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Reproductive Health

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Handbook of Immigrant Health

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Abstract

Reproductive health is composed of four elements: (a) fertility regulation without adverse side effects; (b) risk-free pregnancy and childbirth; (c) having and raising healthy children; and (d) enjoying sexual relationships without fear of infection, unwanted pregnancy, or social and physical abuse (Doyal, 1995; Pan American Health Organization [PAHO], 1994). Reproductive health is central to health in general. Responsibility for reproductive health is borne overwhelmingly by females since males do not need to control their fertility to control their bodies and health status (Doyal, 1995; World Health Organization [WHO], 1996). Reproductive ill health is also a female burden since women must bear the biological consequences of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, reproductive tract infections, breast feeding, morbidity and mortality due to pregnancy and childbirth, and the culturally delegated responsibility for child care (PAHO, 1994; WHO, 1996). Consequently, this chapter focuses on the reproductive health of immigrant women (IW).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 33124-3850, USA

    Lydia DeSantis

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  1. Lydia DeSantis
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106-4945, USA

    Sana Loue

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DeSantis, L. (1998). Reproductive Health. In: Loue, S. (eds) Handbook of Immigrant Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1936-6_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-1936-6_22

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-1938-0

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