The LIFE websites accessed from links in the right column and on our links page offer comprehensive information centred around Catholic teaching on reproductive health particularly focusing on maintaining good health before and during pregnancy,education about and supporting girls through teenage pregnancy(the UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rates in western europe), support for single parents(the UK has the highest divorce rates and single parent ratios in western Europe), support and guidance for those trying to achieve pregnancy or those trying to avoid pregnancy using NFP(natural family planning) and support for those considering or needing counselling before or following termination.For health professionals wishing to train as natural family planning specialist teachers or supplement training offered within existing nursing,health visiting and midwifery courses on contraception and sexual health information is available on the Natural Family Planning Teachers Association and Marriage Care Fertility Ukand Family Planning Association NFP links in the drop down menu in the right column.Further information on technological advances with NFP is also available on the PERSONA link in the drop down menu.
WHO and UK Dept of Health Reports on contraception,HIV and other blood contactand sexually transmitted diseases can also be found in the drop down menu in the right column..
HIV AND AIDS
Although the first known case of HIV was in 1959 HIV/AIDS is acknowledged as having have been around and spreading since 1981 click on for more about the history of HIV/AIDS
Increased choice and use of medication in HIV enables both a reduction in the blood viral load ,the amount of virus in the blood ,and increased levels of normal CD4 cells that help to prevent infection resulting in a reduced risk of transmision of HIV click on for more
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HIV/AIDS
'The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system, destroying or impairing their function. In the early stages of infection, the person has no symptoms. However, as the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to so-called opportunistic infections. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS; antiretroviral drugs can slow down the process even further. HIV is transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal), transfusion of contaminated blood, sharing of contaminated needles, and between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. click on for more
WHO UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO TREATMENT BY 2010
'Since 1981 when HIV/AIDS was first described, an estimated 60 million people have been infected with HIV, of whom some 20 million have died. UNAIDS reports that, globally, less than one person in five at risk of HIV has access to basic HIV prevention services. Only 24% of people who needed HIV treatment had access to it by mid-2006' click on for more.
'Following the commitment by G8 members and, subsequently, heads of states and governments at the 2005 UN World Summit, the UNAIDS Secretariat along with their partners, have been engaging in consultations to define the concept and a framework for universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care by 2010.' click on for more
BMA ON ASYLUM SEEKERS HEALTH AND HIV click on for more
HIV AND PREGNANCY
Without adequate precautions and treatment with appropriate antiretroviral (ARV) drugs there is a 20-45% risk that an HIV positive woman can transmit the virus to her baby during pregnancy, labour and delivery, and breastfeeding. Modern treatment when combined with a controlled delivery of the baby and other interventions,eg,formula feeding instead of breastfeeding can cut the risk of transmission of HIV to the baby to below 2%-click here for more information about management of HIV and AIDS in pregnancy HIV click on for more
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT SEXUAL TRANSMISSION OF DISEASES
ALCOHOL IN PREGNANCY
Exceeding alcohol limits in pregnancy can affect the growing foetus.Click here to find out alcohol limits in pregnancy -remember it is safer to avoid all alcohol during pregnancy. Click here for more information about foetal alcohol syndrome caused by excessive drinking during pregnancy.
SMOKING IN PREGNANCY
Smoking in pregnancy can contribute to or cause miscarriage, dysmaturity (low full term birth weight) , prematurity , stillbirth and increased risk of cot death following birth .Smoking during pregnancy and after birth can cause chronic long term respiratory disease in the baby or child and poor physical growth and associated development delay . Click on for more information
PREVENTABLE CONGENITAL DEFECTS
CLICK ON SUBJECT AREA FOR MORE INFORMATION
FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY
Neural tube defects(spina bifida/hydrocephalus , anencephaly) rates have dropped significantly over the last 2 decades but still affect around 1in 1000 pregnancies click on for more information -linked to folic acid anaemia in early pregnancy with higher rates occurring in some geographical areas or during outbreaks of infectious diseases . Pre-conceptual folic acid supplements are advised for women with a previously affected pregnancy planning future pregnancy as neural tube damage has already occurred by 23-25 days post-conception before a woman may be aware that she is pregnant click on for more .
Folic acid anaemia can result from dietary insufficiency, poor health, infection and some commonly used medications including some oral contraceptives and antibiotics (click on for more on Etiology, pathogenesis and prevention of neural tube defects by Rengasamy Padmanabhan) click on for more .
Further information is available by clicking here from the ASBAH (Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus website ) Click here The Catholic BeNotAfraid website USA for real lfe stories & up to date prenatal support for families with a pregnancy affected by spina/bifida /hydrocephalus or other birth defects
RUBELLA
Reduced uptake of MMR vaccine produces renewed concerns about dangers to the foetus of unprotected women in contact with rubella click for more information.
Click here for information about the possible effects of rubella in early pregnancy to the foetus of someone who does not have an adequate level of rubella immunity.
Rubella vaccine is available at GP surgeries for non pregnant women or can be given post-partum (following birth)to protect future pregnancies in women identified as not being rubella immune during early pregnancy blood screening click on for more .
PRENATAL SCREENING
Ultrasound screening click on for more information is used as a diagnostic procedure in a variety of healthcare settings and is now a routine part of the pregnancy care package to assess the duration of and development of the foetus during pregnancy sometimes providing an indication of necessary early intervention to protect or save the life of the baby.Ultrasound screening can also be effective in diagnosing many types of foetal abnormality and is a safe option when compared to more invasive methods such as chorionic villi sampling or amniocentesis that can carry a risk of foetal damage and miscarriage. Ante-natal screening options can produce ethical dilemmas to personal Christian or Catholic beliefs.
Where there is a prenatal diagnosis of abnormality clients of any cultural or religious background may choose a pro-life route for the pregnancy and should be referred to the respective specialist organization or Birth Defects Foundation on the link in the right column rather than pressurised into termination. Parents who carry a child affected by abnormality to full term or who have undergone termination require support and counselling for the affected pregnancy and for a next pregnancy particularly where there is a possible genetic link if they wish to identify risks of recurrence to subsequent pregnancies. A list of known and possible genetically linked abnormalities can be found in the drop down menu in the right column.
CLICK HERE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS ONLINE - RATES OF CONGENITAL ABNORMALITY
