This document provides an introduction to reproductive health. It begins with objectives around reviewing the reproductive system, reproductive health in relation to poverty and access to care, and the role of nurses. It then defines the reproductive system and reproductive health. It discusses factors affecting reproductive health like age, nutrition, and lifestyle. It also covers the importance of reproductive health to society, components of reproductive health care, and the impacts of poverty on pregnancy and children's health. Finally, it discusses gender equity, reproductive rights, and the roles of nurses in managing reproductive health.

1. Introduction To Reproductive
Health
Lecturer Ms. Sara Attique
College of Nursing

2. Objectives
• Review of reproductive system
• Reproductive health in relation to poverty, quality of care and
access.
• Understanding gender equity, basic health services, and
emotional psychological support.
• What are the role of nurse in management of reproductive
health?

3. Reproductive System
• The reproductive system is the human organ system
responsible for the production and fertilization of gametes
(sperm or eggs) and carrying of a fetus.
• In women, the reproductive system includes the ovaries, the
fallopian tubes, the uterus, the cervix, and the vagina.
• In men, it includes the prostate, the testes, and the penis.

5. Reproductive Health
• Reproductive health is defined as” A state of complete physical, mental,
and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in
all matters related to the reproductive system and to its functions and
process”.
• This definition is taken and modified from the WHO definition of health.

6. Reproductive Health
• Reproductive health addresses the human sexuality and
reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of
life and implies that people are able to have “a responsible,
satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to
reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often
to do so.”

7. Conti…
• Men and women have the right to be informed and have
access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods
of their choice for the regulation of fertility which are not
against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health
care services for safe pregnancy and childbirth and provide
couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.

8. Concept of quality of care
• Quality of care is the degree to which health services for
individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired
health outcomes.
• It is based on evidence-based professional knowledge and is
critical for achieving universal health coverage.

9. Quality of care in family planning
• Quality of care in family planning encompasses a wide range
of issues including
• Technical competence,
• Choice of methods,
• Information given to clients
• Interpersonal relationships and
• Appropriate constellation of services

10. Factors Affecting Reproductive Health
• Many lifestyle factors such as:
• The age at which to start a family,
• Nutrition
• Weight
• Exercise
• Psychological stress
• Environment
• Occupational exposures
• cigarette smoking
• Illicit drug use
• Caffeine consumption

11. Importance of reproductive health in
society
• Reproductive health in society helps to prevent the spread of various
sexually transmitted diseases and impart the ability to produce offspring
having better survival rates.
• It also helps in maintaining the population size and avoiding unwanted
pregnancies.

12. Components of reproductive health
• All these five components are applicable to the key elements of
reproductive health care:
• Family planning
• Maternal and newborn care
• Prevention and management of unsafe abortion
• Prevention and management of reproductive tract and sexually
transmitted infections , including HIV/AIDS; and promotion of
healthy

13. EFFECTS OF POVERTY ON PREGNANCY
• Physical Effects of Poverty and malnourished mothers are at
an:
• Increased risk of mortality,
• Miscarriage and preterm labor.
• Because they lack proper access to antenatal care, they are
prone to infection and morbidity.

14. EFFECTS OF POVERTY …
• Poverty is also associated with
• Substandard housing
• Homelessness
• Inadequate childcare
• Unsafe neighborhoods
• Under-resourced schools

15. Impacts of poverty on children's health
• Poverty has negative impacts on children's health, social,
emotional and cognitive development, behavior and
educational outcomes.
• Children born into poverty are more likely to experience a
wide range of health problems, including poor nutrition,
chronic disease and mental health problems

16. Gender equity
• Men and women have different health needs and different
health seeking behaviors.
• It is vital for male and female health professionals to
understand these gendered barriers and to identify
appropriate measures to encourage men and women to seek
medical care when necessary.

17. Gender?

18. Important terms

19. Reproductive rights

20. Reproductive rights…

21. Roles of nurse
• Nurses who provide RH care should deliver care that
promotes reproductive justice and sexual health within their
scope of practice, such as:
• Care coordination that supports a patient's decision not to
have children, or to safely have and raise children in a just
society.

22. Roles of nurse
• Reproductive Nurses (also known as Fertility Nurses) care for
individuals, couples, and families who seek treatment options
related to reproductive health.
• These nurses work with women experiencing infertility,
couples having difficulty with conception, or women going
through menopause.

23. Conti…
• Educating a patient about their reproductive cycle, treatment protocol
and outcomes
• Teaching a patient or her partner how to take their injectable medications
• Counseling a patient as she or he copes with a negative pregnancy test,
miscarriage or poor treatment outcome
• Provide ongoing emotional support
• Learning about the latest evidence-based best practice in reproductive
technology.
• Participating in team meetings about ethical issues

24. Conti…
• Helping family to maximize income levels.
• Minimizing the financial and emotional costs of using services e.g., by
offering them in easily accessible venues, at convenient times, and in a
format that is culturally and socially acceptable to different ethnic and
social groups.
• Providing information regarding services to low cost.