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This paper is well written however it could be misleading. It gives
the impression that a major defect in reproductive health of Arab young
people is lack of sexuality outside marriage. It challenges the family
values as well. In fact the best improvements in reproductive health in
that part of the world would be better obedience to Islam(2). It helps to
achieve at least two of the eight millennium developmental goals in sexual
and reproductive health set out by WHO; namely combating HIV/ AIDS and
unsafe abortion(1). It goes without saying that abstaining from sex and
avoiding extramarital affairs are superior to using condoms in preventing
spread of sexually transmitted disease (STDs). Unplanned pregnancies of
single teenagers are certainly a big problem in the Western societies. It
has a big impact on the economy and leaves many victims with lots of
psychological and health scars. We as health workers should look on ways
how to fight poverty and improve general health rather than to criticize
others' values or to impose our believes on them
Do not see things from your eyes only
This paper is well written however it could be misleading. It gives
the impression that a major defect in reproductive health of Arab young
people is lack of sexuality outside marriage. It challenges the family
values as well. In fact the best improvements in reproductive health in
that part of the world would be better obedience to Islam(2). It helps to
achieve at least two of the eight millennium developmental goals in sexual
and reproductive health set out by WHO; namely combating HIV/ AIDS and
unsafe abortion(1). It goes without saying that abstaining from sex and
avoiding extramarital affairs are superior to using condoms in preventing
spread of sexually transmitted disease (STDs). Unplanned pregnancies of
single teenagers are certainly a big problem in the Western societies. It
has a big impact on the economy and leaves many victims with lots of
psychological and health scars. We as health workers should look on ways
how to fight poverty and improve general health rather than to criticize
others' values or to impose our believes on them
(1) United Nations. 2005 world summit outcome. A/RES/60/1, paragraph
57.g. NewYork:,UN,2005
http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/UN/UNPAN021752.pdf
(accessed 13 Oct 2006)
(2) Ersilia F. Aids in contemporary Islamic ethical literature. Med
Law 2002;21: 381-94
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests