BACKGROUND

While adolescent pregnancies in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines have declined over the past five years, young mothers remain at risk of repeat pregnancies, which continue to expose them and their children to health and socioeconomic risks in this vulnerable region.

This study aims to collect baseline information on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in Eastern Visayas and to identify significant differences in maternal characteristics based on type of residence and age. The findings will be used by a nongovernmental organization to plan and develop targeted interventions for this vulnerable population.

This study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data on mothers who experienced early pregnancy in four selected provinces of Eastern Visayas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, an independent t-test, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

A total of 296 mothers participated in the survey. Among them, 80.1% were in high school during their first pregnancy, and 88.2% were unemployed at the time of the study. The youngest age at first pregnancy was 12 years. The participants' male partners were at least five years older (39.8%) and ten years older (11.1%). Significant differences were observed in the use of family planning method, number and status of pregnancies, and history of preterm labor.

Results suggest that adolescent pregnancy remains a public health concern in Eastern Visayas, particularly among lowincome teenagers with limited educational attainment, whose parents also had minimal education. The youngest reported age of pregnancy was 12 years. Therefore, efforts should focus on increasing access to family planning services, providing comprehensive reproductive health education, and enhancing maternal and child health services.

Introduction: Despite policy actions and strategic efforts for improving the reproductive and sexual health of adolescents by promoting the uptake of adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) services, the utilisation rate remains significantly low, especially in rural areas of India. This study aimed to assess the utilisation of these services by adolescents in rural West Bengal and its associated determinants. Methods: This mixed-method study was conducted from May to September 2021 in the Gosaba rural block of South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Quantitative data were collected from 326 adolescents using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Qualitative data were collected via four focus group discussions among 30 adolescents and key-informant interviews among six healthcare workers. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. Results: Ninety-six (29.4%) adolescents had utilised ARSH services at least once during adolescence. The factors associated with non-utilisation of ARSH services were younger age, female sex, increasing reproductive health stigma and decreasing parent–adolescent communication related to sexual health. Qualitative exploration revealed that unawareness regarding services, perceived lack of privacy and confidentiality at healthcare facilities and disruption of services post-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic were some major barriers to ARSH service utilisation. Conclusion A multi-component strategy, including promotion of adolescent-friendly health clinics, community support interventions associated with motivation and counselling of parents regarding the importance of adolescent reproductive health, is needed to improve the utilisation of ARSH services. Necessary steps to correct the deficiencies at the facility level should also be prioritised.
Adolescent ; Reproductive Health Services ; Sexual Health ; Qualitative Research ; Rural Population

Objective: Despite the provision of local health policies promoting the utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services of adolescents, SRH services utilization remains very low and little information is known concerning the factors which may influence adolescents' use of these SRH services. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of school-based SRH services utilization among secondary school students.

Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that used a self-administered questionnaire to gather data among students in one public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. A total of 24 sections from Grades 8 to 12 were randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using Epi Info version 7.3.2.1.

Results: Among 1,218 students who answered the questionnaire, 168 students (13.8%) utilized the SRH services in the Teen Health Kiosk (THK) during SY 2019-20. Students with favorable attitudes towards SRH issues (predisposing factor) were twice more likely to utilize the SRH services (Adjusted odds ratio, AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.12-2.74) and those who have positive perceived accessibility on the SRH services (enabling factor) were 2.5 times more likely to utilize the SRH services (AOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.66 - 3.66).

Conclusion: Attitudes towards SRH issues and perceived accessibility to SRH services were found to be determinants of SRH services utilization in the THK of the selected public secondary school in the City of Dasmariñas. Even with the marked increase in the utilization of SRH services in the THK from 0.2% in SY 2018-19 to 13.8% in SY 2019-20, intensified efforts are still needed in order to target students' attitudes on SRH and accessibility of THK and the SRH services it offers to its clients. It is recommended that the existing THK Club be strengthened as this will play a significant role in changing the attitudes of students towards SRH issues, thus increasing the utilization of SRH services. Additionally, formulating an SRH policy at the school level targeting THK's accessibility will be helpful in increasing the utilization of school-based SRH services. For one, a policy mandating THK service providers to deliver services beyond school hours may be discussed such that it can also cater students who are attending the school during weekends (i.e. ALS students, Open High students). Likewise, policy makers in the City Schools Division Office including their top management and personnel from the Health and Nutrition Unit as well as school administrators must endeavor to provide a more conducive THK where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained at all times and clients can freely discuss SRH issues with the THK service provider. An initiative to provide a separately detached room for the THK is encouraged in order to provide a more suitable counselling area and to ensure privacy and confidentiality of student clients and their shared information.

