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| Friday, 14 May 2004 |
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Knowledge of Reproductive Health, essential for personal, well being by Dr. K. Sivapalan
Chairman, Section C of the JSA and Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna. Delivered at the 12th annual sessions of the Jaffna Science Association held at the Library Auditorium of the University of Jaffna on April 22, 2004. Reproductive Health is, "a condition in which reproduction is accomplished in a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely as the absence of disease or disorders of the reproductive process". Everywhere in the world sexuality and sexual behaviour have profound consequences on individuals, families, and societies. Objectives of Reproductive Health programmes are to ensure that people have the capacity for healthy, equitable and responsible relationships and experience healthy sexual development and maturation; achieve their reproductive intentions - the desired number and timing of children - safely and healthfully; avoid disease and disability related to sexuality and reproduction and, receive appropriate counselling, care and rehabilitation when needed; and avoid injuries related to sexuality and reproduction. When sexual acts take place, their joy should be shared equally by both man and woman. It should not involve anger, violence, coercion, abuse and rape. Males may have impotence, and problems with ejaculation and females may have vaginismus due to physical or psychological problems. Reproductive track infections due to neglect of personal, sexual and menstrual hygiene and sexually transmitted diseases cause several problems. Females have additional risk of infection after child birth and abortion. Fertility regulation is needed to control rapidly increasing world population, prevention of unwanted pregnancy, maternal and child health by spacing between pregnancies and to enable social contribution of women. Knowledge about these among teachers and campus students, including medical students, particularly among females is inadequate. Research is being carried out on the problems of contraceptives available now and to make them more efficient. Infertility is another major problem which could have been prevented in many infertile couples. Male, female or both may be infertile and it may lead to marital disharmony, divorce, or ostracism of the wife. Pregnancy is not a disease but many mothers suffer physically, mentally and some die due to complications of pregnancy and termination of unwanted pregnancies. Where legalized, abortion has only minimal risks but where it is illegal, the consequences of termination of pregnancy under unsafe conditions leads to severe infections, haemorrhage and death. Child survival is improving with better health services and nutrition. Full and harmonious development of the children requires family environment, atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding. They have the right to live, health care, education, development, nationality and preservation of identity. Their opinions have to be respected. They should have freedom of expression, association, protection of privacy, and access to appropriate information. Incidence and the seriousness of child abuse, domestic violence, marital rape and sex abuse in our society should be investigated. Persons subjected to child abuse are more likely to indulge in the above acts. Increasing premarital sexual activities of adolescents and teenage pregnancies are another concern. They must be educated on safe sex and reproductive health because lack of knowledge does not prevent their sexual activity. They indulge in sex because they have no facilities for recreation. Novels and cinema are the stimulants of sexual feelings among the adolescents and the only outlet available is masturbation and fantasizing. Adolescents should be provided with adequate facilities for sports and healthy recreational activities. Reproductive health is everyone's right and everyone's responsibility. But it also should reflect the social, cultural and moral identity of the community. |
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