10,963
edits
Gynopedia needs your support! Please consider contributing content, translating a page, or making a donation today. With your support, we can sustain and expand the website. Gynopedia has no corporate sponsors or advertisers. Your support is crucial and deeply appreciated.
Windhoek: Difference between revisions
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| (13 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 8: | Line 8: | ||
'''OVERVIEW''' | '''OVERVIEW''' | ||
Generally speaking, Namibia is a country where health care options will vary widely, depending on someone's social status and geographic location. | Generally speaking, Namibia is a country where health care options will vary widely, depending on someone's social status, personal values, and geographic location. It is important to understand that the people of Namibia are generally religious, with the majority practicing some form of Christianity (80% to 90% of the population). Furthermore, much of the populace lives in rural areas. Certainly, in urban areas, like Windhoek, you can find higher quality and modern medical facilities, though these private facilities are not affordable to everyone. However, in more rural areas, women may depend on small clinics, which are run by the government or church associations, or sometimes traditional healers. In cities, there are many responsive and high-quality pharmacies, which sell a variety of contraceptive options, though most contraceptive methods, including birth control pills, do require a prescription. Furthermore, emergency contraceptive pills (morning after pills) are legal and, while some official sources may state that they are by prescription-only, they appear to be sold over-the-counter. The fertility rate, as of 2017, is 3.29 children born per woman.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2127rank.html#wa CIA World Factbook - COUNTRY COMPARISON :: TOTAL FERTILITY RATE]</ref> | ||
The country has struggled with an HIV epidemic, but it has shown progress in terms of increasing the number of people who know their status and are receiving treatment. There are many options related to STI tests, including self-test kits for HIV, as well as seeking tests at clinics and hospitals. Regarding menstrual products, pads/pantyliners and tampons can be found in urban pharmacies and markets. You can also find menstrual cups in certain pharmacies. For new mothers, maternity leave of 12 weeks is granted by law. Abortion is only legally permitted in certain circumstances, but it is not available upon request. | |||
==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ==Contraception (Birth Control)== | ||
| Line 20: | Line 22: | ||
In 2015, it was estimated that about 57% of Namibian women (who were married/in unions and of reproductive age) used some form of birth control, including traditional methods, which was a bit lower than the Southern African average (64% of women using contraceptives). Furthermore, it was found that about 17% of women had unmet family planning needs, which was higher than the Southern African average (13% had unmet needs). The most common forms of contraception for Namibian women was contraceptive injectables (28%). This was followed by male condoms (12%), birth control pills (7%), and female sterilization (6%). There were low rates of usage for IUDs (1%), contraceptive implants (less than 1%), and male sterilization (less than 1%). There were practically no users of vaginal barrier methods (0%). Traditional methods, such as the rhythm method or withdrawal, had low usage as well (less than 1%, respectively).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | In 2015, it was estimated that about 57% of Namibian women (who were married/in unions and of reproductive age) used some form of birth control, including traditional methods, which was a bit lower than the Southern African average (64% of women using contraceptives). Furthermore, it was found that about 17% of women had unmet family planning needs, which was higher than the Southern African average (13% had unmet needs). The most common forms of contraception for Namibian women was contraceptive injectables (28%). This was followed by male condoms (12%), birth control pills (7%), and female sterilization (6%). There were low rates of usage for IUDs (1%), contraceptive implants (less than 1%), and male sterilization (less than 1%). There were practically no users of vaginal barrier methods (0%). Traditional methods, such as the rhythm method or withdrawal, had low usage as well (less than 1%, respectively).<ref>[http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/publications/pdf/family/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015]</ref> | ||
Since the 1990s, Namibia has seen a decline in its fertility rate, going from 4.5 children per woman in 1996 to 3.4 children per woman in 2016. This can be attributed to many factors, including increased contraceptive use, higher educational levels among women, and greater participation of women in the labor force.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html CIA World Factbook - Namibia]</ref> There has historically been a culture of stigma and shame around women purchasing contraceptives. The country is rather religious, with an estimated 80% or 90% of the populace identifying as Christian or Lutheran, and the remaining 10%-20% following traditional or indigenous beliefs. However, the mood has begun to shift as more people share information and resources online. To read more about cultural attitudes as related to condom purchases in Namibia, you can read an article [https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=137217&page=archive-read here] from the Namibian Newspaper. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
| Line 94: | Line 96: | ||