reproductive health of women. Thus, we have focused to review the scientific evidence of a causal relationship between exposure to npEDCs and representative female reproductive issues such as menstrual cycle, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome and infertility/subfertility. Though not all studies indicated a positive correlation of npEDCs with female reproductive issues, the reviewed data illustrated that the majority of the available data strengthen the evidence of reproductive health-related actions of npEDCs. In future, recommendations should be made in order to reduce human exposure to npEDCs and to protect from steadily increasing reproductive health risks.]]>
Detergents ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Half-Life ; Humans ; Infertility ; Leiomyoma ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary ; Plastics ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; Reproductive Health ; Uterus

reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters.METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23).CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.]]>
Female ; Fetus ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health

In 1952, the Japanese Society for Hygiene had once passed a resolution at its 22nd symposium on population control, recommending the suppression of population growth based on the idea of cultivating a healthier population in the area of eugenics. Over half a century has now passed since this recommendation; Japan is witnessing an aging of the population (it is estimated that over 65-year-olds made up 27.7% of the population in 2017) and a decline in the birth rate (total fertility rate 1.43 births per woman in 2017) at a rate that is unparalleled in the world; Japan is faced with a "super-aging" society with low birth rate. In 2017, the Society passed a resolution to encourage all scientists to engage in academic researches to address the issue of the declining birth rate that Japan is currently facing. In this commentary, the Society hereby declares that the entire text of the 1952 proposal is revoked and the ideas relating to eugenics is rejected. Since the Society has set up a working group on the issue in 2016, there have been three symposiums, and working group committee members began publishing a series of articles in the Society's Japanese language journal. This commentary primarily provides an overview of the findings from the published articles, which will form the scientific basis for the Society's declaration. The areas we covered here included the following: (1) improving the social and work environment to balance between the personal and professional life; (2) proactive education on reproductive health; (3) children's health begins with nutritional management in women of reproductive age; (4) workplace environment and occupational health; (5) workplace measures to counter the declining birth rate; (6) research into the effect of environmental chemicals on sexual maturity, reproductive function, and the children of next generation; and (7) comprehensive research into the relationship among contemporary society, parental stress, and healthy child-rearing. Based on the seven topics, we will set out a declaration to address Japan's aging society with low birth rate.
Aging ; Birth Rate ; trends ; Child ; Child Health ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Planning Guidelines ; Humans ; Japan ; epidemiology ; Male ; Occupational Health ; Reproductive Health ; education ; Research Design ; standards ; Societies, Scientific ; organization & administration ; Stress, Psychological ; prevention & control ; Women's Health

Introduction: Adolescence being a transition phase from a child to an adult, commonly associated with high-risk sexual behaviours, which put them at risks of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), HIV and unwanted pregnancy. All these risks can be prevented by having adequate knowledge on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Hence, this study aimed to determine the sociodemographic determinants of good SRH knowledge among secondary school children in Kuala Kuantan, Pahang Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 687 secondary school children in Kuala Kuantan, Kuantan, Pahang, using self-administered questionnaire. A multistage cluster sampling was employed to recruit the respondents. Three levels of analysis were conducted to describe the characteristics of the respondents and determining the determinants of good SRH knowledge. Data was analysed using Statistical Package of IBM SPSS Statistics Version 24 and the p value was set to be less than 0.05. Results: The proportion with good SRH knowledge was 58.4%. Upper secondary school age group (AOR 7.142, 95% CI: 4.830, 10.560) and smokers (AOR 2.597, 95% CI: 1.348, 5.004) were found to be significant determinants of good SRH knowledge. Conclusions: The percentage of respondents with good SRH knowledge was just slightly above average. As expected, older school children has the strongest likelihood of having good SRH knowledge. Whether the good SRH knowledge is contributed by the existing SRH curriculum is unclear and requires further exploration. In view of the alarming SRH issues involving younger school children, strategic plan are needed to instil the knowledge at earlier age.
Sexual and reproductive health

