Abortion
Termination of pregnancy. An abortion can occur either spontaneously (called a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage), or it can be brought about by intervention (called an induced abortion). It is with this last meaning that the word is generally used.
Abortion rate
The number of abortions taking place among women of reproductive age (usually 15-49), over a period, usually a year, expressed per 1,000 women.
Abortion Ratio
The number of abortions per 1,000 live births in a given year.
Abstinence
Abstinence is a conscious decision to avoid certain activities or behaviours. Different people have different definitions of sexual abstinence. For some, it may mean no sexual contact. For others, it may mean no penetration (oral, anal, vaginal) or only ‘lower-risk’ behaviours (outer as opposed to intercourse).
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
AIDS is an epidemiological definition based on clinical signs and symptoms. AIDS is often referred to as a ‘deadly, incurable disease’, but this may create fear and increase stigma and discrimination. It has also been referred to as a ‘manageable, chronic illness, much like hypertension or diabetes’, but this may lead people to believe that it is not as serious as they thought. It is preferable to use the following description: AIDS is caused by HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus. HIV destroys the body’s ability to fight off infection and disease, which can ultimately lead to death. Antiretroviral therapy slows down replication of the virus and can greatly enhance quality of life, but does not eliminate HIV infection. Don’t use ‘immune deficiency’.
Adolescence
The period between sexual maturity and puberty and the attainment of adult social status; psychological development during the 10 to 19 year age range.
Adolescent Birth Rate (ABR)
Adolescent birth rate measures the annual number of births to women 15 to 19 years of age per 1,000 women in that age group. It represents the risk of childbearing among adolescent women 15 to 19 years of age. It is also referred to as the age-specific fertility rate for women aged 15-19. Source: United Nations Site for the MDG Indicators.
Advocacy
The act of campaigning or building support for a cause or issue.
Afterbirth
The placenta and amniotic sac, which come out after the baby during childbirth.
Age-Dependency Ratio
The ratio of persons in the ages defined as dependent (under 15 years and over 64 years) to persons in the ages defined as economically productive (15-64 years) in a population.
Age-Sex Structure
The composition of a population as determined by the number or proportion of males and females in each age category. The age-sex structure of a population is the cumulative result of past trends in fertility, mortality, and migration. Information on age-sex composition is essential for the description and analysis of many other types of demographic data. See also population pyramid.
Ageing
Ageing is a process in which the proportions of adults and elderly increase in a population, while the proportions of children and adolescents decrease. This process results in a rise in the median age of the population. Aging occurs when fertility rates decline while life expectancy remains constant or improves at the older ages.
Aid Effectiveness
Addresses the impact that development aid has in supporting key development priorities for countries, including reducing poverty; improving health and education outcomes; and accelerating growth.
AIDS carrier (don’t use)
The term ‘AIDS carrier’ is no longer used because it is incorrect, stigmatizing, and offensive to many people living with HIV.
AIDS response
The terms ‘AIDS response’, ‘HIV response’, ‘response to AIDS’, and ‘response to HIV’ are often used interchangeably to mean the response to the epidemic.
AIDS virus (don’t use)
Since AIDS is a clinical syndrome, it is incorrect to refer to the virus as the ‘AIDS virus’. HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) is what ultimately causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). In referring to the virus, write the full expression at first usage and then use HIV; avoid the term ‘HIV virus’ (which is a tautology, i.e. it is saying the same thing twice).
Amenorrhoea
The absence of menstruation.
Amniocentesis
The extraction of the fluid surrounding the foetus inside the membrane for prenatal diagnosis.
Antenatal care coverage
The percentage of women who utilized antenatal care provided by skilled birth attendants for reasons related to pregnancy at least once during pregnancy, among all women who gave birth to a live child in a given time period.
Amniotic fluid
The watery fluid surrounding a developing fetus in the uterus.
Amniotic sac
A thin membrane forming a closed sac around the fetus that contains the amniotic fluid.
Antiprogestagens
The compounds that block the action of the hormone progesterone. Since progesterone is essential for the maintenance of pregnancy, antiprogestagens were first developed for the medical termination of pregnancy.
Antiretroviral (ARV)
The abbreviation ARV refers to ‘antiretroviral’ and is sometimes seen in the press. It should only be used if referring to the drugs themselves and not to their use. Even then, it is best used as an adjective: antiretroviral drugs. ‘Antiretroviral therapy’ is a more inclusive term.
ART
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the course of medications or drugs one takes to fight HIV. Synonyms include: HAART (Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy) or “ARVs” (antiretrovirals).
Artificial insemination
Artificially placing semen into the vagina or uterus for the purpose of inducing pregnancy.
AWP
Annual Work Plan.
