A reproductive health needs assessment in Myanmar

A Reproductive Health Needs Assessment in Myanmar
Adolescent reproductive health has only recently become an issue for discussion in
Myanmar, and public sector services are currently in the process of developing an appropriate
response to the perceived needs of adolescents in the area of reproductive health. From the
table it can be seen that the many new services need to be initiated within the public sector if
the reproductive health needs of adolescents are going to be adequately addressed.
In addition to the provision of services to address the areas of reproductive health highlighted
above, it will be necessary to strengthen the links between these various service areas. The
assessment team observed a number of missed opportunities in the provision of reproductive
health services. For example: comprehensive reproductive health education including birth
spacing education/counselling is often not given on the occasion of antenatal and post natal
care; women do not currently receive post-abortion counselling on reproductive health
including birth spacing and maternal health; there are no activities aimed at providing
adolescent reproductive health education during organized gatherings of young people; and,
activities aimed at building awareness of RTI/STD/HIV/AIDS do not currently take place at
all possible opportunities.
For linkages between areas of reproductive health to be successfully implemented, there is a
need for the orientation of health service providers to the overall reproductive health of the
client. They need to perceive reproductive health as an integrated matter and provide
counselling for other areas when there is a client contact for a specific reproductive health
service.
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