title: The macroeconomic environment and sexual and reproductive health: a review of trends over the last 30 years.
abstract: The social services provided in any country are determined by resource allocation. How money is spent, the way in which programmes are organised, and the services that are prioritised can have important implications for health, including the sexual and reproductive health of men and women. Choices in how resources are allocated are influenced by a number of factors. Covering the years from the late 1970s to the current time, this article reviews the contexts that have influenced the provision of sexual and reproductive health services and provides examples of instances where decisions about resource allocation are not evidence-based. The role of donors in determining how services are provided and their lack of accountability is discussed. We conclude that sexual and reproductive health and rights activists need to engage with and take into account the macroeconomic environment in their efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
authors: School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Fonn
authors: T K
authors: TK
authors: Sundari Ravindran
mesh_terms: D004467:Economics / Q000266:history* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011332:Privatization; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends; D040841:Resource Allocation; D040241:Social Marketing