IPPF / Glossary

Glossary

Welcome to IPPF’s Glossary of Sexual and Reproductive Health Terms.

An issue as sensitive as sexual and reproductive health needs a careful and conscientious language. This glossary seeks to provide guidance in the choice of words we use and what we mean by them.

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Term	Abbrv.	Definition
Abortion		Termination of pregnancy before the fetus has become capable of sustaining an independent life outside the uterus. An abortion can occur either spontaneously, when it is called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage, or it can be brought about by deliberate intervention, when it is called an induced abortion. It is with this last meaning that the word is generally used. The stage at which a fetus is considered viable varies according to different legislations and recommendations.
Abortion rate		The number of abortions taking place among women of reproductive age (usually 15-49), over a given period, usually a year, expressed per 1,000 women.
Abortion ratio		A measure of the significance of abortion, which relates the number of abortions to the number of live births over a given period, expressed per 1,000 live births in a given year.
Abstinence		Abstinence is a conscious decision to avoid certain activities or behaviours. Different people have different definitions of sexual abstinence. For some, it may mean no sexual contact. For others, it may mean no penetration (oral, anal, vaginal) or only 'lower-risk' behaviours (outer-course as opposed to intercourse).
Abstinence-only education		Education which promotes abstinence from all forms of sexual activity until marriage, and abstinence as the only way in which HIV infections and unwanted pregnancies can be prevented. This type of education does not discuss issues relating to contraception, sexuality or sexual and reproductive health issues which are included in comprehensive sexuality education programmes. (See also Sexuality Education). It should be noted that abstinence is often taught as one option for safer sex in comprehensive sexuality education programmes.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome	AIDS	The late stage of infection caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). HIV steadily weakens the body's defence (immune) system until it can no longer fight off life-threatening illnesses. These include infections such as pneumonia and certain cancers.
Adolescence		The period of transition from childhood to adulthood, describing both the development to sexual maturity and to psychological and relative economic independence. The World Health Organization uses the 10-19 year age range to define adolescence, with further divisions for early adolescence: 10-14 years, and late adolescence: 15-19 years.
Advocacy		A campaign or strategy to build support for a cause or issue. Advocacy is directed towards creating a favourable environment, by trying to gain people's support and by trying to influence or change legislation.
Ageing population		The ageing of a population takes place gradually as a result of increased life expectancy and a decline in fertility. The proportion of children and young people in the population falls, leading to a rise in the proportion of those who are elderly. Mortality improvements at late ages can also contribute to the effect.
Age-sex structure		The composition of a population according to the number or proportion of males and females in each age group. The age-sex structure is the cumulative result of past mortality, fertility and migration. Populations with rapid growth rates have young populations with a high proportion of children (up to half the population under age 15). Slow growing or stationary populations have fewer children and more adults and older people.
Age-specific fertility rate	ASFR	The number of births occurring during a given year or reference period per 1,000 women of reproductive age classified in single- or five-year age groups.
AIDS		See Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Amniocentesis		The extraction of the fluid surrounding the fetus inside the membrane for pre-natal diagnosis.
Antiprogestagens		Compounds that block the action of the hormone progesterone. Since progesterone is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy, antiprogestagens were first developed for the medical termination of pregnancy. The first to be widely used was mifepristone, popularly known as RU-486.
Anti-retroviral therapy	ART	Anti-retroviral therapy is the course of medications or drugs you take to fight HIV. Other terms that mean the same thing are HAART (Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy), 'anti-retroviral drugs', 'HIV treatment', 'medications', 'drug regimen' and 'HIV drugs'.
ART		See Anti-retroviral Therapy
ARVs		Anti-retrovirals - see Anti-retroviral Therapy
Barrier methods		Barrier methods of contraception prevent pregnancy by physically or chemically blocking the entrance of sperm into the uterine cavity. Some, particularly condoms, help to protect against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV infection. Barrier methods include cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, female condoms, spermicides and sponges.
Basal body temperature	BBT	See Periodic Abstinence
Baseline survey		A survey that is conducted at the start of a project to determine the level of key indicators against which future results are compared.
Benchmarking		A technique in which a set of indicators (benchmarks) are established, against which performance or progress towards objectives can be measured. Benchmarking can also be used to compare a service or process in one organization with similar services or processes in another similar organization for the purposes of improving the effectiveness and efficiency of a programme.
Billings method		Also known as the Ovulation Method - see Periodic Abstinence
Birth control		The term used in the early days of modern family planning. It is not strictly a synonym for family planning or contraception, though it is often used as such, as it refers to all methods of preventing births, including abstinence and abortion.
Birth rate		See Crude Birth Rate
Births averted		A measure of the number of births which have not occurred because of the effects of a family planning programme. It involves a number of assumptions about several aspects of the reproductive process and is thus not a precise figure.
Calendar method		Also known as the Rhythm Method - see Periodic Abstinence
CBCT		See Community-based Clinical Trial
CBD		See Community-based Distribution
CBR		See Crude Birth Rate
Child mortality rate		The number of deaths of children aged 1-4 years per 1,000 children in that age group over a period of a year. This measure excludes deaths of infants (i.e. children aged less than one year) so an alternative indicator, the under-five mortality rate, is sometimes used which is inclusive.
Childbearing years		See Reproductive Age
Client flow analysis		The process of determining the efficiency of service delivery operations in a health facility. It is based on observations made of the movement of clients through the health facility and tracks, in particular, the amount of time a client spends waiting to be seen by a provider and the amount of contact time a client has with each of the clinic's service providers. Also known as patient flow analysis.
Client profile		A representation in numbers and/or percentages of the main characteristics of a programme's clients. A client profile allows managers to gain a better understanding of the types of clients the programme serves and, in some cases, the high-priority needs of those clients, so that the programme can better serve its clients and potentially attract new clients who have similar needs.
Client satisfaction		The benefits or the value of the services (as perceived by the clients) provided by a programme or clinic, often measured in terms of the quality of interpersonal interaction with providers, the range of contraceptive choice, and the efficiency and responsiveness to individual client needs.
Clinical trial		A scientifically designed and executed investigation of the effects of an intervention (drug, vaccine, biologic or behavioural) administered to human subjects.
Clitoridectomy		See Female Genital Cutting
COC		See Combined Oral Contraceptive
Coitus interruptus		See Withdrawal
Combined oral contraceptive	COCs	See Hormonal Contraception
Community participation		A critical component of sexual and reproductive health programmes, community participation can take many forms. It occurs when members of the community and local government play a significant role in managing the local sexual and reproductive health programme including contributing money or materials, or volunteer time, thus deriving a sense of ownership of the programme and accepting responsibility for achieving stated objectives.
