Reproductive Health and 8 Components you need to know
Table of Contents
Introduction
The state or condition of one’s health determines a lot. A person’s state of health can define or determine how productive he or she can be. According to the World Health Organization, the term “health” is defined as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
With this definition, it simply means that a handicapped person or one who is visually impaired can be called an unhealthy person. Reproductive health education is vital in promoting safe sexual behaviour among people. There are different parts of the human body.
These different body parts play different roles as they are designed to do. A list of the different parts of the body according to their functions includes The face, which includes the mouth, nose, eyes, nose, nostrils, arm and hands, leg and foot; the internal parts of the body, which consist of the heart, lungs, veins, brain, throat, liver, stomach, kidney, skeleton, bones, ribs, etc.
These are only several parts of the human body. In all, they have different functions. A person is said to be healthy or in good health if all these body parts are in good shape. Though the parts of the body involved in reproduction are active and can be easily ignored are however fragile, especially in the female body.
What is reproductive health?
The reproductive health of an individual has to do with a person’s ability to reproduce and have the body’s reproductive organs in good shape. It is a set of outlined methods and services to enable or foster sexual health. A person’s reproductive health says largely that a person can maintain a healthy sexual life, and a healthy reproductive system, being able to decide when and how often he or she will reproduce.
Reproductive health also has to do with the freedom to reproduce as a human. The knowledge of reproductive health implies that an individual ought to be aware of all that there is to maintain a safe and healthy reproductive life.
This also includes being aware of safe sex, family planning and all the dangers there is to even a woman’s health if people are completely unaware of maintaining a reproductive health lifestyle. Reproductive health also includes a sufficient knowledge or awareness of assessable and affordable health care facilities in one’s local community or environment, affordable and acceptable methods of using birth control and varieties of reproductive medicine.
In reproductive health, sex is seen as more than just a way of reproducing. On the surface, human reproductive health does not look complex, but on a closer range, there are many things to consider. One has to be aware of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), especially since a woman’s body system is even more complex and delicate.
List of Components of Reproductive Health
As earlier stated, reproductive health goes beyond the act of reproduction. It is a lifestyle among people. Though the male and female participate in sexual acts to enable reproduction, the female components outweigh that of the male. However, the male components are not understated. Below is a list of eight components of human reproductive health.
Maternal Health Component
- Contraception
- Abortion
- Sexually transmitted infections/diseases
- Female Genital mutilation
- Men Health componentAdolescent reproductive health and Child/forced early marriage
- Reproductive health
Eight of the most important and basic components surround human reproductive health.
Maternal Health:
Maternal health in reproductive health is primary as this involves all that concerns a woman’s health care. The maternal health component includes gynaecological care, ranging from treatment of sexual disorders, genital and breast cancers, menopause, etc.
Maternal health care does not stop at the proper care of a woman’s health or body; it also includes; pre-conception consultations, surveillance during pregnancy, supervision during pregnancy and ensuring safe delivery during labour.
Contraception:
This largely has to do with family planning. According to reports lately, there is an increase in the use of contraceptives by men, especially condoms. Couples or partners engaging in sexual acts must get sexual education first to stay safe and away from sexually transmitted infections and diseases and prevent unwanted and unplanned mortality.
People should be able to determine the number of children they can cater for. However, a well-implemented family planning program especially in rural areas can greatly reduce the rate of abortions in societies.
Abortion:
In societies where abortion is legalized, it stands as a health problem, especially when complications are not easily or quickly identified. Easily assessable counselling sessions or programs can be made available in different societies, consequences and risk factors should be amplified in order to prevent health problems in women.
Sexually transmitted infections/diseases:
More than 80% of infertility cases are caused by the presence of STDs. In most cases, adolescents and young adults in their early twenties are infected. According to reports, if programs are set in place and the dangers or consequences of having unprotected sex are outlined and made available to all, the level or rate of these complications will be reduced to a minimal.
Female Genital Mutilation:
According to reports, there is a 2 million incident of female genital mutilation annually. This is an act that involves a said circumcision of the female genitals and results in bleeding, infections (most times unknown to the carrier), scars, psychological trauma, etc. This act is said to be carried out in places like East and West Africa. Though initiated to prevent the practice of masturbation among women, it has caused also the violation of the human rights of a woman.
Men Health component:
Though crucial, the men health component is easily ignored. It consists of the control of genital cancers, the management of men’s sexual dysfunctions and pathologies, the responsible sexual life of a man which directly affects a woman’s sexual life and the management of andropause.
Adolescent reproductive health and Child/forced early marriage:
The act of forcing and engaging young girls into early marriage endangers the reproductive health of a said girl who in most cases is not even up to the age of 18. This practice which is most common in parts of Africa causes several infectious diseases in a young girl who is made to have sexual intercourse with an older man who cares less or knows nothing about engaging in safe sex or these of contraceptives. If this practice can be curbed, the reproductive health of many women will be safer.
Reproductive Health:
The World Health Organization reports that 20% of global ill health is caused by poor reproductive health practice. Since reproductive and sexual health is an important part of human rights and lifestyle, the unavailability of sexual health care and reproductive needs can cause poor decision making in women, especially in matters concerning their bodies. When reproductive health is paid less attention to, it can result in ill health and poor family planning, which in turn contributes to the high rate of poverty in a society.
Summary
The reproductive health, in general, is important, since it revolves around procreation and the lifestyle of humans. One needs to acquire all the necessary information in order to always maintain good reproductive health. Creating awareness in societies and making this information known and available to all has the tendency of eradicating poverty and making proper healthcare maintenance to all.
