birth is a joint effort of almost 50 international, regional and national organizations, led by WHO, the March of Dimes, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, and Save the Children, and written in support of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health and the Every Woman Every Child effort.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents – landmark resolution adopted by CPD
During its 45th session (23–27 April, New York) focusing on adolescents and youth, the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) adopted a landmark resolution, addressing sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescents. Key points of the final resolution include: the right of young people to decide on all matters related to their sexuality; access to sexual and reproductive health services, including safe abortion where legal, that respect confidentiality and do not discriminate; the right of youth to comprehensive sexuality education; and protection and promotion of young people’s right to control their sexuality free from violence, discrimination and coercion
Latest publications
Research articles
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Monitoring of ovarian activity by measurement of urinary excretion rates of estrone glucuronide and pregnanediol glucuronide using the Ovarian Monitor, Part II: reliability of home testing
Blackwell LF, Vigil P, Gross B, d'Arcangues C, Cooke DG, Brown JB. Hum Reprod. 2012 Feb;27(2):550-7. Epub 2011 Nov 29. PMID: 22131389 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] -
Assimilating evidence quality at a glance using graphic display: Research synthesis on labor induction
Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2012 May 15. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2012.01459.x. [Epub ahead of print] -
Interrupting intimate partner violence in developing countries
Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012 May;50(5):427-8 -
Inequities in the use of cesarean section deliveries in the world
American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology -
Ethnic disparity in spontaneous preterm birth and maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index
Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012 Apr;285(4):959-66 -
The prevalence of maternal near miss: a systematic review.
BJOG, 2012 ;119(6):653-61 -
Sequential organ failure assessment score for evaluating organ failure and outcome of severe maternal morbidity in obstetric intensive care.
ScientificWorldJournal, 2012:172145. -
Non-inferiority of short-term urethral catheterization following fistula repair surgery: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
BMC Womens Health, 2012,20;12(1):5. [Epub ahead of print]
Technical publications
- Trends in maternal mortality: 1990 to 2010
- Global action plan to control the spread and impact of antimicrobial resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Forthcoming events
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XX FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics
Rome, Italy, 7 to 12 October 2012 -
Second Global Symposium on health systems research
Beijing, China, 31 October to 3 November 2012
All RHR/HRP publications
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