Community-based clinical trial	CBCT	A clinical trial conducted primarily through primary-care physicians rather than academic research facilities.
Community-based distribution	CBD	An approach to delivering family planning and sexual and reproductive health services which does not require a clinic setting. Individuals who live in and are members of the community are trained to provide health education, advice and supplies, and to make referrals. A CBD worker educates people in their own community, motivates them, distributes contraceptives, refers clients to health facilities, and possibly provides other sexual and reproductive health services.
Community-based services	CBS	Sexual and reproductive health information and services provided to women, men and young people where they live using specially trained members of the community (community-based volunteers), who provide selected contraceptive methods, sexual and reproductive health information and refer clients to clinics when appropriate.
Compliance		A medical term describing whether people adhere to a treatment regimen, e.g. taking a drug as often and at the times prescribed. It has obvious relevance in issues of whether women are able to take an oral contraceptive daily (and perhaps at the same time each day) and whether their lifestyle makes this a feasible option for them.
Continuation rate		The number of users who continue to use any method of contraception, measured among a designated population (community, district, programme area), covering a specific period of time (month, quarter, or year). A continuation rate can also be measured for one specific method.
Contraceptive effectiveness		The extent to which a contraceptive method reduces the chance of conception. Theoretical effectiveness, or perfect use, refers to the efficacy of the method in laboratory conditions. Use effectiveness, or typical use is a measure of practical protection, taking into account failure to use the method correctly. The Pearl Index relates the number of contraceptive failures (unintended pregnancies) to the number of months of exposure to risk, and is expressed per 100 woman-years. A more sophisticated approach is to use life-table analyses.
Contraceptive prevalence rate	CPR	The percentage of all women of reproductive age (WRA) or married women of reproductive age (MWRA), typically aged 15-49, who are using a method of contraception. Contraceptive prevalence usually refers to the use of all methods, but may be given separately for modern methods (pills, IUDs, implants, injectables, condoms, diaphragms, cervical caps, and voluntary sterilization). It is calculated by dividing the number of WRA or MWRA who are using a method (numerator) by the total number of WRA or MWRA (denominator).
COPE		Client-oriented, provider efficient. This is a low technology technique to improve services for clients. COPE enables local service delivery teams to assess their own work in order to identify and find solutions to problems in their facility.
Counselling		Counselling is a process of communication by which a person is helped to identify her or his sexual and reproductive health needs and to make the most appropriate decisions about how to meet them. Counselling is characterized by an exchange of information and ideas, discussion and deliberation.
Couple-year of protection	CYP	A measure representing the total number of years of contraceptive protection provided by a method. For each method, the CYP is calculated by taking the number of units distributed and dividing that number by a factor representing the number of units (of that method) needed to protect a couple for one year.
CPR		See Contraceptive Prevalence Rate
Crude birth rate	CBR	The number of live births per 1,000 population in a given year.
CSW		Commercial sex worker
CYP		See Couple-year of Protection
Demographic and health surveys	DHS	A programme of national surveys on fertility, family planning, maternal and child health and household living conditions. The DHS began in 1984, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and represents one of the largest sources of information on the reproductive and health behaviour of women.
Demographic momentum		The increase in population size which would still occur if the fertility of a population changed immediately to a level which would just ensure the replacement of each generation. Fast-growing populations have large proportions of children, and even if replacement level fertility is achieved, the population growth rate will not fall to zero immediately because the children born at the time of high fertility have still to reproduce, and they will have more children than earlier, smaller cohorts. Demographic momentum can thus be said to show the effect of age structure on growth rates.
Demographic transition		The shift from high levels of fertility and mortality in a population to low levels. The term originated in the observation that in traditional societies birth rates and death rates were high while in modern societies they were low. As the decline in mortality usually precedes the fall in fertility, there is rapid population growth during the transition period.
Dependency ratio		The ratio of the economically dependent part of the population to the productive part. The ages chosen are arbitrary, but the working population is usually taken as those people aged between 15 and 64 years. The ratio is thus the number of people below 15 or above 64 years of age, divided by the number in the working ages. This often does not reflect the working structure in developing countries.
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate	DMPA	See Hormonal Contraception
DHS		See Demographic and Health Surveys
DMPA		See Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Doubling time		The number of years required for a specified population to double its size at the current rate of population growth. It is used as an easy and vivid way of depicting the implications of a particular rate of growth.
Drug resistance		The ability of some disease-causing micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and mycoplasma, to adapt themselves, to grow, and to multiply even in the presence of drugs that usually kill them.
Dual protection		Dual protection is protection against both unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. For sexually active individuals, a condom is the only device that is effective for dual protection. Dual protection can also be achieved by using condoms with another method of contraception, referred to as dual method or double protection. Dual protection is of particular relevance when interventions are focused on groups in vulnerable situations such as young people, sex workers etc.
EC		See Emergency Contraception
Embryo		The fertilized egg up to eight weeks old.
Emergency contraception		A method of contraception used to avoid pregnancy after a single act of sexual intercourse that was unprotected due to lack of use or failure of a contraceptive. Two types are available: Hormonal treatment with high-dose oestrogen, a low-dose oestrogen-progestagen combination or progestagen alone. Emergency Contraception Pills (ECPs) should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex. The insertion of an intra-uterine device, which has to be carried out within five days of unprotected sex. Emergency contraception pills (ECPs) are thought to prevent ovulation, fertilization, and/or implantation. ECPs are not effective once the process of implantation has begun, and will not cause abortion. Recent studies have provided new information concerning the regimen for levonorgestrel-only and Yuzpe ECPs. This research indicates that ECPs can prevent pregnancy up to five days (120 hours) after unprotected intercourse.
Emergency obstetric care	EmOC	Basic care includes parenteral antibiotics, oxytocic and sedatives; manual removal of the placenta; manual removal of retained products of conception; and assisted (vaginal) delivery. Comprehensive district level care would also include obstetric surgery and blood transfusions.
Empowerment		The ability, or the process of developing the ability, to achieve one's full potential in society and shape one's life according to one's own aspirations. The process of empowerment involves changing existing power relations and the forces that marginalize women and other disadvantaged sections of society. The goal of empowerment is to challenge subordination and subjugation and to transform structures and institutions that reinforce and perpetuate discrimination and inequality, including family, religion, and patriarchal ideology, and enable the disadvantaged to gain access to, and control of, material and informational resources and decision-making.