PURPOSE: To determine the role of metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a risk factor for acquired premature ejaculation (PE) after considering the various risk factors, such as lower urinary tract symptoms, erectile dysfunction, hypogonadism, and prostatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2012 to January 2017, records of 1,029 men were analyzed. We performed multivariate analysis to identify risk factors for PE, including the covariate of age, marital status, International Prostate Symptom Score, International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score, National Institutes of Health-Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) score, serum testosterone levels, and all components of MetS. Acquired PE was defined as self-reported intravaginal ejaculation latency time ≤3 minutes, and MetS was diagnosed using the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. RESULTS: Of 1,029 men, 74 subjects (7.2%) had acquired PE and 111 (10.8%) had MetS. Multivariate analysis showed that the IIEF overall satisfaction score (odds ratio [OR]=0.67, p<0.001), NIH-CPSI pain score (OR=1.07, p=0.035), NIH-CPSI voiding score (OR=1.17, p=0.032), and presence of MetS (OR=2.20, p=0.022) were significantly correlated with the prevalence of acquired PE. In addition, the Male Sexual Health Questionnaire for Ejaculatory Dysfunction scores and ejaculation anxiety scores progressively decreased as the number of components of MetS increased. CONCLUSIONS: MetS may be an independent predisposing factor for the development of acquired PE. Effective prevention and treatment of MetS could also be important for the prevention and treatment of acquired PE.
Academies and Institutes ; Adult ; Anxiety ; Causality ; Cholesterol ; Education ; Ejaculation ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Marital Status ; Multivariate Analysis ; Obesity ; Premature Ejaculation ; Prevalence ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Reproductive Health ; Risk Factors ; Testosterone

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) represents a cluster of conditions that have a negative impact on human health overall. Its prevalence has been rapidly increasing worldwide and has coincided with a global decrease in birth rates and fertility potential. This review aims to address this observation through studying the relationship between MetS and male reproductive health. The effects of obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance on male fertility were examined and supporting evidence explaining the pathophysiology of sperm dysfunction with each MetS component were described. Adopting a healthy lifestyle appears to be the single most important intervention to prevent the unwanted effects of MetS on men's health and fertility. Further studies addressing the components of MetS and their impact on male reproduction are required to enhance our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology and to propose new methods for therapeutic intervention.
Birth Rate ; Dyslipidemias ; Fertility ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infertility, Male ; Insulin Resistance ; Life Style ; Male ; Men's Health ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Reproduction ; Reproductive Health ; Spermatozoa

PURPOSE: To compare reproductive health promoting behaviors (RHPBs) of infertile women with those of normal women and identify effects of RHPB on infertility. METHODS: A total of 148 females (73 infertile women and 75 normal women) were enrolled in this study. Measurements included their general characteristics and RHPB using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, χ2 test, ANCOVA, and hierarchical logistic regression using SPSS. RESULTS: There were significant difference in incomes, number of family, number of term deliveries, and number of abortions according to infertility diagnosis. Mean duration of infertility was 32.16 months. Only 12.32% women had known cause of infertility. The most common cause of infertility was unknown. Mean RHPB score was 3.98 for infertile women and 4.41 for normal women. In logistic regression, total RHPB (odds ratio [OR], 0.21) and safe sex of RHPB (OR, 0.66) were significant factors influencing infertility. Infertile women's total RHPB and subcategories of RHPB (safe sex behavior and sexual transmitted disease [STD] prevention) were lower than those of normal women. CONCLUSION: For infertility women, RHPB-related intervention programs are needed, especially information about safe sex behavior and STD prevention.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Female ; Logistic Models ; Reproductive Health ; Safe Sex ; Sexual Behavior