Reproductive health

The World Health Organization defines reproductive health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes’ [41298].

Reproductive health comprises the reproductive and sexual health of individuals during their reproductive lives. It includes reproductive outcomes such as fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, and diseases of the reproductive tract (genital system). Reproductive health should also consider physiological, behavioural and health-care factors that are significant determinants in the reproductive health of individuals [41299].

The sexual and reproductive health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people present some ongoing challenges [27996]. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experience high levels of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses [39087], teenage pregnancies [39234], hospitalisations for pregnancy complications [37338] and cancers of the genital system [31288].

Reproductive health care should allow individuals to:

• make informed and responsible choices about their reproductive health
• make informed and responsible choices about their sexual behaviour irrespective of age, gender and marital status
• access health care
• have access to safe motherhood
• access services to prevent, or care for infertility [41237].

Reproductive health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be delivered within a culturally sensitive, culturally safe and culturally effective environment [17046]. Evaluations, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth programs, have found programs that engaged the community, were culturally appropriate, flexible and adaptable to local scenarios, were more successful [25057].