SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH

Australia

Why is women’s sexual and reproductive health a priority issue?

Women’s sexual and reproductive health is recognised worldwide as a priority health issue, and Australia is a signatory to a number of treaties to protect women’s sexual and reproductive rights. Australian federal, state and territory governments have a range of policies on individual aspects of sexual and reproductive health, but a coordinated response is lacking. This piecemeal approach to women’s health is ineffective and a new, holistic approach is urgently needed.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health: Policy and Policy Development

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Analysis, Comments and Position

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Evidence

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Practice

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Tools

Sexual and Reproductive Health: Policy and Policy Development

Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Key Priorities 2017-2020

September 12, 2017/in Government Policy, Position Paper, Victoria /by admin

Publisher: Victorian Government 2017

Status – CURRENT

This document, the first Australian sexual and reproductive health strategy, outlines the right to healthy and respectful relationships, inclusive, safe and appropriate services, access to accurate information, and effective and affordable methods of family planning and fertility regulation.

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A health system that supports contraceptive choice

May 24, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, Government Policy, Social Model of Health /by admin

Publisher: Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, 2016

Status – CURRENT

The report by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, which was funded by MSD in Australia, states that inadequate Medicare rebates are one of the key reasons women are not offered more effective and less user-dependent methods of contraception. The report identifies unplanned pregnancy as “a key health issue for women in Australia”. It calls for increased Medicare funding for contraception services, including the extension of Medicare items to include nurses working in GP clinics who insert and remove different types of long-acting reversible contraceptive devices.

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Abortion Policies and Reproductive Health around the World

May 15, 2014/in International (global) /by admin

Publisher: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, 2014

Status – CURRENT

This report presents information on changes in legal grounds for abortion and related reproductive health policies since around the time of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, for 197 countries in the world, including all 193 Member States of the United Nations, 2 Observer States (the Holy See and the State of Palestine) and 2 non-member States (Cook Islands and Niue) of the United Nations. The report is based primarily on information available from the World Population Policies Database. The report also draws information from the World Population Prospects: The 2012 Revision of the United Nations Population Division and the ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Survey conducted by the United Nations Population Fund in 2012, as well as selected data from other sources.

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Fourth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections strategy 2014-2017 [Consultation]

April 7, 2014/in Australia-wide /by admin

Publisher: Australia. Department of Health, April 2014

Status – CURRENT

The draft Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander BBV and STI Strategy 2014-2017 supports a coordinated effort across HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI, while at the same time addressing unique disease or population specific approaches and issues. This draft strategy includes priority populations, risk factors and guiding principles. All national strategies include priority actions in the areas of prevention; testing; management, care and support; workforce; removing barriers; and surveillance, research and evaluation.

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Pregnancy Terminations: Summary of the New Law Fact Sheet

February 6, 2014/in Government Policy, Tasmania /by admin

Publisher: Department Health and Human Services Tasmania

Status – CURRENT

This resource explains the recent changes to abortion legislation in Tasmania. Key words: Terminations; Abortion; Legislation.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health: Analysis, Comment and Positions

Women and Sexual and Reproductive Health

November 22, 2012/in AWHN Position /by admin

Publisher: Australian Women’s Health Network, 2012

Status – CURRENT

This paper advocates for a rights-based approach to ensuring all women can access comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care appropriate to their needs,regardless of their location, age, sexuality, financial status and religious and cultural background. It explores seven key areas through which good sexual and reproductive health for Australian women can be achieved. These are:promoting positive and respectful attitudes to sex and sexuality;developing women’s health literacy; increasing reproductive choice; facilitating women’s health throughout pregnancy and birth;expanding prevention and treatment of reproductive cancers and menstrual issues; improving prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and equipping the health workforce to better respond to women’s health needs.

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Abortion Policy

October 14, 2002/in Australia-wide, AWHN Position /by admin

Publisher: Australian Women’s Health Network, 2002

Status – CURRENT

The Australian Women’s Health Network recognises that access to safe termination of pregnancy services is an important women’s health issue but that there is a wide range of ethical and religious beliefs regarding abortion in the Australian community. Despite the diversity of views, the vast majority of Australians support a woman’s right to choose.

