YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Research conducted by the Association "For Family and Health" over the last few years on teenagers and people of reproductive age showed that Armenia’s lack the knowledge and information about family planning–and sexually transmitted diseases–including HIV.
Abortions–which can have very dangerous consequences–are still the only method of birth control in Armenia. Every woman has an average of 2.7 abortions; however–the level of secondary sterility among women of reproductive age are higher. The investigation showed that 28.5 percent of 1,400 women of reproductive age suffer from secondary sterility.
On September 1 the association will launch a program–under which 20 members of the association from Yerevan and 4 regional branches (Ararat–Kotayk–Armavir and Gegharkunik) will take "Social Marketing" and " Fund Raising and Program Management" training courses. Also–4,000 booklets on the prevention of AIDS–sexually transmitted diseases and abortion will be published.
Director of the Training and Resource Center of the Armenian Assembly of America–Margarita Piliposian said that the center raised $2,989 for the implementation of the program–and the Association "For Family and Health" donated $2,386.
According to Piliposian–the development of institution will contribute to the solution of the public awareness problem–as well as of that of sexual health–inaccessibility and low quality of medical services.