EOC		See Emergency Obstetric Care
Evaluation		A study of a programme in which any number of different processes may be used to gather and analyse information to determine whether the programme is carrying out the activities that it had planned and the extent to which the programme is achieving its stated objectives (through these activities). Evaluation results can be used to learn in what areas the programme is most effective and what modifications should be made to improve the programme.
Excision		See Female Genital Cutting
Family life education	FLE	An educational process designed to assist young people in their physical, social, emotional and moral development as they prepare for adulthood, marriage, parenthood, and ageing, as well as their social relationships in the socio-cultural context of family and society. FLE programmes have often been integrated into geography, biology, home economics and religious or moral studies curricula. They have also tended to emphasize traditional values and the family, and exclude sexuality, in order to avoid political or religious opposition.
Family planning		The conscious effort of couples or individuals to plan for and attain their desired number of children and to regulate the spacing and timing of their births. Family planning is achieved through contraception and through the treatment of involuntary infertility.
Fecundability		The probability of conception in one menstrual cycle among women who menstruate regularly but do not use contraception.
Fecundity		The physiological capacity of a woman or man to produce or beget a live child. See also fertility, which is actual reproductive performance.
Female circumcision		See Female Genital Cutting
Female genital cutting		A traditional practice that involves cutting away parts of the female external genitalia, or other injury to the female genitals, for cultural or other non-therapeutic reasons, rendering intercourse and childbirth painful and potentially hazardous. It is usually carried out by traditional practitioners under unhygienic conditions. Also referred to as female genital mutilation or female circumcision. The World Health Organization has classified female genital cutting into four main groupings: Type I clitoridectomy involves the removal of the prepuce (clitoral hood), sometimes together with part or all of the clitoris. This is what is commonly referred to as 'Sunna circumcision'. Type II involves excision, where both the clitoris and part or all of the labia minora (inner vaginal lips) are removed. Type III (infibulation) is where the clitoris is removed, some or all of the labia minora are amputated and incisions are made on the labia majora (outer lips) to create a raw surface. These raw surfaces are either stitched together and/or kept in contact until they seal as a 'hood of skin' covering the urethra and most of the vaginal opening. A small opening is created to allow the flow of urine and menstrual blood. Type IV is an unclassified category that includes other operations on the external genitalia including introcision, piercing or incising the clitoris and/or labia, cauterization, scraping and/or cutting of the vagina, introduction of corrosive substances and herbs into the vagina and similar practices.
Female genital mutilation	FGM	See Female Genital Cutting
Fertile age		See Reproductive Age
Fertility		The actual reproductive performance of an individual, group or society.
Fertility awareness		See Periodic Abstinence
Fertility rates		Measures which relate the number of births in a given period to the number of women of reproductive age (unlike the crude birth rate, which relates births to the whole population). The general fertility rate relates births in a particular period, usually a year, to women aged 15-49 or 15-44 years at that time. Age-specific fertility rates relate births to women in specific reproductive age groups, e.g. 15-19, 20-24. These rates are usually expressed per 1,000 women. The total fertility rate sums the age-specific rates to provide a hypothetical average number of children each woman would have if the current rates prevailed over her childbearing period.
Fertility regulation		The process by which individuals and couples regulate their fertility. Methods include, among others, delaying childbearing, using contraception, seeking treatment for infertility, interrupting unwanted pregnancies and, in the case of mothers with an infant or a small child, breast feeding.
Fetus		A fertilized egg in the womb that has grown beyond eight weeks.
FGM		Stands for Female Genital Mutilation. See Female Genital Cutting.
Fistula		See Obstetric Fistulae
FLE		See Family Life Education
FP		See Family Planning
FSW		Female Sex Worker
GBV		See Gender-based Violence
Gender		Gender refers to the economic, social and cultural attributes and opportunities associated with being male or female in a particular point in time.
Gender equality		Measurable equal representation of women and men. Gender equality does not imply that women and men are the same, but that they have equal value and should be accorded equal treatment.
Gender equity		The application of fairness or justice in all gender issues. This applies both to the composition of power structures and to social divisions of labour. Insisting on absolute equality of numbers may not always be equitable. In the area of reproductive health, where women bear the largest share of the costs, dangers and burdens (physical, mental, social, economic), it is usually thought equitable and fair that women should have a greater share in the decision-making. Equal opportunities for women and men require that women and men start with equal status and access to knowledge and resources, so when this is not the case women may initially need special treatment.
Gender mainstreaming		A new term that is similar to gender perspective or gender sensitive focus. It is the reorganization, improvement, development and evaluation of policy processes, so that a gender equality perspective is incorporated in all policies at all levels and at all stages, by those normally involved in policy-making.
Gender-based violence		The United Nations General Assembly in 1993 adopted the definition of violence against women as "any act that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or private life. It encompasses, but is not limited to: physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring in the family, including battering, sexual abuse of female children in the household, dowry-related violence, marital rape, female genital cutting and other traditional practices harmful to women, non-spousal violence and violence related to exploitation; physical, sexual and psychological violence occurring within the general community, including rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment and intimidation at work, in educational institutions and elsewhere; trafficking in women and forced prostitution; and physical, sexual and psychological violence perpetrated or condoned by the state, wherever it occurs."
GNP+		Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
HAART		See Highly Active Anti-retroviral Therapy
Health sector reform		A process that seeks changes in health sector policies, financing, and organization of services, as well as in the role of government, to reach national health objectives. Sector reform is by definition sector-wide in that it affects more than one service, supply, or clinical policy, and more than one provider, institution, or geographic location. Typical goals that countries have for their health sector reform efforts include improvements in access, equity, quality, efficiency and/or sustainability of their health care services.
Highly active anti-retroviral therapy	HAART	The name given to treatment regimens recommended by leading HIV experts to aggressively suppress viral replication and progress of HIV disease.
High-risk pregnancy		A pregnant woman who is below 18 years of age or more than 34 years; or who has already had three or more live births; or when birth would occur within 24 months of a previous live birth.
