The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD, September 1994) established the effective prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, as an integral component of reproductive health services. There is a key programmatic linkage between family planning and the prevention of HIV in women and children.This was the focus of a high-level consultation convened by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in Glion, Switzerland, in May 2004.

Although the international community has pledged to address mental health problems related to sexual and reproductive health, too many women and men still suffer their deleterious effects. For example, 20-30% or more women experience depression during pregnancy or after childbirth in developing countries. Mental health should be addressed routinely as part of sexual and reproductive health services.

This guidance note is designed for countries seeking to scale up midwifery services, especially at the community level. It is part of a UNFPA-ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) Joint Initiative to support the call for a Decade of Action for Human Resources for Health made at World Health Assembly in 2006.

This note outlines in detail the action required by policy-makers and programme managers to effect change at country level and scale up midwifery capacity, specifically in poor and hard-to-reach areas.

The aim of this guide is to equip its users with key messages, evidence and actions that can be used to advocate effectively to prevent HIV in girls and young women. It focuses on three goals that the global community increasingly recognizes as important components of the response to the epidemic: improving the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services for girls and young women; expanding socio-economic opportunities; and ending child marriage. In turn, collectively the goals are divided into a total of 10 key messages.