Latest news with #Reproductive
Scoop
01-08-2025
- Health
- Scoop
515 Medical Records + 657 Health Workers Reveal 'Systematic, Deliberate, Ongoing" Reproductive Violence In Ethiopia
July 31, 2025 Combatants in Ethiopia have perpetrated widespread, systematic, and deliberate acts of conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence, according to a new report published today by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa (OJAH). The new report ('You Will Never Be Able to Give Birth': Conflict-Related Sexual and Reproductive Violence in Ethiopia) is the most comprehensive study to date utilising medical evidence to understand the intent of perpetrators in the Tigray region – documenting how Ethiopian and Eritrean armed forces aimed to prevent future Tigrayan births and exterminate the ethnic group – and how impunity for sexual and reproductive violence is enabling further attacks in Amhara and Afar. PHR and OJAH call on all parties to the conflict to adhere to international law and facilitate rehabilitation of survivors of conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence. The international community must ensure credible, independent documentation of crimes in Ethiopia and advance full accountability for perpetrators. Researchers analysed an unprecedented scale of data from across the Afar, Amhara, and Tigray regions of Ethiopia, including 515 medical records of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence; 602 survey responses from health workers who have treated survivors; and 40 in-depth interviews with health workers and four focus groups with professionals who provided care to survivors. 'After triangulating medical records with survey data and interviews of health professionals, we have documented the intent that perpetrators expressed to survivors, including the Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries, to eradicate the Tigrayan ethnic group. The ongoing impunity for years of conflict-related sexual violence in Tigray – enabled by the Ethiopian government and the inaction of United Nations member states – has contributed to conflict-related sexual violence spreading to other regions of the country, including Afar and Amhara,' said Lindsey Green, report co-author and deputy director of research at PHR. 'The crimes we've documented are harrowing and demand accountability: Perpetrators raping women and holding them in captivity until giving birth; rape by a median of three perpetrators at a time; foreign objects – including stones, nails, hand-written letters – inserted inside of survivors' vaginas.' 'In the absence of any meaningful forms of justice and accountability, impunity for conflict-related sexual violence is fueling a vicious cycle of lawlessness and recurring conflict in Ethiopia. When perpetrators face no consequences, violence is normalised, survivors are silenced, and peace remains fragile. With conflict currently escalating in Amhara and tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea rising, breaking this cycle is vital not only for survivors, but for the future of Ethiopia and sustainable peace in the Horn of Africa,' said a report co-author at OJAH (identity not disclosed due to security threats). Key findings include: Intent to destroy reproductive capacity: 73 percent of surveyed health care workers in Tigray treated survivors who reported that perpetrators used language expressing intent to destroy their ability to reproduce or have children. Multiple-perpetrator rape: In Tigray: 91 percent of surveyed health workers reported seeing patients who had experienced multiple perpetrator rape; medical records showed a median of three perpetrators per incident. In Amhara: 47 percent of health care workers surveyed reported treating survivors who had experienced sexual violence committed by multiple perpetrators. Unwanted pregnancies from CRSV: 90 percent of surveyed health workers in Tigray saw at least a few patients with unwanted pregnancy from conflict-related sexual violence. One survivor had a contraceptive implant forcibly removed before sexual violence with the intent to impregnate. Foreign objects and CRSV: Medical records and interviews reveal that perpetrators in Tigray inserted objects – stones, nails, hand-written letters with revenge plans citing previous wars – inside of survivors' vaginas. Perpetrator identification: In Tigray: 84 percent of health workers surveyed indicated survivors identified members of Eritrean military as perpetrators. 73 percent of health workers surveyed indicated survivors identified members of Ethiopian military as perpetrators; 51 percent indicated Amhara militias and Fano. In Amhara: 79 percent of health care workers who were surveyed indicated survivors identified Tigray Forces as perpetrators. 35 percent indicated Ethiopian military and 24 percent indicated Amhara Special Forces. In Afar: 33 percent of health care workers who were surveyed indicated survivors identified Tigray Forces as perpetrators; 9.5 percent indicated Eritrean militias. Transmission of sexually transmitted infections: Within the medical records reviewed in Tigray, 50 percent of patients tested were positive for STIs and 17 percent were positive for HIV, while the national HIV prevalence rate in Ethiopia is 0.09 percent. The conflict in Tigray, Ethiopia started in November 2020 between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), with involvement from Eritrean military forces who were called in to support Ethiopian armed forces, and numerous ethno-regional militia groups notably from the Amhara and Afar regions of Ethiopia. The conflict was marked by widespread and severe forms of conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence as well as other human rights violations by all parties, some of which amount to crimes under international law. Following the signature of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in November 2022 by the government of Ethiopia and the TPLF, violence continued, including widespread and severe sexual and reproductive violence along ethnic-political lines across regions by military actors. As the conflict unfolded, both the United Nations and the African Union established independent investigative mechanisms to document atrocities and preserve evidence for future justice and accountability processes. However, both mechanisms were prematurely shuttered in October 2024, without investigators even being allowed into the country, after successful lobbying by the Ethiopian government to defer to national mechanisms, including the transitional justice process outlined in the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea failed to respond to letters sharing the findings of the report and seeking further information about the governments' efforts to ensure justice and accountability. The report confirms that impunity for conflict-related sexual and reproductive violence in Tigray has contributed to further violence in Amhara and Afar, where the data shows such acts constitute war crimes, breaches of international humanitarian law, and human rights violations. Survivors identified perpetrators from military groups including the TPLF, who expressed intent when committing sexual and reproductive violence related to revenge for Amhara and Afar forces actions in the conflict in Tigray. 'Buckling to pressure from the Ethiopian government, the UN decision to prematurely shut down its justice mechanism emboldened perpetrators to act with impunity – and allowed conflict-related sexual violence to continue and spread across Ethiopia,' said Payal Shah, JD, report co-author and director of research, legal, and advocacy for PHR. 'Ethiopians are facing a crisis: A health system still in tatters from war; threats of conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea; federal government crackdowns on civil society; U.S. aid cuts exacerbating public health crises. Survivors of sexual and reproductive violence and the brave clinicians who care for them have been sidelined and neglected. All parties to the conflict and UN member states must finally prioritize healing, accountability, and justice for sexual violence and forced pregnancy before impunity turns to violence yet again.'