HIV		See Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Hormonal contraception		Systemic methods of contraception based on either a progestagen combined with an oestrogen or a progestagen alone. The methods of delivery include pills (oral contraceptives), injectables and implants. All are reversible. Pills (two types): Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) contain synthetic oestrogen and progestagen. They can be monophasic, i.e. a fixed concentration of hormones throughout 21 days of the 28-day menstrual cycle, or multiphasic, with two (biphasic) or three (triphasic) variations of concentration throughout the cycle. Progestagen-only pills (POPs) contain only a progestagen, in a smaller dose than in COCs. Injectables are longer lasting than oral contraceptives. The first were composed of progestagen only, the most common being depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, or DMPA, which lasts three months, and norethisterone oenanthate, or NET-EN, which lasts two months. The newer monthly injectables contain both oestrogen and progestagen. Subdermal implants are even longer acting (approximately five years) and contain low doses of progestagen. Six thin silicone rubber capsules are inserted subdermally in the woman's arm by a minor surgical procedure under local anaesthesia. The implants may be removed at any time.
Human immunodeficiency virus	HIV	The virus that causes AIDS. Two types of HIV are currently known: HIV-1 and HIV-2. Worldwide, the predominant virus is HIV-1. Both types of the virus may be transmitted by sexual contact, through blood, and from mother to child (either before or during birth, or through breast feeding), and they appear to cause clinically indistinguishable AIDS. However, HIV-2 is less easily transmitted, and the period between initial infection and illness is longer in the case of HIV-2. While some individuals experience mild HIV-related disease soon after initial infection, nearly all then remain well for years. As the virus gradually damages their immune system, they begin to develop opportunistic infections of increasing severity, including diarrhoea, fever, tuberculosis, pneumonia, lymphoma and Kaposi's sarcoma.
ICPD		See International Conference on Population and Development
IDPs		See Internally Displaced Persons
IDU		Injecting Drug User
IEC		See Information, Education and Communication
Immune deficiency		A breakdown or inability of certain parts of the immune system to function, thus making a person susceptible to certain diseases that they would not ordinarily develop.
Immune system		The body's complicated natural defence against disruption caused by invading foreign agents (e.g. microbes, viruses).
Immunodeficiency		See Immune Deficiency
Implant		See Hormonal Contraception
Impotence		Impossibility of a man to have or sustain an erection.
IMR		See Infant Mortality Rate
IMS		See Integrated Management System
Indicators		A certain condition, capability, or numerical measure which, when recorded, collected, and analysed, makes complex concepts more readily measurable and allows managers and evaluators to compare actual programme results with expected results.
Infant mortality rate		The number of deaths of infants aged under one year per 1,000 live births in a given period, usually a year. It is a useful indicator of the health status not only of infants, but also of whole populations and of the socio-economic conditions under which they live. In addition, the infant mortality rate is a sensitive indicator of the availability, utilization, and effectiveness of health care, particularly perinatal care.
Infertility		Strictly, infertility means not fertile - that is, childless. However, infertility is often defined and usually understood as the inability of couples of reproductive age, who are having sexual intercourse without contraception, to establish pregnancy within a specified period of time. This can be due to disorders of either the male or female reproductive systems. The major causes in men are abnormal spermatogenesis, disorders of the secretory function of accessory organs, obstruction of the genital tract and abnormal sperm function; and in women, ovulatory disorders, tubal occlusion, peritoneal factors such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis, cervical factors and failure of implantation. Reproductive tract infections are an important cause of infertility in women but can be prevented. Childlessness may also be caused by pregnancy wastage or early child loss, or it may be voluntary.
Infibulation		See Female Genital Cutting
Information, education and communication	IEC	A programme to ensure that clients or potential clients of sexual and reproductive health services are given the means to make responsible decisions about childbearing and about their sexual and reproductive health. Information involves generating and disseminating general and technical information, facts and issues, in order to create awareness and knowledge. Education, whether formal or non-formal, is a process of facilitated learning to enable those learning to make rational and informed decisions. Communication is a planned process aimed at motivating people to adopt new attitudes or behaviour.
Informed choice		Voluntary decision by a client to use, or not to use, a contraceptive method (or accept a sexual and reproductive health service) after receiving adequate information regarding options, risks, advantages and disadvantages of all available methods. The exercise of both the right of access to family planning and the right to make informed and responsible decisions about childbearing requires full knowledge of the benefits, purposes and practice of family planning, access to services and the personal, familial and societal consequences of individual reproductive behaviour.
Injectables		See Hormonal Contraception
Integrated management system	IMS	A system which integrates the five components of the management process: Mission statement in which goals and objectives describe the values and purpose of an organization, the medium-term goals it intends to reach and the objectives it wants to achieve. The statement's goals and objectives are reached through a strategic planning exercise. Strategies which define the approaches which the organization uses in order to achieve its objectives. Structures which represent the main functions within an organization and how they relate to each other. Systems which describe the planning, programming, programme budgeting and reporting mechnisms. Monitoring and evaluation which enable the organization to monitor its progress and assess its performance on the basis of objective-related indicators. All these components are integrated by the mutual effect and impact they have on each other.
Integration/Integrated services		Combining family planning services with maternal and child health, nutrition, immunization, and other reproductive health services, such as control and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
Internally displaced persons	IDPs	Persons or groups of persons who have been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence, in particular as a result of or in order to avoid the effects of armed conflict, situations of generalized violence, violations of human rights or natural or human-made disasters, and who have not crossed an internationally recognized State border.
International Conference on Population and Development	ICPD	UN conference held in Cairo in 1994. ICPD was noted as the first population conference to move away from setting demographic targets towards emphasizing people's needs for, and rights to, sexual and reproductive health. It also emphasized the importance of women's interests as components of development. ICPD has a deadline of 2015 to achieve the targets set in 1994 - targets that are reviewed at five-yearly intervals.
Intrauterine (contraceptive) device	IUD/IUCD	A long-term, reversible method of contraception, involving the insertion into the uterus of a small flexible device of metal/plastic/hormonal materials. IUDs are effective for at least four years, and many for much longer.
IUD		See Intrauterine Device
KAP survey		See Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Survey
Knowledge management		Knowledge is information that provides guidance for action, and is made up of data, information, experience and expertise. Knowledge management is about systematically creating, organizing and re-using the wealth of knowledge and experience of an organization and its partners to achieve organizational objectives in the most effective manner. Knowledge management is also about sharing knowledge to make it available to the widest possible audience both internally and externally through different consultative processes. Knowledge management improves learning, effectiveness and innovation, and helps to avoid making the same mistakes twice.
Knowledge sharing		Knowledge sharing involves sharing knowledge and experience internally and with local, national and global partners to improve organizational performance and effectiveness. See Knowledge Management
Knowledge, attitudes and practice survey	KAP	Survey undertaken to establish the current situation with regard to contraceptive use. KAP surveys were started in the 1950s to measure the spread of family planning throughout the world. By showing that there were many women who would like to space or limit their births but who did not know about or have access to family planning services (sometimes called the KAP gap), they provided the first estimates of the unmet need for family planning.
