2011-2012 Moldova BRPID Project

Elaborating Advocacy Policy For Reproductive Health

The demographic situation in Moldova is characterized by lower birth rates, high maternal mortality, and new born morbidity. Unplanned pregnancy remains a major problem: each year out of the total number of recorded pregnancies approximately 50% are aborted and 20% end with the birth of unplanned or unwanted children. Cases of maternal mortality between the ages of 15-17 years have been recorded. In the last 10 years the number of sexually transmitted diseases among youngsters has increased more than 5 times. The rate of HIV infected women has increased from 26.72% in 2001 to 55-59% in 2009. Family planning advice and help in Moldova is not adequate and modern methods of contraception are not sufficiently used. To a certain extent, family planning and reproductive health problems are determined by the imperfection of national laws, which do not fully meet international standards and do not provide an adequate legal and socio-political support for the mobilization of organizations and NGOs in family planning and reproductive health protection.

This year the National Association of University Women of Moldova organized a Panel Discussion in the northern region of the country with representatives of the Ministry of Health, the local administration and health department, high school and university professors, doctors and NGOs in order to draft laws on reproductive health issues. The Association has also involved the local media and held a number of training sessions for young women and men in high schools and universities to raise awareness of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases and enhance consciousness on reproductive health and family planning. To date m0re than 250 young people have participated in this training programme which will continue to run until the end of January 2012. Feedback has been very positive and the Association has received requests from many more educational institutions who wish to be included in this programme of activities.