Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women in Africa and the Caribbean - Linking the Two Regions

In a time of global backlash against women's rights and gender issues, this book echoes the importance of protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women by conceptualising and analysing relevant sexual and reproductive health rights issues (SRHR) in Africa and the Caribbean. It examines the linkages that exist around SRHR issues between the two regions and how this understanding can help to support the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights both in Africa and the Caribbean. It focuses on providing historical, conceptual and contxtual understandings of SRHR issues in the African continent and the Caribbean region. The main topics engage theoretical and contemporary issues, e.g., limitations to the single use of courts as avenues for reducing obstetric violence, abortion rights, maternal mortality, gender-based violence, and adolescent sexuality. The book presents diverse perspectives in the examination of SRHR issues by offering legal, socio-political, and medical frameworks for analysing and understanding sexual and reproductive health and rights. It further contributes to the discourse and strategies to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and men to improve both women s and men s quality of life/well-being and to also achieve gender equality.

List of contents

Chapter 1. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Africa and the Caribbean (Olaitan et al.).- Chapter 2. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Women: A Descriptive Analysis (Olaitan and Adegalu).- Chapter 3. Autocentric Ubuntu and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ndasauka).- Chapter 4. Literature Review: Evidence-Based Interventions and Policy Implementation for SRHR and GBV in the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa (Tubi-Nwangwu).- Chapter 5. In Search of Elusive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Commercial Sex Workers in Lesotho: An Examination (Tesele and Xaba).- Chapter 6. Legal Answer for a Socio-Political Question: Informed Consent and the Limits of Judicial Relief for Obstetric Violence Cases in Kenya (Odada and Koitsioe).- Chapter 7. Exploring the Intersectionality of Internal Displacement and Gender-Based Violence in Africa (Balogun).- Chapter 8. Engaging Men in the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights of Women in Africa: Case Studies of Nigeria and Chad (Alere).- Chapter 9. Reproductive Rights in Crisis: Addressing Family Planning Needs among Internally Displaced Women in North Central Nigeria, West Africa, (Imoh et al.).- Chapter 10. Dynamics of Violent Conflict and Gender-Based Violence in Africa (Oyekanmi).- Chapter 11. Women of Childbearing Age s Challenges in Accessing Maternal Healthcare: A Case of Zimbabwe s Makonde District (Mabemba).- Chapter 12. The worst is when you have to review the death of a baby : The Experiences of District Clinical Specialist Team Members during the National Health Insurance pilot program in the Tshwane District (Wonci).- Chapter 13. Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Women with Disabilities (WWDs) in Africa: A Systematic Review (Mapendere).- Chapter 14. Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and Policy Integration for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Africa (Famutimi).- Chapter 15. Influence of Sociocultural Norms on Informed Consent for Cesarean Section in Nigeria (Obiagbaoso).- Chapter 16. Women and Mental Health during Pregnancy: The Case of Ruwa, Harare East District, Zimbabwe (Moyo).- Chapter 17. Honouring the Humanity of Women: Considerations on Moving From Harm to Help and Healing Reproductive Health and Rights in Jamaica (Heron).- Chapter 18. Comprehensive Sexual Education for Adolescents and Youth: A Comparative Perspective of Kenya and Cuba (Rottok).- Chapter 19. The Politics of Menstrual Stigmas and Taboos: Integrating Menstrual Health and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights in Africa and the Caribbean Region (Moodley-Marie and Parry).- Chapter 20. When Two Became the Right Thing to Do: The Development and Implementation of the Family Planning Policy in Jamaica (Maxwell).

About the author

Zainab Monisola Olaitan, PhD, is a political scientist with expertise in gender and representation, African politics, feminist thought, and peace and conflict studies. She is a Post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP) at Queen’s University. She is also a research associate at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation (IPATC) and the Centre for the Study of Race, Gender, and Class (CSRGC), both at the University of Johannesburg. She has published widely in journals, book projects, and policy briefs on themes bordering on feminist thought, African politics, gender and representation, African indigenous knowledge systems, and peace and conflict studies.
Tinuade Adekunbi Ojo, PhD, is the director of the Centre for the Study of Race, Gender, and Class and an Associate Professor in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg. Her interdisciplinary work bridges multiple fields to address complex issues related to women and gender in Africa. As a feminist political economist, Prof. Ojo integrates political science, economics, sociology, and environmental studies perspectives in her research. Her extensive publications on gender and development policy and the political economy of trade and aid in Africa and the Diaspora underscore her commitment to advancing knowledge and policy in these critical areas.
Shakira Maxwell, PhD, is a reproductive health and women's rights activist. She is currently the senior programme officer in the Office of Global Affairs at The UWI. Dr Maxwell is also the current president of the Board of Directors of the Jamaica Family Planning Association, one of the longest-serving non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the island, which provides safe sexual and reproductive health services to some of the most vulnerable in society. She has published in the areas of gender and development studies, female criminality, and sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Summary

In a time of global backlash against women's rights and gender issues, this book echoes the importance of protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women by conceptualising and analysing relevant sexual and reproductive health rights issues (SRHR) in Africa and the Caribbean. It examines the linkages that exist around SRHR issues between the two regions and how this understanding can help to support the protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights both in Africa and the Caribbean. It focuses on providing historical, conceptual and contxtual understandings of SRHR issues in the African continent and the Caribbean region. The main topics engage theoretical and contemporary issues, e.g., limitations to the single use of courts as avenues for reducing obstetric violence, abortion rights, maternal mortality, gender-based violence, and adolescent sexuality. The book presents diverse perspectives in the examination of SRHR issues by offering legal, socio-political, and medical frameworks for analysing and understanding sexual and reproductive health and rights. It further contributes to the discourse and strategies to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and men to improve both women’s and men’s quality of life/well-being and to also achieve gender equality.

Product details

• Assisted by: Tinuade Adekunbi Ojo (Editor), Shakira Maxwell (Editor), Tinuade Adekunbi Ojo (Editor), Zainab Monisola Olaitan (Editor)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 06.09.2025
• EAN: 9783031960284
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3196028-4
• No. of pages: 412
• Illustrations: XXVI, 412 p. 8 illus., 7 illus. in color.
• Series: African Histories and Modernities
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; Gender Studies: Gruppen, African History, Gender and Health, sexual health Africa, reproductive health Caribbean, Africa gender and health, sexual health Caribbean, women's rights Africa, reproductive health Africa, women's rights Caribbean