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Masimba Biriwasha's blog

HIV Isn't the Only STI Causing Deaths Among Women in Cameroon

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

September 17, 2008 - 7:00am

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Only HIV and syphilis are screened during antenatal care in Cameroon, despite the fact that HIV is known to be associated with other sexually transmitted infections.

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An Uneasy Relationship: Sex and Religion

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

September 8, 2008 - 7:00am

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In its purest essence, religion seeks to promote justice, dignity and compassion. These core values can be harnessed in the effort to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights.

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The Great Vasectomy Fear: The Myth of Impotency

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

July 25, 2008 - 7:00am

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Due to traditional beliefs about male virility, many men worldwide shun vasectomy, reducing the efficacy of this reliable method of contraception.

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Thailand's Community Response to AIDS

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

June 18, 2008 - 7:00am

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In Thailand, innovative HIV prevention advocates engage the community by emphasizing sexual diversity, conducting religious outreach, and involving community members in research.

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Fertility, Masculinity and Economics: The Complicated Sexual Politics of Zambian Youth

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

June 6, 2008 - 7:00am

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Both young men and young women in Zambia are under pressure to engage in multiple sexual relationships. For men, it's due to norms of masculinity, and for women, it's due to economic hardship.

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In Jamaica and Globally AIDS Stigma Barrier to Progress

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

May 21, 2008 - 7:00am

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In Jamaica, as in many parts of the world, HIV and AIDS create a specter of fear and persecution leading to stigma, discrimination and, for many, the concealment of the disease.

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New Moms in Africa Fight Postpartum Depression

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

May 9, 2008 - 7:20am

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African women giving birth are often affected by low incomes and and high stress levels, increasing the likelihood of onset of postpartum depression.

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Strategic Health Communication in a New Age

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

April 23, 2008 - 8:48am

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To respond effectively to the epidemics of AIDS and TB around the world, a strategy for communicating messages that influence individual behavior change, community attitudes and socio-political dynamics is critical.


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Why TB Matters to Women's Health

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

April 4, 2008 - 8:42am

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Tuberculosis has a major impact on women's reproductive health and the health of their children, but there is little attention to women's vulnerability in the current media blitz about a resurgent TB internationally, and in particular, in sub-Saharan Africa.


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In Africa, Menstruation Can Be a Curse

By Masimba Biriwasha, RH Reality Check, Africa & Asia

March 25, 2008 - 8:50am

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Menstruation is perhaps one of the most ordinary individual female experiences but, in sub-Saharan Africa, the experience often impacts society as a whole negatively due to the absence of clean water, sanitation, and products to cope with menstrual flow.


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