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-- International News Highlights in Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights

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EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION AVAILABLE WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION IN ISRAEL
The "morning after" pill Postinor 2 is being changed by the Health Ministry
from a prescription-only to an over-the-counter (OTC) drug.
The manufacturer and importer Trima asked the ministry for approval of the
drug as an OTC medication. Aware of the fact that many young girls become
pregnant on weekends, when access to a physician is limited, the ministry
agreed to approve the new status.
The ministry said Israel thus follows a number of countries, including
England, France, Norway, Portugal and Belgium, in making it an OTC drug. A
retrospective study in Britain among 95,000 women found that only a small
percentage of them took Postinor 2 a second time after unprotected sex.
A recent conference of the Israel Society for Contraception and Sexual
Health discussed the "morning after" pill, and 90% of the participants
voiced support for the ministry's policy.

SOURCE: The Jerusalem Post online, 14 March 2002

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SEXUAL ACTIVITY AMONG STREET CHILDREN IN RWANDA
A survey of street children living in the Rwandan capital, Kigali, reveals
them to be "a high-risk population", characterised by early sexual
experimentation, multiple sex partners, unprotected sex, drug abuse and poor
nutrition.
The median age of the 238 children was 13 years, ranging from six to 20.
Most of them were male, while 54 were female. Over half of those interviewed
had lost both parents, and 13 percent had one parent.
Just over half the boys and over three-quarters of the girls interviewed
reported having had sex. A full 35 percent of those under 10 were found to
be sexually active.
Awareness among the children was found to be higher regarding AIDS than any
other sexually transmitted disease (STD), with gonorrhoea and syphilis
coming second and third. Almost all of the children (over 97 percent) were
aware of at least one infection that could be transmitted sexually, and
almost one-third of the boys and 10 percent of the girls reported having
experienced one symptom of an STD. A full 11 percent of those aged under 10
reported having experienced one symptom of an STD.
Despite knowledge of HIV prevention measures, only one-third of the sexually
active boys and 8 percent of their female counterparts reported being
capable of procuring a condom if
necessary.
Condom usage was found to be very low, with only 36 percent of boys and 23.8
percent of girls reporting having used a condom. Reasons for not using
condoms included the following: did not think of using one (30 percent),
condom not available (25 percent), condom too expensive (22
percent) and partner against use of condom (8 percent). Only 11.5 percent of
the boys and 13 percent of the girls reported having used condoms or other
forms of contraceptives with the specific objective of preventing pregnancy,
as opposed to a means of protecting themselves
from HIV or other STDs.
The incidence of rape was found to be high: 63 percent of the boys reported
having forced a girl to have sex with them, while 93 percent of the girls
reported having been forced by either a boy or man.
The average number of sex partners among the children was also found to be
high. During the previous six months, the average number for boys was 2.9
and for girls 2.1.
None of the children interviewed were currently attending school, and
two-thirds had never attended school. Most of those who had attended school
said they had completed less than four years at primary level.
Recommendations from the survey were : the inclusion of an income-generation
component in any project, information about STDs and the dangers of
unprotected sex, and the development of life skills, including sexual
negotiation, priority setting, and identifying the immediate and long-term
consequences of chosen courses of action.
The survey was conducted by the Johns Hopkins University, in conjunction
with an association caring for the children - the Myboboh Club.

SOURCE: IRIN Africa English reports, 13 March 2002

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NEW PILL MEANS LESS PERIODS FOR WOMEN
A new version of the oral contraceptive pill undergoing clinical trials in
America will let women lengthen their menstrual cycle to three or even four
months, and mean they need have only three or four periods a year.
The pill, called "Seasonale", is identical to the standard contraceptive
Pill, and contains the same combination of female hormones, though with
different packaging.
A Dutch study found 70 per cent of women between 15 and 50 would prefer to
have their periods less frequently, suggesting the new Pill would be widely
popular.
It will not harm the chance of women becoming pregnant if they stop taking
it, says Professor John Guillebaud, medical director at the Margarete Pyke
health centre in London. He already prescribes extended courses of the Pill
for women who suffer badly from period cramps or headaches, or who want to
delay menstruation for a few days. "It doesn't seem to have a long-term
effect on the ovaries or pituitary gland. Those are effectively put to
sleep, the same as when a woman is pregnant. Then they bounce back."
Long-term use would be very unlikely to have any harmful side-effects, he
adds.

SOURCE: The Independent, 14 March 2002

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AMERICAN STUDENTS DEMAND $2.5 BILLION FOR GLOBAL AIDS
On Monday, March 11, 55 members of the Student Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC)
from across the United States descended upon Capitol Hill to demand a
dramatic increase in spending for global AIDS programmes.
Outraged by President George W. Bush's low budget request for global AIDS
funding in 2003, students from across the country spent the day lobbying key
members of Congress. The students called for at least $2.5 billion in global
AIDS spending, with a minimum of $1.2 billion for the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria for 2003. Students are also asking that
Congress immediately include $750 million for the Global Fund in emergency
supplemental spending.
U.S. spending on global HIV/AIDS has remained low over the last few years
despite great international attention and statements of support for
increased funding by many members of Congress.
Founded in February 2001, the Student Global AIDS Campaign has grown to
become the United States' largest student network devoted to combating the
global AIDS crisis. With members at over 250 high schools, colleges and
graduate schools in 43 states, SGAC has become a major voice in
international AIDS advocacy by fighting for change in current U.S. global
AIDS policy.

SOURCE: Intaids, 13 March 2002

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