The Role Of Faith In Family Planning

May 29, 2013 Subscribe · Forward The Role Of Faith In Family Planning And now for some facts about women's reproductive health. Approximately 800 women a day die during pregnancy and childbirth. For every woman who dies, approximately 20 more experience infection, disability, or injuries. The rate of mortality and injury of women during pregnancy and childbirth varies hugely between women living rich countries and poor countries, with the bottom being Afghanistan where one in 11 women will dying during pregnancy and childbirth. One in three women are married by the age of 18, one in nine by the age of 15 meaning that we are not just talking about women, but often about young girls. An estimated 200 million women want to delay or avoid pregnancy but don't use effective family planning and the demand is expected to rise 40 percent by 2025. Of the 210 million pregnancies occurring each year, nearly 33 million are unintended. These lead to approximately 21.6 million unsafe abortions, causing some 47,000 deaths annually. I learned these challenging figures when I was invited to moderate a panel called Faith and Family Planning at the Women Deliver conference that is happening right now in Kuala Lumpur. The goal of the conference is to advocate for the health and well being of women and girls across the globe in all areas of society, but especially in the area of pregnancy and birth. It is crucial to talk about the role religion can play in the effort to empower girls and women in the area of family planning - especially given that close to 90 percent of all people alive adhere to some religious belief, and that in rural areas of many developing countries healthcare is provided by religious organizations, or not at all, However, the role of religion in the reproductive lives of women is also fraught and touches on many of the flash points that religious communities are grappling with today.  Continue reading... Kentucky High School Has Prayer At Graduation Ceremony, Despite Objections From Students Atheists Can't Be Saved After All, Vatican Says School District Appeals Bible Banner Ruling Surprising Decline Of A Military Funeral Tradition Cardinal Admits Abuse Cover-Up To Protect Church Pope Francis To Mafia: Convert Your Hearts How Much Can The Christian Church Embrace? Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included Pope Francis Says All Who Do Good Are Redeemed - Atheists Included Christians Must Confront Scientific Illiteracy Gays, God And Gospel Music KHALED DIAB How Islam Made the West Cool Those who fear Muslim influence should raise a glass to the Sultan of Style next time they freshen up, don the latest fashions or enjoy a delicious three-course meal. Continue reading... RABBI MENACHEM CREDITOR Legacy and Family: A Hadran for Harry Potter When my wife and I chose the names of our three precious children, we were committed to naming them after family members we had loved and lost. It struck me immediately, when our youngest daughter was named, that the pantheon of my ancestral family was whole again. Continue reading... OMAR BADDAR Why I'm Not an Atheist: The Case for Agnosticism A convincing argument against religion is not necessarily an equally compelling one for atheism. Between religious certitude and atheism lies a more suitable ground for truly open and skeptical minds: agnosticism. Continue reading... PAT SCHNEIDER Writing Your Way Home Craft is important for the writer, but craft that can be taught must be the servant of craft that is original and innate -- not the other way around. Writing as a spiritual practice can be the most freeing of any I have found in a long life of trying different paths. Continue reading... GEORGE ELERICK Jesus Loves Gay People We know the Church has had a bum rap in how its dealt with outsiders. But maybe this critique is founded in the fact that the Church fears outsiders, whereas Jesus has something to say about "others." Continue reading... Received this from a friend? Sign up for alerts from The Huffington Post here. Unsubscribe here. Huffington Post, 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003