Issues to consider in operationalizing reproductive health

The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) served as the international launchpoint for a broadened reproductive health agenda, bringing global attention to a variety of underlying issues that impact on women's health and well-being, and highlighting the need to redress imbalances in gender equity that have had negative health and social consequences in particular for women and girls. To meet the challenges of the ICPD, programs must assess, prioritize and implement an expanded set of reproductive health interventions within an environment of diminishing resources. This paper argues that hidden social and health costs that particularly affect women must be included in the assessment and prioritization of reproductive health interventions. In addition, it argues that issues of gender and sexuality cannot be separated from the delivery of appropriate family planning and reproductive health care if we are to have a significant impact on improving the reproductive health of current and future generations.