Reproductive Health Research Network (RHRN)

About us

Emphasizing the importance of reproductive health research as an area of strategic priority for programme and policy development, as well as for programme implementation, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO) developed a project to establish a directory for reproductive health research.  The project is a joint collaboration between EMRO and the Department of Reproductive Health and Research atHealth   oo WHO headquarters (RHR/HQ). The project aims to facilitate exchange of research related experiences in the field of reproductive health between and within countries.  In addition, it is expected to further support utilization of data in reproductive health programme development and implementation.

The framework of the reproductive health research directory project consists of two stage components: 1) compiling basic data about governmental, private, non-governmental institutes, scientific bodies, research agencies, advocacy groups, and organizations concerned with and involved in reproductive health research in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region; and 2) gathering information about the conducted research activities in the identified research institutes over a specified period of time.

For this project, the scope of reproductive health research has been identified to entail any of the following priority areas:

• Maternal, perinatal and newborn health;

• Reproductive and sexual health of adolescents and youth;

• Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS;

• Reproductive tract infections (RTIs);

• Early detection of reproductive cancers (breast, cervix and ovary);

• Family planning and contraception;

• Abortion and management of post abortion complications;

• Infertility diagnosis, counseling, and treatment;

• Peri and menopausal health, including hormone replacement therapy (HRT);

• Violence against women and harmful practices, including FGM;

• Reproductive health rights;

• Reproductive health of men, including male involvement and role in reproductive health;

• Reproductive health general issues, including reproductive health in crises situations (e.g. refugees, internally displaced people, camps);

• Miscellaneous.

 The objectives of Reproductive Health Research Network (RHRN) include: 

·   facilitating exchange of information on reproductive health in Eastern Mediterranean Region;

·   providing a mechanism for collaboration and dialogue among reproductive health organizations/associations/institutes within and among countries of the Region; 

·    promoting lessons learned exercises and exchange of experiences in reproductive health;

·    raising awareness and advocating the findings of reproductive health research conducted in countries of the Region;

·    providing a mechanism for raising funds and avoiding duplication of efforts in research activities in the Region.