Lactational amenorrhoea method	LAM	A post-partum method of preventing pregnancy in the short term. It is based on evidence that for six months after birth a very high degree of protection naturally occurs against pregnancy, if the mother is fully or nearly fully breast-feeding. It thus encourages breast-feeding and introduces mothers to the concept of planning births.
LAM		See Lactational Amenorrhoea Method
Life expectancy		The average number of additional years a person would live if current mortality conditions were to continue. Life expectancy at birth is by far the most commonly cited value. It is used as an indicator of mortality conditions, and has increased steadily in the 20th century. The range is still considerable, with the life expectancy of people in poorer countries being about 45 years and in richer countries over 75 years. In places where infant and child mortality is severe, life expectancy at age five or age one may actually be higher than life expectancy at birth.
Low dose pill		A combined contraceptive pill that contains 35 micrograms of oestrogen or less.
Manual vacuum aspiration	MVA	See Menstrual Regulation and/or Vacuum Aspiration
Marginalized people		Those groups in society who, for reasons of poverty, geographical inaccessibility, culture, language, religion, age, gender, migrant status or other disadvantage, have not benefited from health, education and employment opportunities, and whose sexual and reproductive health needs remain largely unsatisfied.
Market analysis		Examining the environment in which services are provided. It typically includes a survey of the clients (their needs, satisfaction with the services, socio-economic status, etc.), a survey of the community (to learn about potential clients and the existing demand for services), and a survey of other providers in the area (the types of services they provide, the cost and quality of the services, etc.) This provides critical information about under-served populations in their area, the level of access to services, feedback on clients' satisfaction with services, the ability of the clients to pay or the amount they can pay for services, and other information about how to maintain a competitive edge over other providers. Having the ability to address these factors serves to strengthen programme sustainability.
Married women of reproductive age	MWRA	In the past, the number of married women was assumed to approximate the number of women who were sexually active and thus at risk of becoming pregnant, and surveys of fertility and reproductive intentions were based on these women. Marital fertility rates could be compared with overall fertility rates. It is now becoming more possible and more usual to include women who are in a consensual union in fertility statistics.
Maternal and child health programmes	MCH	Programmes providing health care aimed at improving the health of mothers and children, including efforts to ensure safe motherhood, eliminate unsafe abortion and help women plan and space their births.
Maternal death		When the direct cause of death of a woman is due to pregnancy, usually in the case of a woman who is currently pregnant or who has been pregnant in the last six weeks. Sometimes the last three or 12 months is used instead.
Maternal mortality rate		The number of deaths of women due to pregnancy and childbirth complications per 100,000 women aged 15-45 or 15-49 years. This rate measures a woman's lifetime risk of dying associated with reproduction. It is influenced by the likelihood of being pregnant and by the risk of dying in childbirth.
Maternal mortality ratio		The number of women who die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth per 100,000 live births. Sometimes 1,000 or 10,000 live births is used instead.
MCH		See Maternal and Child Health Programmes
MDGs		See Millennium Development Goals
Menstrual regulation	MR	Evacuation of the uterus of a woman who has missed her menstrual period by 14 days or fewer, who previously had regular periods and who has been at risk of conception. It may be performed before proof of pregnancy. A procedure commonly used is that of uterine evacuation using a small flexible plastic cannula in association with a hand-held gynaecological syringe (manual vacuum evacuation). It can be carried out by a range of trained personnel, from gynaecologists to paramedics. In some countries menstrual regulation is legal, even though therapeutic abortion is not.
Method mix		A summary, usually expressed in percentages, of the proportion of users in a specific population using each contraceptive method.
Microbicide		The word 'microbicides' refers to a range of different products that share one common characteristic: the ability to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when applied topically. A microbicide could be produced in many forms, including gels, creams, suppositories, films, or as a sponge or ring that releases the active ingredient over time. Some of the microbicides being investigated prevent pregnancy and some do not. It is important to have both non-contraceptive microbicides as well as 'dual-action' microbicides that prevent pregnancy, so that women and couples can protect their health and still have children. This is not possible with condoms.
Mifepristone		See Antiprogestagens
Millennium Development Goals	MDGs	The Millennium Development Goals are an ambitious agenda for reducing poverty and improving lives that world leaders agreed on at the Millennium Summit in September 2000. For each goal one or more targets have been set, most for 2015, using 1990 as a benchmark: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development
Mini pill		See Progesterone/Progestagen
MMR		See Maternal Mortality Rate
Monitoring		The continuous follow-up of activities to ensure that they are proceeding according to plan and are on schedule and/or to signal the need for adjustment. It keeps track of and registers achievements, personnel utilisation, use of supplies and equipment, and the money spent in relation to the resources available, so that if anything goes wrong immediate corrective measures can be taken.
Morbidity		The incidence and /or prevalence of certain diseases or disabilities. It is usually expressed as a rate: the number of cases of disease per 1,000 persons at risk. The most accurate way of assessing morbidity rates is through epidemiological surveys. However, reporting cases through health systems surveillance does provide some indication of the relevant magnitude of the disease incidence, as well as trends in control or prevention. It can also provide information on morbidity patterns in different regions.
Morning-after pill		Use of the expression ‘morning-after pill’ is misleading. Hormonal treatment and IUDs can be effective up to five days after intercourse. See Emergency Contraception
Mother-to-child transmission	MTCT	Transmission from women known to be HIV-infected to their infants during pregnancy, delivery and/or breast-feeding.
MR		See Menstrual Regulation
MSM		Men who have sex with men
MTCT		See Mother-to-child Transmission
MVA		Manual Vacuum Aspiration, see Vacuum Aspiration
MWRA		See Married Women of Reproductive Age
New user		Someone who chooses to use a contraceptive method for the first time. Some programmes include only those people using contraception for the first time; others include those using a particular method for the first time.
Norethisterone eenanthate	NET-EN	See Hormonal Contraception
NSEP		Needle and syringe exchange programme
Nulligravida		A woman who has never been pregnant.
Nullipara		A woman who has never given birth to a viable infant.
Objective		A specific, measurable, time-bound change to be brought about in order to reach a goal. Objectives specify the kind of change that will contribute to the goal, and are stated in terms of desired outcome (rather than proposed action). Objectives should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-orientated and Time-bound).
Obstetric fistulae		A rupture that results in an abnormal passage linking two areas such as the vagina, rectum, bladder, and abdominal cavity. Obstetric fistulae are caused by difficult labour, unsafe abortion, and traditional practices such as female genital cutting.