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ABORTION AND BREAST CANCER POLICY

March 14, 2002/in Australia-wide, AWHN Position /by admin

Publisher: Australian Women’s Health Network, 2002

Status – CURRENT

The Australian Women’s Health Network recognises that there is controversy about whether induced abortion increases the risk of breast cancer but that the best available evidence indicates that induced abortion does not increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer later in life.

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Do hormones influence cholesterol levels after menopause?

November 14, 2016/in Australia-wide /by admin

Publisher: Monash University Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences 2013

Status – CURRENT

The main risk factors for heart attacks in women are elevated cholesterol, abdominal obesity and diabetes. Hormones (estrogen and testosterone) have been implicated as being protective against heart disease in women in some studies, and contributing to risk in others. Therefore we asked the question: are hormone levels in postmenopausal women related to an increase in risk of diabetes or elevated blood cholesterol and fats.

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A health system that supports contraceptive choice

May 24, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, Government Policy, Social Model of Health /by admin

Publisher: Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, 2016

Status – CURRENT

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Australian abortion law and practice

May 6, 2014/in Australia-wide /by admin

Published: Children By Choice Association Inc., 2014

Status – CURRENT

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Dehumanised -The Forced Sterilisation of Women and Girls with Disabilities in Australia

March 21, 2013/in Policy Consultation /by admin

Publisher: Women With Disabilities Australia, 2013

Status – CURRENT

Recommendations to the Senate Enquiry into the forced sterilisation of women,

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National Gynaecological Cancers Service Delivery and Resource Framework

May 22, 2011/in Multiple Stakeholder Position /by admin

Publisher: Cancer Australia and the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 2011

Status – CURRENT

Developed with extensive stakeholder consultation, this framework provides a way forward for future service development to enhance access to optimal multidisciplinary care for all Australian women with or at risk of a gynaecological cancer.

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Women and abortion : Issues Paper

May 6, 2010/in Victoria /by admin

Published: Women’s Health Victoria, 2010 – (Women’s Health Issues Paper; 6)

Status – CURRENT

Covers: surgical and medical abortion, late-term abortion, number of abortions, current legal context, access to abortion, attitudes to abortion, abortion myths, current issues in Victoria, and good practice in abortion service provision. Although abortion is now legalised in Victoria, there remain ongoing issues relating to the ability of women to access services. Measures are needed to improve access to termination services, raise awareness about the options available to women, and initiatives that address unintended pregnancy.

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A Decade After Cairo Women’s Health in a Free Women’s Health in a Free Market Economy Market Economy

May 15, 2004/in Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: The Corner House and Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights, 2004

Status – CURRENT

This briefing first summarises the actions of several women’s groups to influence the outcome of the 1994 UN International Conference on Population and Development and evaluates with hindsight some of the successes and failures of the Programme of Action. It goes on to assess four processes that affect women’s reproductive and sexual rights and health: • The decline and collapse in health services in many countries and their consequences for women’s access to reproductive health services; • The negative impacts of neo-liberal economic policies on women’s health generally; • The restriction of women’s rights due to such policies in combination with religious fundamentalisms; and • The assault on women’s reproductive and sexual health due to development policies underpinned by neo-Malthusianism.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health: Evidence

Teenage Mothers in Australia 2015

January 31, 2019/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: AIHW 2015

Status – CURRENT

Teenage mothers in Australia: This report presents key statistics and trends for teenage mothers and their babies in Australia. Teenage mothers and their babies are more likely to experience broader disadvantage, have antenatal risk factors and have poorer maternal and baby outcomes during and after birth, than older mothers and their babies.

