The United Nations Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, known as the Human Reproduction Programme or HRP, has been providing the world with research findings and guidance on sexual health and reproduction (SRH).
The HRP annual report 2023 highlights the program’s key achievements in the past year, and points to major ongoing research that will be completed in the next few years.
Significant contributions by HRP to global research and guidance in 2023 include the following:
- Global infertility prevalence estimation: Publication of the global estimates of the prevalence of infertility revealed that an estimated 1 in 6 people (around 17.5%) are affected by infertility at some time in their lives. Subsequent analysis of treatment standards and costs indicated that these can amount to more than a year’s earnings in many low- and lower-middle-income countries.
- A game-changing treatment package to prevent maternal mortality: Severe bleeding after childbirth, or postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), is the leading cause of maternal death, and this is preventable with appropriate and timely intervention. In response to stagnation in global progress on maternal mortality, HRP piloted a treatment package for early detection and treatment of PPH using the mnemonic acronym E-MOTIVE.
- Empowering and training health workers: The program has contributed to new digital courses for health workers who care for survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual violence; comprehensive abortion care services and maternal care, and work to prevent female genital mutilation.