OC		Stands for Oral Contraception, see Hormonal Contraception
OI		See Opportunistic Illnesses
Operations research	OR	A process of programme evaluation intended to help managers and decision makers improve existing programmes and activities and find practical solutions to problem situations.
Opportunistic illnesses		People with HIV infection have a high risk for a wide range of illnesses due to HIV risk factors and HIV itself. Among the most severe illnesses are the 26 AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses (OIs) that occur as a result of HIV disease progression, and generally occur only after substantial damage to the immune system.
Oral contraception	OC	See Hormonal Contraception
Oral rehydration therapy	ORT	Increased intake of acceptable fluids, including plain fluids found at home and oral rehydration solutions.
ORT		See Oral Rehydration Therapy
Outlet		The final distribution point where clients receive their contraceptives (clinic, pharmacy, CBS workers, etc.).
OVC		Orphans and Vulnerable Children
Ovulation method		Also known as the 'Billings Method' - see Periodic Abstinence
Patient flow analysis		See Client Flow Analysis
Pelvic inflammatory disease	PID	Inflammation of the pelvic organs, especially the uterus and fallopian tubes. PID is a major complication of women with chlamydial and gonococcal infections, and is associated with long-term morbidity such as chronic abdominal pain, menstrual disturbances, tubal pregnancy and infertility.
Perinatal death		Death of a fetus after 28 weeks of pregnancy or of a child within the first week of life. The perinatal mortality rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 total births.
Periodic abstinence		A method of contraception in which couples avoid sexual intercourse during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle. This method depends on the ability of the couple to identify the fertile phase (sometimes called fertility awareness), and the couple's motivation and discipline to practise abstinence when required. There are a number of techniques for detecting the fertile period: The basal body temperature (BBT) method is based on the increase in body temperature that occurs shortly after ovulation, associated with secretion of progesterone. After ovulation the body temperature rises and remains high until the next menstruation. The couple are advised to refrain from sexual intercourse between the first day of menstruation and the third consecutive day of elevated temperature. The cervical mucus or ovulation method (also known as the Billings method) relies on recognizing and interpreting cyclic changes in cervical mucus that occur in response to changing oestrogen levels. During a menstrual cycle a woman may experience different sensations at the opening of the vagina and changes in the characteristics of the cervical mucus. Couples practising this technique can have sexual intercourse during both pre- and post-ovulatory phases as it is possible to identify the infertile phase in both parts of the cycle by monitoring the mucus pattern. The calendar or rhythm method uses records of previous menstrual cycles to predict the fertile period. The first fertile day is calculated by subtracting 18 days from the first day of menstruation of the shortest menstrual cycle; the last fertile day is calculated by subtracting 11 days from the longest cycle. The sympto-thermal method (STM) combines various periodic abstinence techniques, especially cervical mucus changes, the calendar method and BBT. The use of multiple techniques is more accurate than a single technique for identifying the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, while the days of required abstinence can be kept to a minimum. All these methods of detecting the fertile phase are also helpful for couples who wish to use barrier methods on those days estimated to be fertile, and for couples who are trying to improve their chances of conception.
PHC		See Primary Health Care
PID		See Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PLWA		Person or People living with HIV/AIDS
Policy		A set of decisions to pursue courses of action for achieving goals, a goal being an aim towards which to strive.
Population distribution		The arrangement of population geographically as it is spread over a defined area such as community, district, capital city, country, region, etc. Knowing the distribution of population is important to managers as they plan new programmes and the locations of service facilities.
Population projection		The computation of future population size and characteristics based on assumptions about future trends in fertility, mortality and migration. Long-term projections of world population assume that at some stage in the future all countries will achieve replacement-level fertility.
Population pyramid		A double bar chart showing the age-sex structure of a population. Horizontal bar graphs for each sex are placed side by side with the youngest age at the bottom. The figure narrows at the top, hence the name pyramid. Fast-growing populations resemble pyramids, as each new birth cohort is larger than the one before, but slow-growing populations have a more even distribution.
Post-coital contraception		See Emergency Contraception
Post-partum		Occurring in the period immediately after childbirth. Often used to describe temporary conditions which start and occur as a result of childbirth.
Poverty reduction strategy	PRS	A country-driven, results-oriented, comprehensive and long-term health strategy for poverty reduction.
Poverty reduction strategy paper	PRSP	A framework for development assistance to reduce poverty. See Poverty Reduction Stategy
Practical gender needs		Fulfilling the tasks and easing the burdens which have been assigned to women and men under the existing gender division of labour. They are often short-term and range from everyday needs such as food, shelter and water.
Pregnancy wastage		Loss of fetus at any stage during the pregnancy. Pregnancy wastage includes spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) and stillbirths. It excludes intentional loss through induced abortion.
Prenatal sex selection		The decision to abort a fetus having discovered its sex in early pregnancy. This practice usually occurs in societies with strong son preference where female fetuses are aborted if a son, or more sons are desired.
Primary health care	PHC	Package of basic health services provided at the lowest level of a health system.
Progesterone/progestagen		Progesterone is the hormone which is released in the period of time after ovulation and before menstruation, and also during the early stages of pregnancy. The progestagen-only pill (POP) is made of a synthetic substance which has the same pharmacological properties as progesterone.
PRS		See Poverty Reduction Strategy
PRSP		See Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
Refugee		Under the UN Convention 1951, a refugee is a person who, owing to well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality or membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail him/herself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality or being outside the country of his/ her former habitual residence, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it.
Replacement-level fertility		The level of fertility at which each woman will, on average, be succeeded by one daughter who survives to have a daughter herself. This will depend on mortality conditions, but in countries where mortality below the age of reproduction is low, it is usually taken to be 2.1 children per woman.
Reproductive age		The span of ages at which individuals are capable of becoming parents. The phrase can be applied to men and women but most frequently refers to women. 'Couples in reproductive ages' nearly always means couples where the woman is of childbearing age. The age range 15-49 years is most often taken, but occasionally 15-44 is used, including in the United States.
Reproductive health		IPPF endorses the definition of reproductive health agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development, which stated: "Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so. Implicit in this last condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant. In line with the above definition of reproductive health, reproductive health care is defined as the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive health and well-being by preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes sexual health, the purpose of which is the enhancement of life and personal relations and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases."
Reproductive health commodity security	RHCS	Usually referred to by its acronym RHCS, Reproductive Health Commodity Security is defined as a secure supply and choice of quality contraceptives, condoms and other essential reproductive health commodities to meet every person's needs at the right time and in the right place. RHCS is a pre-requisite to achieving the ICPD goal of universal access to reproductive health care by the year 2015.
