Peru reduced its HIV/AIDS burden by 43 percent from 2000 to 2010 due to the introduction of free antiretroviral drug therapy in 2004, and the successful execution of the 2007-2011 HIV/AIDS Strategy and budgeting for results since 2011. The national HIV program received significant external...

Today?s adolescents and youth face substantial physical, social, legal, and economic barriers to meeting their SRH potential. Key factors underlying these issues are a lack of adolescent SRH (ASRH) policies and access to accessible, affordable, and appropriate health services. The impact that...

Pakistan remains one of the region's poorest performers against MDG targets. Progress toward education, gender, and health MDGs are off track. Despite slow progress, maternal health indicators have improved: maternal mortality has declined by over half in 20 years. A half of deliveries has been...

Afghanistan's health services in the immediate post conflict period were in a deplorable and chaotic state. In 2002, its maternal mortality ratio was the second highest in the world, reflecting a lack of access and utilization of reproductive health services and skilled care during pregnancy,...

The South Asia Region (SAR) includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. With over 1.6 billion people, it is the most densely populated region in the world. The populations vary from 400,000 in the Maldives to 1.2 billion in India. The economies...

This study explored Pakistani (especially Punjabi) couples' dynamics during their decision processes on fertility intentions and practices, along with community perceptions of male-focused interventions as well as men's suggestions for future intervention strategies. It drew on three sources a...

Bangladesh is among the most densely populated countries in the world. Poverty remains high at 43 percent of the population subsist on less than United States (U.S.) $1.25 per day (2010). Bangladesh achieved several millennium development goal (MDG) targets in education, health, and poverty...

Bangladesh has made significant economic progress and remarkable strides in many areas of human development. The last three-year trend in gross domestic product was an upturn of more than 6 percent a year, which is equal to some of the best performing Asian economies. Despite its economic...

Maldives, a middle income country, is on track to meet most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), while gender gap requires attention. Maldives has made great progress in improving maternal health and has achieved MDG. The total fertility rate has declined to 2.3 in 2012. Contraceptive use...