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Negotiating Discourses of Shame, Secrecy and Silence

September 12, 2017/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, International (global) /by admin

Publisher: Australian Research Council and Western Sydney University, Community Migrant Resource Centre, FP NSW, and Centre for the study of gender, social in equities and mental health. January 2017

Status – CURRENT

Identifying migrant and refugee women’s experiences and constructs of sexual embodiment are essential for understanding sexual subjectivity and provision of culturally safe sexual health information

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Sexual and Reproductive Health of Migrant and Refugee Women

September 12, 2017/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, International (global) /by admin

Publisher: Australian Research Council and Western Sydney University, Community Migrant Resource Centre, FP NSW, and Centre for the study of gender, social in equities and mental health.

Status – April 2017

The research examines how sexual and reproductive health is experienced and understood by recent migrant and refugee women, living in Sydney and Vancouver Canada.

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ALSWH Plain Language Summary: Birth interventions differ for urban and rural women

October 18, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2016

Status – CURRENT

The study found that women who lived in rural areas had fewer birth interventions than those in the city.

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ALSW PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Moderating menopausal symptoms

June 3, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2016

Status – CURRENT

This summary looks at the relationship between diet and the severity of menopausal symptoms.

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A health system that supports contraceptive choice

May 24, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, Government Policy, Social Model of Health /by admin

Publisher: Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association, 2016

Status – CURRENT

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State of Australian Mothers

May 23, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Save the Children Australia, 2016

Status – CURRENT

An Australian report building on findings from the International State of Mother’s.provides a state by state breakdown of the best and worst areas to be a mother based on and including financial security and access to services. Identifies regional and remote areas as significantly disadvantaged.

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ALSW PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Smoking linked to painful periods.

April 6, 2016/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2016

Status – CURRENT

Women who smoke are at higher risk of experiencing painful periods. Women who started smoking by age 13 are 60% more likely to have ongoing period pain than women who have never smoked. Women who stopped smoking sometimes experienced reduced period pain; however, they still suffered period pain at a higher rate than those who had never smoked. Dysmenorrhoea (period pain) is a common gynaecological problem, affecting up to 91% of women of reproductive age. Smoking has been identified as a possible risk factor for period pain in the past. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between smoking status and period pain in young women over a 12 year time period.

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PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Miscarriage, preterm delivery and stillbirth: What is normal anyway?

December 11, 2015/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2015

Status – CURRENT

Different groups of women experience vastly different rates of miscarriage, preterm delivery and stillbirth. By grouping Australian women based on their physical and lifestyle characteristics, this research describes which groups experience particularly high or low rates of these pregnancy outcomes. It also provides a national context for reproductive risks.

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PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY Women need more time to grieve miscarriage

November 6, 2015/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2015

Status – CURRENT

This research highlights the importance of distinguishing between grief reactions and anxiety or depression following miscarriage, and the need for families and health professionals to support women and give them time to grieve.

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Mifepristone With Buccal Misoprostol for Medical Abortion: A Systematic Review

July 1, 2015/in Evidence / Statistics, International (global) /by admin

Publisher: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 2015

Status – CURRENT

This journal article by Chen and Creinin provides a systematic review of the safety and efficacy of mifepristone followed by buccal misoprostol in pregnancies for early medical abortion. Early medical abortion, medical termination of pregnancy, medical abortion, MTOP, systematic review.

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Pap smear rates among Australian community-attached lesbian and bisexual women: some good news but disparities persist

June 6, 2015/in Evidence / Statistics, New South Wales /by admin

Publisher: CSIOR 2015

Status – CURRENT

Background: Research in the US and UK shows lesbian women are less likely than their heterosexual peers to attend for routine Pap smear tests. This study examined Pap smear test rates among community-attached lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women in New South Wales, to investigate if rates had changed between 2002 and 2012, compare rates to the general NSW population and identify predictive factors for Pap smear test attendance. Method: Data was taken from the Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey, a self-completed biennial questionnaire of LBQ women’s health and wellbeing. Results: Of the 4083 respondents, 83% had ever had a Pap smear test. Recent attendance rates were slightly higher than the general population. Significant predictors for ever having attended for a Pap smear test were older age, post-year 12 education, ever having had an STI test, being out about sexuality to a regular doctor and ever having had sex with men. Conclusions: Pap smear rates for LBQ women are encouraging when compared to rates in similar countries. A significant proportion of LBQ women are never receiving Pap smear tests. Predictive factors suggest a continued perception that women who have not had sex with men are not at risk of HPV, and highlight the importance of health providers providing a safe and welcoming environment for LBQ women to openly discuss their health. LBQ, LBTI, lesbian, bisexual, queer, Pap smear, cervical cancer, reproductive health

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Women in contact with the gay and lesbian community in Sydney: Report of the Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) Survey 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014.