Reproductive rights		IPPF endorses the definition of reproductive rights agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development, which stated: "Reproductive rights embrace certain human rights that are already recognized in national laws, international human rights documents and other consensus documents. These rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health. It also includes their right to make decisions concerning reproduction free of discrimination, coercion and violence, as expressed in human rights documents. In the exercise of this right, they should take into account the needs of their living and future children and their responsibilities towards the community. The promotion of the responsible exercise of these rights for all people should be the fundamental basis for government- and community-supported policies and programmes in the area of reproductive health, including family planning."
Reproductive tract infection	RTI	A general term for infections affecting the reproductive organs. RTIs include three types of infection: sexually transmitted infections (STIs), infections which are caused by overgrowth of organisms naturally present in the genital tract, such as bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, and infections that are a consequence of medical treatment.
RH		See Reproductive Health
RHCS		See Reproductive Health Commodity Security
Rhythm method		Also known as the calendar method - see Periodic Abstinence
RTI		See Reproductive Tract Infection
RU-486 (mifepristone)		See Antiprogestagens
Safe motherhood		Pregnancy and childbirth with low risk of death or ill health. In order to make motherhood safer, women need regular antenatal advice and care, a good diet during pregnancy, to be attended by trained personnel at delivery, and to have access to treatment for obstetric emergencies. Reducing high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity also depends on reducing the likelihood of women experiencing an unwanted high risk pregnancy, which necessitates the availability of family planning and safe abortion services.
Safer sex		Any sexual practice that aims to reduce the risk of unwanted pregnancy and of passing HIV (and other sexually transmitted infections) from one person to another. Examples are non-penetrative sex or vaginal intercourse with a condom. During unsafe sex, fluids that can transmit HIV and other STIs (semen, vaginal fluid or blood) may be introduced into the body of the sex partner.
Sector-wide approaches	SWAps	Also known as SWAps, a sector-wide approach is a sustained partnership, led by national authorities, to achieve improvements in people's health through a common financing and management arrangement to achieve agreed sectoral milestones and targets. SWAp is a strategy to overcome some of the deficiencies of projectized funding. The ultimate goal of SWAp is to promote the equitable, sustainable and efficient use of all available national and external resources.
Sex		Sex refers to the biological characteristics that define humans as female or male. [These sets of biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive as there are individuals who possess both, but these characteristics tend to differentiate humans as males and females. In general use in many languages, the term sex is often used to mean 'sexual activity', but for technical purposes in the context of sexuality and sexual health discussions, the above definition is preferred.]
Sex education		Basic education about reproductive processes, puberty, sexual behaviour, etc. Sex education may include other information, for example about contraception, protection from sexually transmitted infections and parenthood.
Sex ratio		The ratio of males to females in the population, usually expressed as the number of males per 100 females. This can be calculated for all age groups but the one most usually quoted is the sex ratio at birth. Worldwide about 105 male babies are born for every 100 female; higher mortality rates among males cause the ratio to decline consistently with age. Major deviations in the sex ratio at birth may indicate misreporting of births (for example, not registering the birth of a girl child), prenatal sex selection or excess mortality of new-born females.
Sexual and reproductive health	SRH	See Sexual Health and also Reproductive Health
Sexual and reproductive health services		Defined as the constellation of methods, techniques and services that contribute to reproductive health and well-being through preventing and solving reproductive health problems. It also includes sexual health.
Sexual health		IPPF endorses the United Nations definition of sexual health as "the integration of the somatic, emotional, intellectual and social aspects of sexual being, in ways that are positively enriching and that enhance personality, communication and love ... and thus the notion of sexual health implies a positive approach to human sexuality and the purpose of sexual health care should be the enhancement of life and personal relations and not merely counselling and care related to reproduction and sexually transmitted diseases."
Sexual intercourse		Penetrative sexual behaviours, including oral sex, anal sex and penile-vaginal sex.
Sexual orientation		Sexual orientation refers to the primary sexual attraction to the same, opposite or both sexes. Most societies find it hard to accept that homosexuality or bisexuality are a universal part of human sexuality. Many gays, lesbians or bisexuals neither experience nor desire a choice in their sexual orientation.
Sexual rights		IPPF endorses the definition of sexual rights agreed at the Fourth World Conference on Women, which stated that: "The human rights of women include their right to have control over and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their sexuality, including sexual and reproductive health, free of coercion, discrimination and violence. Equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, including full respect for the integrity of the person, require mutual respect, consent and shared responsibility for sexual behaviour and its consequences."
Sexuality		The sexual knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, values, and behaviours of individuals. Its dimensions include the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the sexual response system; identity, orientation, roles and personality; and thoughts, feelings, and relationships. The expression of sexuality is influenced by ethical, spiritual, cultural, and moral concerns.
Sexuality counselling		Counselling on issues of sexuality with the aim of creating a climate where clients can express themselves and their concerns relating to sexual relationships and intimacy without fear of discrimination. See Sexuality and also Counselling.
Sexuality education		Education about all matters relating to sexuality and its expression. Sexuality education covers the same topics as sex education but also includes issues such as relationships, attitudes towards sexuality, sexual roles, gender relations and the social pressures to be sexually active, and it provides information about sexual and reproductive health services. It may also include training in communication and decision-making skills.
Sexually transmitted disease	STD	See Sexually Transmitted Infection
Sexually transmitted infection	STI	Disease resulting from bacteria or viruses and often acquired through sexual contact. Some STIs can also be acquired in other ways (i.e. blood transfusions, intravenous drug use, mother-to-child transmission). The term 'STI' is slowly replacing 'STD' (sexually transmitted disease) in order to include HIV infection. Most STIs, like HIV, are not acquired from partners who are obviously ill, but rather through exposure to infections that are asymptomatic or unnoticeable at the time of transmission.
Side-effects		Frequently used to describe just the ill effects, or unwanted effects, of a contraceptive. There are also beneficial side-effects to most contraceptives. Both categories should be considered under this overall heading.
Social marketing		Application of private sector marketing techniques to the sale of products which fulfil a social objective, at a price, such as condoms. Marketing is described as having the right product at an accessible place at an affordable price with appropriate promotion to one or more targeted audiences. In the social marketing of contraceptives, existing commercial and retail outlets are used in order to reach people not adequately served by other means; outlets can include pharmacies, grocery shops, petrol stations, barber shops, etc.