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan marks 9 years, MRR declines by 50 points
India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 50 points in the nine years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). During that time, 6.19 crore women have been examined under the scheme. According to a press note, the government's combined efforts to provide antenatal care and ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women have led to a significant improvement in India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021-23, a reduction of 50 points. According to the note, 6813 volunteers have registered to assist pregnant women under the PMSMA. Maharashtra has topped the list of the most volunteers registered under the scheme till May 2025 with 1131 volunteers, followed by 1076 in Uttar Pradesh and 1015 in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh has the most pregnant women in the second or third trimester receiving antenatal care under the scheme, with 189534 women who have received the facilities. Launched in June 2016, the PMSMA is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was designed to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) services free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month, particularly during the second and third trimesters. The core aim is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies. The press note says that the programme follows a systematic approach to engagement with the private sector, which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign, helping develop strategies for spreading awareness, and participating in the Abhiyan at government health facilities. The PMSMA aligns with the broader goals of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM). The main objectives of the scheme include ensuring that every pregnant woman receives at least one check-up by a physician/specialist during the second or third trimester, improve the quality of care during antenatal visits, identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies (HRP) at an early stage, appropriate birth planning and complication readiness for each pregnant woman, ensuring appropriate management of women with malnutrition and a special focus on adolescent and early pregnancies. The E-PMSMA strategy was rolled out in January 2022 to ensure the tracing and tracking of High-Risk Pregnant (HRP) women until a safe delivery is achieved by provisioning financial incentivisation for the identified HRP women and accompanying Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) for an extra three visits over and above the PMSMA visit, the press note said. Services offered under the scheme include routine antenatal care checkups, diagnostic services, identification and management of high-risk pregnant women, and counselling regarding nutrition, family planning, birth preparedness, and newborn and postnatal care. PMSMA complements other government programs, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which was launched to incentivise institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers. This scheme has benefited over 11.07 crore women as of March 2025, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched to promote free institutional delivery and neonatal care. More than 16.60 crore beneficiaries have been served since 2014-15, LaQshya Initiative for improving quality of care in labour rooms, the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), launched to strengthen respectful and quality care for pregnant women. 90,015 SUMAN health facilities have been notified across the country by March 2025, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, started to target the most vulnerable--children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers--by revamping the nutrition services and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), launched to promote institutional delivery and ensuring maternal health, the scheme provides direct cash benefits of Rs5,000 to pregnant and lactating women.
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan marks 9 years, Maternal Mortality Ratio declines by 50 points
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 50 points in the nine years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). During that time, 6.19 crore women have been examined under the scheme. According to a press note, the government's combined efforts to provide antenatal care and ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women have led to a significant improvement in India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021-23, a reduction of 50 points. According to the note, 6813 volunteers have registered to assist pregnant women under the PMSMA. Maharashtra has topped the list of the most volunteers registered under the scheme till May 2025 with 1131 volunteers, followed by 1076 in Uttar Pradesh and 1015 in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh has the most pregnant women in the second or third trimester receiving antenatal care under the scheme, with 189534 women who have received the facilities. Launched in June 2016, the PMSMA is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was designed to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) services free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month, particularly during the second and third trimesters. The core aim is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies. The press note says that the programme follows a systematic approach to engagement with the private sector, which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign, helping develop strategies for spreading awareness, and participating in the Abhiyan at government health facilities. The PMSMA aligns with the broader goals of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM). The main objectives of the scheme include ensuring that every pregnant woman receives at least one check-up by a physician/specialist during the second or third trimester, improve the quality of care during antenatal visits, identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies (HRP) at an early stage, appropriate birth planning and complication readiness for each pregnant woman, ensuring appropriate management of women with malnutrition and a special focus on adolescent and early pregnancies. The E-PMSMA strategy was rolled out in January 2022 to ensure the tracing and tracking of High-Risk Pregnant (HRP) women until a safe delivery is achieved by provisioning financial incentivization for the identified HRP women and accompanying Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) for an extra three visits over and above the PMSMA visit, the press note said. Services offered under the scheme include routine antenatal care checkups, diagnostic services, identification and management of high-risk pregnant women, and counselling regarding nutrition, family planning, birth preparedness, and newborn and postnatal care. PMSMA complements other government programs, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which was launched to incentivise institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers. This scheme has benefited over 11.07 crore women as of March 2025, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched to promote free institutional delivery and neonatal care. More than 16.60 crore beneficiaries have been served since 2014-15, LaQshya Initiative for improving quality of care in labour rooms, the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), launched to strengthen respectful and quality care for pregnant women. 90,015 SUMAN health facilities have been notified across the country by March 2025, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, started to target the most vulnerable--children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers--by revamping the nutrition services and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), launched to promote institutional delivery and ensuring maternal health, the scheme provides direct cash benefits of Rs5,000 to pregnant and lactating women. (ANI)
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
When should you take a pregnancy test? Here's what experts recommend.
