Reproductive health indicators in the European Union: The REPROSTAT project.
Our objective was to develop a set of indicators for monitoring and describing reproductive health in the European Union (EU) that reflect common concerns of the different Member States. Ideally, the indicators would possibly draw upon existing data sources. The REPROSTAT project: (i) conducted a review of existing recommendations on reproductive health indicators; (ii) suggested a set of initial indicators in consultation with representatives from relevant outside agencies and organisations; and (iii) invited 200 reproductive health experts throughout Europe to review the provisional set of indicators. The feasibility of using the REPROSTAT indicators was tested for two countries, Italy and Germany. A final set of 13 core indicators was developed, as well as another recommended indicator and four that needed further development. The pilot use of the indicators in Italy and Germany provided useful information about availability of data in different Member States. The REPROSTAT project developed a set of reproductive health indicators believed to be of relevance for planning, prevention, and caring within the EU. Further, harmonisation of data from different Member States will be needed if the benefits of these indicators are to be fully realised.
Temmerman
Marleen
M
International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. marleen.temmerman@ugent.be
Foster
Lauren Beth
LB
Hannaford
Philip
P
Cattaneo
Adriano
A
Olsen
Jørn
J
Bloemenkamp
Kitty W M
KW
Jahn
Albrecht
A
da Silva
Miguel Oliveira
MO
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005062:European Union; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018456:Reproductive Medicine; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology