Reproductive Tract Infections

Front Cover
Adrienne Germain
Springer Science & Business Media, 1992 M06 30 - 395 pages
Reproductive tract infections (RTis) have become a silent epidemic that is devastating women's lives. Each year, thousands of women die needlessly from the consequences of these infections, including cervical cancer, ectopic pregnancy, acute and chronic infections of the uterus and the fallopian tubes, and puerperal infections. For many women, this happens because they receive medical attention too late, if at all. The terrible irony of this tragedy is that early diagnosis of and treatment for many RTis do not require high-technology health care. For the hundreds of millions of women with chronic RTis acquired from their sexual partners, life can become a living hell. Infection is a major cause of infertility, and it leads to scorn and rejection in many countries. These women may experience constant pain, have festering lesions of the genital tract, be at enhanced risk of second ary diseases, and endure social ostracism. The problems associated with RT!s have grown even greater in the past decade with the emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and AIDS. Preexisting sexually transmitted disease, particularly when associated with genital tract ulcers, raises women's vulnerability to the transmission of HIV 3-5 fold.

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Contents

Challenges for International Health Policy programs and Research
7
Current and Future Dimensions of the Problem in the Third World
35
PROGRAMMATIC ISSUES
59
Important of Reproductive Tract Infections Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and Cervical Cancer
61
The Responsibility to prevent both Pregnancy and Reproductive Tract Infections
93
The Need for Complementary STD Control
131
Opportunities to Protect both Women and Children from the Adverse Consequences of Reproductive Tract Infections
145
ACTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
183
COUNTRY CASES
251
Solutions in a Difficult Economic Climate
253
Insights for Action from Research
275
Challenges for a Fragile Health Infrastructure
297
The Need for Comprehensive Reproductive Health Policy and Programs
317
A Case Study of Integrated Services
343
Recommendations for Action
363
List of Authors and Participants At the Bellagio Conference
373

Sexual Behavior as a Risk Factor For Sexually Transmitted Disease
185
Assessment and Prioritization of Actions to Prevent and Control Reproductive Tract Infections in the Third World
199
Economic Impact of Reproductive Tract Infections and Resources for Their Control
227

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