When should you take a pregnancy test? Here's what experts recommend. Show Caption Hide Caption Preeclampsia: Symptoms, causes and treatments Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy. Self Improved Taking a pregnancy test too early can produce a false negative result. And the prospect of a major life change like pregnancy is a time when you want to make sure you're getting the most accurate information. So how do you know when it's too early to take a pregnancy test, and at what point can you get accurate results? Dr. Karen Tang, author of "It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)," explains what you need to know about the best times to take a pregnancy test – and signs to look out for that signify you could be pregnant in the first place. Noted: Can you actually get pregnant during your period? What an OB/GYN needs you to know. How early can you take a pregnancy test? The "most sensitive" drugstore tests can detect pregnancy as early as three or four weeks after your missing period date, Tang says. In those first few weeks, pregnancy hormones are on the rise every day. If you take a test early on that turns up negative but you still believe you may be pregnant, Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends testing again in a week. Getting a blood test done by a medical professional also may be helpful, as blood tests are able to detect pregnancy before urine tests and ultrasounds. "You should take a test as soon as you are worried you might be pregnant – but most over-the-counter tests may not turn positive until around the time that you'd be due for or missing your period," she adds. "Pregnancy hormone (HCG) is most concentrated in the first morning urine, so that may have the best chance of showing a positive, but obviously take the test whenever in the day you're able to." How does IVF work? Plus what the process is like and how much it costs. And FYI: Pregnancy is actually calculated from the first day of your last period, not the actual day of conception, Tang says.
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
How soon do pregnancy symptoms start? Here's what experts say.
How soon do pregnancy symptoms start? Here's what experts say. Show Caption Hide Caption Preeclampsia: Symptoms, causes and treatments Preeclampsia is a high blood pressure condition that develops during pregnancy. Self Improved If you think there's a chance you might be pregnant, you want to know as soon as possible. But how soon can symptoms be attributed to a new pregnancy, rather than other ailments or conditions? It's helpful first to know how to actually measure pregnancy duration: It's calculated from the first day of your last missed period, not the actual day of conception, says Dr. Karen Tang, author of "It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told)." And symptoms could begin to arise sooner than you might think. Here's what gynecological experts want you to know about early pregnancy symptoms and detection. How does IVF work? Plus what the process is like and how much it costs. When does morning sickness start? Pregnancy (or "morning sickness") symptoms can begin to show within four to eight weeks, experts say. Symptoms including nausea, fatigue, moodiness, breast tenderness, light bleeding and mild pelvic cramping. Food cravings or aversions are common. But not everyone experiences those symptoms in that timeframe – and not everyone who experiences those symptoms is pregnant. It's rare, but in some cases, false negative tests occur. "Some people never notice symptoms, which is why pregnancies are detected at all different gestational ages, even sometimes in the third trimester," Tang says. "Some of the symptoms of pregnancy can be the same as what people experience in PMS, because they're also caused by a hormone called progesterone that rises in both the luteal phase before your period, and as the placenta develops. You could also think you have a virus because of feeling nauseated, tired and achy." Noted: Can you actually get pregnant during your period? What an OB/GYN needs you to know. How early can you detect pregnancy? The "most sensitive" drugstore tests can detect pregnancy as early as three or four weeks after your missing period date, Tang says. In those first few weeks, pregnancy hormones are on the rise every day. If you take a test early on that turns up negative but you still believe you may be pregnant, Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends testing again in a week. Getting a blood test done by a medical professional also may be helpful, as blood tests are able to detect pregnancy before urine tests and ultrasounds. "You should take a test as soon as you are worried you might be pregnant, but most over-the-counter tests may not turn positive until around the time that you'd be due for or missing your period," she adds. "Pregnancy hormone (HCG) is most concentrated in the first morning urine, so that may have the best chance of showing a positive, but obviously take the test whenever in the day you're able to."