March 6, 2015/in Evidence / Statistics, New South Wales /by admin

Publisher: ACON & University of Sydney, 2015

Status – CURRENT

The Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey is a comprehensive survey of important health issues relevant to lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women including sexual health and wellbeing, violence, mental health, tobacco use, illicit drug use, alcohol consumption, and cancer screening behaviours. SWASH is run by a collaboration of ACON Health and university researchers since 1996. This report presents results from surveys conducted at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day and other community events and venues during the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras seasons in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014. It highlights several areas of particular concern – many of which have persisted over time – where mainstream preventive health interventions that are inclusive of this group or targeted to LBQ, are needed.

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Early medical abortion using low-dose mifepristone followed by buccal misoprostol: a large Australian observational study

January 1, 2012/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Medical Journal of Australia, 2012

Status – CURRENT

This article by Goldstone et al provides evidence of the efficacy and safety of mifepristone in combination with buccal misoprostol for early medical abortion in Australia. Medical abortion, abortion, medical termination of pregnancy, MTOP, early medical abortion

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Australia’s Mothers and Babies 2011

May 21, 2011/in Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: AIHW National Perinatal Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, 2011

Status – CURRENT

Provides national information on births, the women who gave birth and the babies who were born in 2011.

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Diabetes in pregnancy: its impact on Australian women and their babies

May 22, 2010/in Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2010

Status – CURRENT

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pre-existing diabetes complicating pregnancy,grouped as ‘diabetes in pregnancy’, have implications for the health of the mother and her baby in the immediate, short-term and long-term. This work aims to provide baseline information on pregnancy, labour and delivery for women affected by diabetes in pregnancy, and their babies, compared with those not affected by diabetes.

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Reproductive health: Findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health

June 15, 2009/in Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Prepared for the Australian Government Department of Health, 2009

Status – CURRENT

Findings show that for women from the 1973-1978 cohort, having children corresponds to changes in employment. Having a first birth was associated with changes from full-time to part-time paid employment, and other employment changes. Part-time employment remains an alternative for women managing both paid work and family. This report helps provide the some understanding on the needs of women with the hope that best practice work-family policies would be developed.

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Report of the APA Task Force on Mental Health and Abortion

January 1, 2008/in Evidence / Statistics, International (global) /by admin

Publisher: American Psychological Association, 2008

Status – CURRENT

This report summarises the available evidence on the mental health factors associated with abortion. While the data is related to the United States, this evidence is still relevant to the Australian policy context.

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Health and Experience of Violence Among Young Australian Women

October 16, 2004/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics /by admin

Publisher: Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, 2004

Status – CURRENT

Violence against women is associated with serious reproductive outcomes. These include unwanted and unplanned pregnancies, high rates of abortion, low birth-weight, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV infection, and the murder of both mother and child. Violence against women also impacts on their general physical and mental health.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health: Practice

Supporting Pregnant Women who use Alcohol or Other Drugs guide – A Guide for Primary Health Care Professionals

October 1, 2015/in Australia-wide, Evidence / Statistics, Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC )

Status – CURRENT

Evidence shows that well-coordinated and comprehensive support with early access to antenatal care and specialist alcohol or drug treatment can reduce harm and improve outcomes for pregnant women who have problematic alcohol and drug use, and their babies.

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Expanding health worker roles to help improve access to safe abortion and post-abortion care

July 1, 2015/in International (global), Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: World Health Organisation, July 2015

Status – CURRENT

The guideline provides a range of options for expanding of health worker roles in the provision of safe abortion care and post abortion contraception.

