[Reproductive health: definitions, data and challenges].

: Emergence of the concept of reproductive health over the past decade was stimulated by distinct currents in the fields of health and of feminist theory. The broadened concept represents a reaction to the essentially demographic justification offered for population policies and their principal instrument of action, family planning, since the 1970s. The new focus is more affirmative, and its discourse promotes the right to health, to improved access to services, and to health services offering quality and respect for women. Social justice aspects, especially nondiscrimination against the poor and other specific groups, and free selection of contraceptive options and services have assumed greater importance. Reproductive health is viewed as encompassing psychological aspects and power relations within marital unions. Very general provisional definitions of the concept of reproductive health are acceptable for the moment. But it is important to arrive at a definition that will be clear and specific and will combine the preoccupations of the health field with feminist concerns. The problem of measurement is related to the problem of definition. Satisfactory indicators of reproductive health are lacking. Existing indicators such as maternal mortality, fertility measures, or contraceptive prevalence continue to be used despite their narrow focus. Several priority areas of research in reproductive health have been identified, including aspects and determinants of sexual behavior, roles of men and women in reproductive health, the dynamics of contraceptive usage, undesired pregnancy, determinants and consequences of induced abortion, lactation and spacing and their relationship to sterilization, and maternal morbidity and mortality.