Reproductive health: conceptual and operationalization challenges

This review article is a teaching material for those who are engaged in reproductive health (RH) service delivery, managers, policy makers, professionals and the RH community. It also aims at addressing the RH concept and indicates some of the operationalization modalities, challenges and attempts to promote the realization of RH and population programmes in the country. It has been shown time and again that even five years after the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), policy makers, administrators and service providers still lack an understanding of not only the integrated approach of RH services, but the concept of RH also. In addition, the majority poorly perceives the RH rights notion. It is imperative that issues like understanding of the integrated approach of RH services, ensuring the adequacy of the information or choices offered to women and emphasis on the quality of care offered to clients have to be addressed urgently and adequately. The conceptualization and operationalization of RH will require full understanding of the health, population and women policies, legal and institutional implications of these concepts and the actions needed to convert them into reality. In order to achieve better results, commitment not only of relevant governmental agencies but also by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the RH community is a prerequisite. This includes allocation of adequate resources and proper interpretation of the RH concept in the Ethiopian context.