Maternal health in resource-poor urban settings: how does women's autonomy influence the utilization of obstetric care services?

Integrating reproductive health, family planning and STI/HIV prevention and treatment services is critical for achieving universal access. Integration requires that health care workers can provide an appropriate comprehensive package of services under one roof, and refer patients to other services if required. Linking STI/HIV with SRH services improves access to HIV/STI services for women who might otherwise not visit them because of issues of stigma [1]. It also improves access to reproductive health services for people living with HIV and AIDS whose reproductive health needs and rights are often overlooked [12]. Integrating...