Challenges of Poverty on Sexual Reproductive Health

Rapinyana, O

doi:10.47191/ijcsrr/v3-i12-04

Abstract

This paper reflects on the challenges of poverty on sexual reproductive health in Botswana. It intends to stimulate discussions on issues surrounding poverty and sexual reproductive and how to alleviate such challenges. The challenges explored include: lack of information on Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR); poor access to SRHR; lack of negotiation skills for sexuality, and adolescents in poverty and SRHR. The paper starts with an overview of poverty in Botswana, then discusses the challenges of poverty on sexual and reproductive health rights and lastly, the recommendations that intend to address the challenges of poverty related to SRHR.

Highlights

Poverty is a socioeconomic and multidimensional occurrence which is common in Sub Saharan Africa (Meyer & NishimweNiyimbanira, 2016)
Women who live in poverty and are poorly educated have shorter lifespan, high rates of illness and death, and more limited access to health care services
World leaders agreed on a declaration that resulted in the formulation of eight Millennium Development Goals

Summary

Introduction

Poverty is a socioeconomic and multidimensional occurrence which is common in Sub Saharan Africa (Meyer & NishimweNiyimbanira, 2016). It exists in all countries and most significant in developing countries, Botswana included. Countries including Botswana have committed themselves and agreed during International forums such as the International Conference on Population development in Cairo (ICPD) in the 1990’s to consider issues of reproductive health and family planning into their programmes and policies. World leaders agreed on a declaration that resulted in the formulation of eight Millennium Development Goals These form a policy framework for alleviating poverty and enhancing wellbeing (Ministry of Health, 2008). The aim of this paper is to explore how poverty impacts upon SRHR, its challenges as well as to highlight recommendations that could combat the problem

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