Reproductive and sexual health knowledge in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Cynthia Buckley, University of Texas at Austin

Since 1991, contraceptive use has increased dramatically in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, while reliance on abortion has declined. Yet, in spite of improvements UNAIDS identifies Central Asia as the fastest growing region worldwide for HIV infection. Inadequate sexual education programs, heavy reliance on IUDs, social norms discouraging condom use, substantial premarital and non-marital sexual activity, and growing rates of intravenous drug use in both countries provide a welcoming environment for the spread of HIV. Integrating state health statistics and reports, two rounds of DHS data, and program evaluations of family planning programs in both countries, I examine the relationship between improvements in reproductive health and sexual health knowledge in both countries. Tracing institutional, cultural, and structural mechanisms the paper highlights the disconnection between reproductive and sexual health for men and women in both countries and compares the social and economic characteristics associated with poor reproductive and sexual health knowledge.