Reproductive health issues in Greece.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate reproductive health issues in Greece.


METHODS
Analysis of hospital data and national registry reports.


RESULTS
The rate of population growth in Greece is declining and is now 0.99% p.a. The maternal mortality ratio is approximately 3.6 per 100,000 live births, and perinatal and infant mortality are approximately 10/1,000 and 16/1,000 respectively. However, only 28-30% of sexually active women use contraception and approximately 300,000 terminations are performed each year. Sexually transmitted diseases are less common than in 1985: the incidence of syphilis is less than 4 per 100,000 population and that of gonorrhoea is less than 25/100,000. Between 1984 and September 1996, 1,421 cases of AIDS were reported; of these, 1,252 (88.1%) were in men and 169 (11.9%) in women. The incidence of human papilloma virus infection increased and at least 30% of sexually active women are infected.


CONCLUSIONS
Good reproductive health is of major importance to women and health agencies but there are still significant obstacles to overcome in some regions.
Hassan
E
E
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital.
Creatsas
G
G
D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007246:Infertility / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008428:Maternal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*