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Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of endometrial cancer

May 22, 2014/in Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: Commissioned by Cancer Australia, Last modified 2014

Status – CURRENT

Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of endometrial cancer.

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THE AUSTRALASIAN DIABETES IN PREGNANCY SOCIETY CONSENSUS GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH OF TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETES IN RELATION TO PREGNANCY

May 22, 2005/in Other Individual Stakeholder Position /by admin

Publisher: THE AUSTRALASIAN DIABETES IN PREGNANCY SOCIETY, 2005

Status – CURRENT

Recommendations and guidelines for the management of gestational diabetes.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health: Tools

Partners to Parents

May 5, 2016/in Australia-wide, Tools / 'How to' Resources /by admin

Publisher: Partners to Parents, 2016

Status – CURRENT

This evidence-informed website aims to prevent perinatal depression and anxiety by educating partners on how they can support one another when they become parents. It aims to prevent maternal mental health problems during the transition to parenthood by addressing aspects of the partner relationship such as the division of labour. It was developed by researchers and psychologists at the Australian Catholic University. The guidance contained in the website is also available as a booklet: http://www.partnerstoparents.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Supporting-your-partner-when-you-have-a-baby-March-2016.pdf Key words: prevention, maternal, depression, anxiety, perinatal, women, mental health

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Women Want to Know

October 16, 2015/in Australia-wide, Tools / 'How to' Resources /by admin

Publisher: Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), 2015

Status – CURRENT

Women Want to Know has been developed in collaboration with Australia’s leading health professional organisations and is the first national project to promote the Alcohol Guidelines among health professionals since they were updated in 2009. Women Want to Know provides free print resources for health professionals and consumers, demonstration videos of health professionals talking to pregnant women about alcohol. There are also FREE online training modules, with continuing professional development accreditation points available with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Australian College of Midwives (ACM), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACCRM).

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Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society Resources

May 22, 2015/in Tools / 'How to' Resources /by admin

Publisher: Australian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society – Current

Status – CURRENT

Information for service providers, and women with gestational diabetes about maternal health, infant health, planning pregnancy, and having a health baby.

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Birthplace – Having a baby in Queensland

May 22, 2015/in Tools / 'How to' Resources /by admin

Publisher: Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies, University of QLD, Current

Status – CURRENT

This tool was developed to provide clear, unbiased and trustworthy information for women to be able to make informed decisions during pregnancy, birth and soon after birth. It helps women to choose the type of pregnancy care, where to have baby, what kind of birth, etc.,

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Provision of effective meaningful and appropriate care for families who have experienced stillbirth

September 2, 2014/in Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: Joanna Briggs Institute, University of Adelaide. September 2014.

Status – CURRENT

Evidence-based guidance for healthcare professionals providing care for parents who have experienced stillbirth from diagnosis to birth, immediately after birth and following birth.

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Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of endometrial cancer

May 22, 2014/in Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: Commissioned by Cancer Australia, Last modified 2014

Status – CURRENT

Clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and management of endometrial cancer.

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Clinical Practice Guidelines – Antenatal care – Module 2 (including Addendum)

May 15, 2014/in Australia-wide /by admin

Publisher: Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council 2014

Status – CURRENT

Addresses care in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and provides guidance on core practices, lifestyle considerations, clinical assessments, common conditions and maternal health tests for healthy pregnant women. On 24 February 2015 an addendum was issued making two minor changes to the text of Module 2.

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Clinical Practice Guidelines – Antenatal care – Module 1

May 15, 2012/in Practice Guidelines /by admin

Publisher: Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council, 2012

Status – CURRENT

Covers care in the first trimester of pregnancy. Module 1 contains chapters on ‘Providing woman-centred care’, ‘Antenatal care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’ and ‘Population groups with specific care needs’ such as women in rural and remote areas. Clinical topics covered relate to antenatal visits, clinical assessments, screening of maternal and fetal health, and lifestyle considerations. improve the experience and outcomes of antenatal care for all families.

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