11 July 2012 marks 25 years since the world reached a population of five billion people. The first World Population Day was held on 11 July 1989 by the United Nations in order to bring awareness to the world’s varied population issues. These include gender equality, the importance of family planning, poverty, maternal health and human rights. The Day is celebrated worldwide with activities such as seminar discussions, information sessions and essay competitions. The theme of this year’s World Population Day is “Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services.” Here are some facts about reproductive health:

• Universal access to reproductive health by 2015 is one of the targets included in the UN’s Millennium Development Goals

• Reproductive health problems remain the leading cause of death among women of childbearing age

• There are over 222 million women who would like, but do not have access to, effective family planning

• Nearly 800 women die every day in the process of giving birth

In recognition of World Population Day, here are some relevant Cochrane Systematic Reviews:

Community-based intervention packages for preventing maternal and newborn illness and death and improving neonatal outcomes

Midwife-led versus other models of care for childbearing women

Scalpel or no-scalpel approach to the vas

Intra-uterine insemination for unexplained subfertility

The impact of conditional cash transfers on health outcomes and use of health services in low- and middle-income countries

References:
United Nations Population Fund. 2012. Events. World Population Day 2012:Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services. (3 July 2012) <http://www.unfpa.org/public/world-population-day>