Ensuring a Wide Range of Family Planning Choices
The use of contraception varies widely around the world, both in terms of total use and the types of methods used. In many countries, women and couples rely largely on one or two contraceptive methods, because of government policies, the way that national family planning programs have evolved, and cultural or social preferences. Understanding why people prefer some contraceptive methods over others can be useful for strengthening family planning programs. (April 2008)

How Older Women Can Shield Themselves From Poverty

Elderly women are highly vulnerable to poverty. On average, they are likely to live 13 or 14 years longer than their male partners. And they are more likely than men to run out of resources in late life. Divorced or separated older women are the most vulnerable, because they have lower incomes and fewer resources. It's a group that will grow in size as the baby boomers age and as more women divorce or separate, said Timothy Smeeding in a presentation at the Population Reference Bureau on Feb. 28, 2008. Also view a 13-minute webcast interview with Professor Smeeding. (March 2008)

Fertility Declining in the Middle East and North Africa
Population growth of the mainly Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa has been slowed by a veritable revolution in marriage and childbearing in recent decades. While a young population structure ensures momentum for future growth, the pace has slackened thanks to fertility declines in some of the region’s largest countries. (April 2008)

Women Prevail Against Violence
Mama Joyce and Josephine are unlikely heroines. Both women were brought low by abusive husbands who beat them, took away their dignity and choices, and left them with AIDS. Yet both women emerged as heroines in "SASA! A Film About Women, Violence and HIV/AIDS." This film tells the story of how these courageous women triumphed over gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS and gained power that helped them organize, become activists in their communities, and build meaningful and rewarding lives. (January 2008)

PRB Discuss Online: "Gender Equality and the Family"
The gender revolution in the public sphere has continued apace throughout the industrialized world. Women are leading countries and holding prestigious positions in government, business, and academia. But in the private sphere of the family, much less change has occurred. Women still shoulder most of the responsibilities. For women to reach equality with men, these inequities in the public and private spheres need to be addressed. Fran Goldscheider, professor emeritus at Brown University and professor at the University of Maryland, led a PRB Discuss Online on this topic. Read a transcript of the questions and answers. (November 2007)

Gender Disparities in Health and Mortality
Gender differences in mortality and life expectancy vary by country. But in most countries, men live shorter lives than women. In Russia, for instance, the difference between male and female life expectancy is 13 years (59 vs. 72). In other countries, such as the United States, the male disadvantage is smaller: 5 years (75 vs. 80). And in some countries, such as Afghanistan, there is little or no male disadvantage (42 vs. 42). (November 2007)

PRB's Women's Edition Journalists Cover 'Women Deliver' Conference
At Women Deliver, a global conference marking the 20th anniversary of the launch of the global Safe Motherhood Initiative, more than 1,800 people gathered in London from Oct. 18 to 20, to focus on creating the political will to save the lives and improve the health of women, mothers, and newborns around the world. Nine members of PRB's Women's Edition, a network of journalists, covered the conference, reporting and writing articles for the conference newsletter. (November 2007)

Community Theater and Peer Education Help Tanzanians Discuss HIV and Gender-Based Violence
Cheza Chezeka is unfaithful to his partner, engages in unsafe sex, and acquires a sexually transmitted infection. Fikirini, on the other hand, learns how to communicate and resist sexual temptation and peer pressure. Tino Mashakani abuses his girlfriend and brags about his violent behavior to his friends until one of them steps forward with advice on how to stop the violence. Each of these dramatic characters was developed by the Tuelimishane project in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Tuelimishane used community-based theater and peer education to heighten awareness of HIV and gender-based violence and change behaviors. (September 2007)

World Population Highlights 2007: Overview of World Population
We entered the 20th century with 1.6 billion people. We entered the 21st century with 6.1 billion people. And in 2007, world population is 6.6 billion. The increase in the size of the human population in the last half-century is unprecedented. And nearly all of the growth is occurring in the less developed countries. Currently, 80 million people are being added every year in less developed countries, compared with about 1.6 million in more developed countries. While the less developed countries will keep growing, the more developed countries may grow slowly or not at all. This article is excerpted from the Population Bulletin: "World Population Highlights: Key Findings From PRB's 2007 World Population Data Sheet.(September 2007)

Creating an Alternative Fuel in Uganda to Help the Environment and Empower Women
In Uganda, charcoal and fuel wood are the energy sources for the vast majority of a population that is increasing so rapidly the forests can't possibly keep up. In Namatala slum in the small town of Mbale in eastern Uganda, a group of displaced women could no longer find charcoal, and when they could, they couldn't afford it. The Uganda Gender Rights Foundation initiated a project to create an alternative source of cooking fuel, and at the same time empower the women to rise out of poverty. (August 2007)