* In Namibia, you can access '''pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)'''. It is available to any sexually active HIV-negative person at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. For more information about PrEP in Namibia, you can visit the [https://www.prepwatch.org/namibia/ PrEPWatch Namibia page]. You can also contact PEPFAR, EQUIP PrEP Demo in Namibia, or I-TECH DREAMS Project to learn about how you can access PrEP in Namibia. | * In Namibia, you can access '''pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)'''. It is available to any sexually active HIV-negative person at substantial risk of acquiring HIV. For more information about PrEP in Namibia, you can visit the [https://www.prepwatch.org/namibia/ PrEPWatch Namibia page]. You can also contact PEPFAR, EQUIP PrEP Demo in Namibia, or I-TECH DREAMS Project to learn about how you can access PrEP in Namibia. | ||
* While you can probably find the '''HPV vaccine''' in hospitals and clinics, there is no nationwide HPV vaccination program in Namibia, as of 2017.<ref>[http://www.hpvcentre.net/statistics/reports/NAM.pdf Human Papillomavirus and Related Diseases Report - NAMIBIA]</ref> | |||
===Costs=== | ===Costs=== | ||
| Line 129: | Line 132: | ||
===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Namibia, under the Maternity leave, Sick leave and Death benefits Fund (MSD), all workers in Namibia can be eligible for maternity leave. The leave benefits provide 100% of basic wages up to N$13 000 for a maximum period of 12 weeks (3 months). The minimum wages should be N$300.00 per month, as of 2018. Maternity leave is also offered to domestic employees and people who are employed by small businesses.<ref>[https://www.ssc.org.na/funds/ Social Security Commission - MATERNITY SICK & DEATH BENEFIT FUND]</ref> | |||
The mortal mortality rate is 265 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.), which ranks it 44th in the world in terms of maternal mortality rates.<ref>[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wa.html CIA World Factbook - Namibia]</ref> | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
| Line 143: | Line 150: | ||
===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ===Laws & Social Stigmas=== | ||
In Namibia, abortion is not legally available upon request. It is only legally permitted in certain circumstances, which include: if the pregnancy endangers the life of the pregnant person, if the pregnancy causes endangerment to the pregnant person's physical or mental health, if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or if there is serious risk of fetal impairment. However, you cannot legally obtain an abortion for economic or social reasons, or simply because you request it.<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/5011/abortion-law-namibia Abortion law Namibia]</ref> <ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm Abortion Policies - Namibia]</ref> | |||
For an abortion to be legally performed, the operation must take place in a government hospital or in an approved medical facility. Furthermore, two other physicians (in addition to the woman's primary physician) must approve of the abortion by certifying the grounds on which the abortion is being performed.<ref>[http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/abortion/profiles.htm Abortion Policies - Namibia]</ref> | |||
The abortion laws in Namibia come from the Abortion and Sterilization Act of South Africa (1975), which Namibia inherited as its own law when it became an independent state. This law is a product of the country's colonial past, when it was managed by apartheid South Africa. During that time, the apartheid government actively sought to promote a high birth rate of white babies, which was seen as a way of preserving white rule. Thus, the abortion policy of Namibia reflects the repressive and troubling history of apartheid rule, both over Namibia and South Africa.<ref>[https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2018/0111/In-Namibia-s-abortion-debate-echoes-of-a-repressive-history In Namibia's abortion debate, echoes of a repressive history]</ref> For this reason, some have argued that the abortion policy should be amended, and that it reflects an overly conservative and regressive approach to reproductive health. However, Namibia is an overwhelming Christian country, and many Christians consider abortion to be a sin. FYou can read articles from [https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=126629&page=archive-read here] and [https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=65722&page=archive-read here], where people wrote some of their thoughts on its legal status. | |||
===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ===What to Get & Where to Get It=== | ||
* Supposedly, "Misoprostol is available under the brand name Cytotec. It is difficult to obtain," according to Women on Web.<ref>[https://www.womenonwaves.org/en/page/5012/namibia-clinics-and-organisations Namibia clinics and organisations]</ref> | |||
* If you would like to seek out abortion in another country, you can go to [[South Africa]], where it is fully legal for all people, regardless of reason, during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. | |||
* You can receive post-abortion care from [http://nappa.com.na/Other-Services/Post-Abortion-Care the Namibia Family Planning Association (NAPPA)]. "NAPPA attends to the needs of women who have had a miscarriage or an unsafe abortion... It is important for women to have support and care after this type of experience. NAPPA Service Providers and Social Workers can provide support to women and their families to cope through such an emotional time." Telephone: +264-61-230-250. Email: info@nappa.com.na | * You can receive post-abortion care from [http://nappa.com.na/Other-Services/Post-Abortion-Care the Namibia Family Planning Association (NAPPA)]. "NAPPA attends to the needs of women who have had a miscarriage or an unsafe abortion... It is important for women to have support and care after this type of experience. NAPPA Service Providers and Social Workers can provide support to women and their families to cope through such an emotional time." Telephone: +264-61-230-250. Email: info@nappa.com.na | ||