Transcript PPT - Christian Connections for International Health

FAITH & FACTS: FAMILY
PLANNING FOR CHRISTIANS
1
STATE
OF
MATERNAL HEALTH
• Every day, nearly 1,000 women die due
to pregnancy-related causes.
• 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur
in the developing world.
• What can Christians do?
Source: World Health Organization
2
DANGEROUS BIRTH SPACING
• Multiple studies have shown that
closely spaced births increase health
risks for mothers, babies, and children.
Source: US Agency for International Development ESD Project
3
DANGEROUS BIRTH SPACING
• When a pregnancy occurs 6 months
or less following a birth:
▫ The risk of miscarriage for the mother
increases by 230%.
▫ The risk of death of the mother within
42 days (known as maternal death)
increases by 150%.
Source: US Agency for International Development ESD Project
4
DANGEROUS BIRTH SPACING
• When a pregnancy occurs 6 months
or less following a birth:
▫ The risk of death within the first 9 months for
the infant increases by 170%.
▫ The risk of preterm birth increases by 70%.
▫ The risk the baby will be stillborn increases by
60%.
▫ The risk of low birth weight for the baby
increases by 60%.
Source: US Agency for International Development ESD Project
5
DANGEROUS BIRTH SPACING
• A child in the developing world has
an even greater risk of dying if the
mother dies, or he or she has
siblings very close in age.
Source: World Health Organization
6
HEALTHY BIRTH SPACING
• There is something we
can do. Family
planning methods can
help a woman safely
space and plan her
pregnancies with her
husband for optimal
health for herself and
her children.
7
Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy
Lowers Infant Mortality
8
Unintended Pregnancies and Abortion
• One-fifth of all pregnancies worldwide end in
abortion. That’s 42 million abortions each year.
Many of these abortions are illegal and unsafe.
• Out of 4.7 million abortions that occur in Africa
each year, 4.5 million of these are performed by
people lacking the necessary skills and in
environments without minimal medical
standards.
• 67,000 women die each year worldwide from
unsafe abortions.
Source: Population Reference Bureau
9
Abortion Is Reduced When Use of Modern
Contraceptives Increases
10
Family Planning Reduces Abortions
“The evidence is overwhelming that
contraception prevents abortion. And this
is what we all want most of all.”
- W. Henry Mosley, MD, MPH
Professor Emeritus, Department of
Population, Family & Reproductive Health,
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health
11
Family Planning Saves Lives
• It is estimated that up to 100,000
pregnancy-related deaths occurring
among women who had unintended
pregnancies could be avoided each year
with proper family planning.
Source: US Agency for International Development
12
Christian Connections for
International Health
• Christian Connections for International
Health (CCIH) consists of people and
organizations from protestant, Catholic,
evangelical, and mainline denominations,
who are all dedicated to a vision of a
world where all have access to basic
health services.
13
Christians and Family Planning
• A 2008 survey revealed that all CCIH member
organizations support family planning where it
is understood to mean voluntary prevention of
pregnancy, not including abortion. CCIH does not
endorse particular family planning methods and its members
strive to offer services consistent with the faith of the
families they serve.
• CCIH members integrate family planning into
other health services, as they recognize it
reduces abortion and improves the health
of women, children, families, and entire
communities.
14
What Are Christians Doing to Save
Mothers and Children?
• Faith-based organizations provide much of
the health care in many areas of the
developing world.
• In Africa, Christian Health Association
members provide 30 to 50% of the care in
their countries.
• Most Christian Health Association members
provide family planning services and offer
methods consistent with the faith and
needs of the families they serve.
15
Concerns of Christians Working to Save
Mothers and Children
• An estimated 200 million couples would like
to delay or stop childbearing but are not
using any form of family planning.
• Many faith-based clinics face severe
shortages and frequent stock-outs of
supplies. They need our help to reduce
abortions, help families grow at a rate they
can afford, and protect the health of women,
children, families, and entire communities.
Sources: World Health Organization and CCIH
16
How Can We Help Christians Save
Mothers and Children?
• Enable Christian organizations to provide
health care and family planning services
consistent with the faith of the families they
serve.
• Visit www.ccih.org to learn more in the
Knowledge Bank
(resources/knowledgebank) and find out
how you can support CCIH and our
members.
17
How Can We Help Christians Save
Mothers and Children?
• To learn what you can do to help
Christians continue to assist families in
safely spacing births to save the lives of
mothers and children and grow at a rate
they can afford, visit CCIH’s web site at
www.ccih.org for links to how to send a
message to your local newspaper and to
your Representatives in Congress.
Together we can make a difference.