This work calls attention to the need for constructing a research agenda on induced abortion, which constitutes a serious pubic health problem in Latin America because of its illegality, clandestine practice, and ramifications for women's health, their families, and the health services. The incidence of abortion in Latin America is estimated, in the absence of reliable statistics, at 4-6 million annually. Over half the women in some countries are believed to resort to abortion during their reproductive lives. The concept of reproductive health emerged in the past decade from two distinct sources, the field of health and the feminist movement, as contraception became an increasingly accepted component of primary care. Reproductive aspects acquired a central role in the expanded concept of women's health, and reproductive health was converted into a new objective of service programs. The World Health Organization in 1988 for the first time unofficially defined reproductive health, and in 1994 an official definition was proposed. The definition did not mention abortion directly. Abortion is increasingly a topic of political debate in Latin America, where it is legal only in Cuba. The resolute opposition of the Catholic Church undoubtedly affects health policies. The feminist movement is perhaps alone in raising the issue and seeking means of legalizing abortion, based on human rights and public health considerations. The new definition of reproductive health challenges researchers from many disciplines to provide reliable information on poorly known aspects of abortion. The ultimate goal of the research is to reduce the frequency of abortion and eliminate morbidity and mortality caused by illegal abortions. Recommended topics for research include the incidence of abortion, undesired adolescent pregnancy and abortion, abortion and working women, the influence of cultural and social patterns on abortion, the role of men in reproductive decisions and abortion, the relation of abortion and contraception, costs of abortion, attitude of abortion practitioners and illegal abortionists, evaluations of the legal status of abortion, and models of risk detection and prevention.
The author "explains that the Greek philosophy and scientific thought developed elements of what is known today as population policies. These include roles and gender relationships, the population volume, the family, sexuality, birth control, eugenics, abortion and [quality of life]....The first part of the article reviews issues on family and women's roles. The second part is related to aspects associated with sexuality and...population policy." (SUMMARY IN ENG)
"Based on 1991 estimates, the author analyzes the evolution, distribution and characteristics of population in overall poverty conditions (54% of population) and those in extreme poverty (22%) [in Peru. She] finds that the greatest amount of critical poverty is located in rural highlands and at the urban coast (with the exception of Lima)....[She] emphasizes the need to improve nutrition levels and education, as main challenges to overcome poverty." (SUMMARY IN ENG)
This work reflects on the relationship between population and the environment at different stages of development and proposes guidelines for community-level integrated programs that would be better able than existing programs to respond to local needs. Growing concern in recent decades about population growth, the environment, sustainable development, and similar topics represents continuation of a debate first formulated at the dawn of the industrial era. The first portion of the work examines the extent to which the catastrophic predictions of Malthus and other "pessimists" have been realized in the areas of explosive population growth, deteriorating consumption, and irreversible environmental degradation. Insufficient historical data is available to answer the question of whether, as maintained by the "optimists", technological progress is capable of providing improving living standards for most of the population, reducing growth, and avoiding irreversible environmental damage. Some of the variables implicated in the debate can, however, be examined: population growth and the demographic transition in developing and developed countries, and the impact of population growth on agriculture and the supply of land, forests, and water. The evidence reveals the gravity and also the complexity and diversity of demographic and economic processes affecting the environment. The next section discusses a model designed to illustrate the interaction between population, consumption, technology, and environmental impact at different historical periods and stages of development. It is concluded that the developed countries are mainly responsible for pollution originating in industrialization and energy use, but the more urbanized developing countries are increasingly responsible for air and water pollution, deforestation, and soil erosion. The final section proposes an integrated focus for reproductive health and environmental programs at the community level in developing countries. The discussion identifies criteria for selecting populations, community participation, program focus, and technology transfers for programs capable of furthering the objectives of both the health and development components.
This address by the Peruvian delegation to the Third Preparatory Committee Meeting for the International Conference on Population and Development focuses on four points in the proposed Plan of Action that might require further development. First, the link between drug trafficking and environmental degradation should be recognized. Cultivation of narcotic plants contributes to deforestation of the tropical forest and contamination of rivers, and along with terrorism has caused considerable population movement in Peru. The second point is that widespread poverty, limited investment in human capital, insufficient institutional capacity, and the external debt burden of the developing countries are clearly interrelated with sociodemographic processes and decisively affect the capacity of the nation to implement population policies and programs as a function of current and future international commitments. The third point is that, in the area of information, education, and communication, attention should be given to the entire life cycle and the entirety of themes related to population. Finally, coordinated programs between public and private institutions and nongovernmental organizations at the national level, and between the U.N. Population Fund, the Population Commission, and the Commission on Sustainable Development at the international level, should be organized to assure effective follow-up on Plan of Action proposals and agreements. Peru has participated in a wide variety of international conferences and activities related to population, and was a major participant in the subregional preparatory conference of the Andean nations.