Son preference		A desire to have male rather than female children. This is usually due to the perception that sons contribute more to families, through work, continuing the family line and carrying out family rites and rituals, and providing security to their parents in old age.
Spermicides		Chemical contraceptives that inactivate and kill sperm and to a certain extent form a barrier over the cervix. Spermicides are more effective when used in conjunction with other contraceptives such as condoms or diaphragms. They offer protection against some sexually transmitted diseases, but the possibility of a protective effect against HIV has not been proved clinically. Spermicides are available in various forms: creams and jellies, foams, suppositories, foaming tablets and plastic films.
SRH		See Sexual and Reproductive Health
SRHS		See Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
STD		Sexually Transmitted Disease, see Sexually Transmitted Infection
Sterilization		See Voluntary Surgical Contraception
STI		See Sexually Transmitted Infection
Strategic gender needs		Changing women's subordinate social status in relation to men, challenging existing roles and promoting more equitable relations between men and women. Achieving strategic gender needs often takes a long time, requires policy and legislative changes and almost always involves empowering women.
Sunna circumcision		See Female Genital Cutting
Sustainability		The ability of a member association to improve institutional capacity in order to adopt a realistic and innovative strategy and thus provide quality services to its clients. Sustainability may include expanding client bases and generating income through advocacy and local funding mechanisms, while decreasing dependence on funds derived from external donors.
SWAps		See Sector-wide Approaches
Sympto-thermal method	STM	See Periodic Abstinence
Targets		The desired outcomes quantified and specified in time towards the attainment of the ultimate strategic objectives. Aspirational targets are those to which the strategy aspires, for example, the complete elimination of unsafe abortion by 2010. Operational targets are those towards which practical action is to be undertaken immediately, for example, reduction of unsafe abortion by 20% within two years. The target group is a specific population group or groups intended as beneficiaries of a programme. This will be either all, or a subset, of potential users such as adolescents, pregnant women, rural residents, or the residents of a particular geographic area.
TBA		See Traditional Birth Attendant
Teenage		See Adolescence
TFR		See Total Fertility Rate
Total fertility rate	TFR	The average number of children that would be born alive to a woman during her lifetime if the age-specific fertility rates of a given year applied throughout her childbearing years.
Traditional birth attendant	TBA	This comprises women who provide delivery services in the community. This includes traditional birth attendants who initially acquired their skills by delivering babies themselves or through apprenticeship. (WHO does not include them in the category of 'skilled attendants' who are allowed to provide/manage deliveries).
Traditional methods (of contraception)		Non-supply methods including periodic and post-partum abstinence, total abstinence if for contraceptive reasons, withdrawal, douche and folk methods.
Tubal ligation		See Voluntary Surgical Contraception
Under-five mortality rate		See Child Mortality Rate
Under-served groups		Groups not normally or not well served by established service delivery programmes. In family planning, some examples of under-served groups are adolescents, men, the urban poor and those who live in remote areas, and unmarried people.
Unmet need for family planning		Estimates of women who would like to prevent or delay pregnancy but are not using contraception, either because they lack knowledge about family planning or access to services, or because they face cultural, religious and family obstacles. The concept originated when information became widely available from surveys in which women (or their husbands) were asked whether they had intended to have their last birth. It has since been extended to include, variously, unmarried sexually active women who do not wish to become pregnant, women with post-partum amenorrhoea, women with a current unintended pregnancy, and women who are using less-effective or unsuitable methods, or using methods incorrectly. An even wider definition of unmet need includes those who are not able to ensure childbearing when it is wanted, i.e. women with reproductive health problems such as infertility, especially when this is the result of untreated sexually transmitted infection
Unsafe abortion		An induced abortion conducted either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking the minimal medical and hygienic standards, or both. Although the majority of the world's women live in countries where laws permit an induced abortion if a woman requests one and if there are health or social grounds for allowing it, a quarter of women live in countries where there is no access to legal abortion. Even in countries where abortion is legal, women may not be able to obtain abortions easily for reasons of bureaucracy, availability or accessibility. In these circumstances women with unwanted pregnancies frequently resort to unsafe abortion.
Vaccine		A substance that contains antigenic components from an infectious micro-organism.
Vacuum aspiration		A method of pregnancy termination in which the contents of the uterus are removed by suction, using either a hand-held syringe or electric pump.
Vasectomy		See Voluntary Surgical Contraception
VCT		See Voluntary Counselling and Testing
Violence against women		See Gender-Based Violence
Vital statistics/events		Demographic data on births, deaths, and stillbirths. Other events such as adoption, marriage, divorce and migration, although strictly speaking not vital events, are nevertheless often included. The registration of vital events is the basic source of information about a population's dynamics.
Voluntary counselling and testing	VCT	VCT is the process by which an individual undergoes counselling enabling him or her to make an informed choice about being tested for HIV. This decision must be entirely the choice of the individual and he or she must be assured that the process will be confidential. VCT has a vital role to play within a comprehensive range of measures for HIV prevention and care, and should be promoted. The potential benefits of VCT for the individual include improved health status through good nutritional advice and earlier access to care and treatment/prevention for HIV-related illness; emotional support; better ability to cope with HIV-related anxiety; awareness of options for prevention of MTCT feeding; and motivation to initiate or maintain safer sexual and drug-related behaviours. Other benefits include safer blood donation.
Voluntary surgical contraception	VSC	Female and male sterilization (also known as tubectomy, tubal occlusion or tubal ligation and vasectomy) are among the most effective contraceptive methods available for men and women who desire no more children and are associated with low mortality and complication rates. The sterilization procedure blocks either the sperm ducts (the vasa deferentia) or the oviducts (fallopian or uterine tubes) to prevent the sperm and ovum from uniting.
VSC		See Voluntary Surgical Contraception
WFS		See World Fertility Survey
Window period		Time from infection with HIV until antibodies are detected.
Withdrawal		One of the oldest known methods of contraception in which the man withdraws his penis from the vagina before ejaculation. Also known as coitus interruptus.
World fertility survey		An international programme of research on human fertility carried out between 1974 and 1982. At the time, the World Fertility Survey was the largest social survey undertaking ever, with nationally representative, internationally comparable surveys carried out in 42 developing and 20 developed countries.
Young people		Those who are aged between 10-24 years.
Youth		The World Health Organization refers to those in the 15-24 age range as youth.
Youth friendly		Characteristics of, for example, policies, programmes, resources, services or activities that attract young people, meet their sexual and reproductive health needs and are acceptable and accessible to a diversity of young people.

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