Country Case Studies Lao PDR *new* Cultural Beliefs and Traditional Rituals about Child Birth Practices in Lao PDR The case study aims to identify the underlying causes of high maternal mortality in Lao PDR (660)[i]. The study uses qualitative methods to understand the socio-cultural and traditional beliefs in Lao PDR to develop a national health intervention programme for the reduction of high maternal deaths. The results of the study point to a three pronged intervention framework that: empowers women at community level to make decisions about their pregnancy and improve male involvement, that recommends informed decision making about women’s choice for maternal health care and delivery, establishing skilled workforce and provision of mobile maternity services (in places with lack of transport) and a package for continuum of safe motherhood programmes at the health provider level.
Lastly the study recommends the formulation of a national safe motherhood policy. Malaysia *new* Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion The Malaysia country study aims to monitor the extent to which the specific ICPD agreements made by the Malaysian government have been achieved in the areas of : - reducing unwanted pregnancies, the unmet need for contraception,and the barriers to contraceptive use,
- comprehensive and rights-based sex education and more available SRHR services for young people,
- increasing access to legal abortion, decreasing repeat abortions and improving provider training.
Thailand *new* Sexual Harassment & Sexual Education: Two Critical Issues on Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights in Thailand
The Thailand case study aims to examine the situations of sexuality education and sexual harassment in workplaces and in educational institutions in Thailand. It also aims to evaluate the status of the program of action undertaken by the government and the concerned NGOs in the field of sexuality education and sexual harassment in workplaces and in educational institutions and discusses obstacles that hinder the progress of actions in enforcing respective laws and implementing policies and interventions.The findings of the study note while that sex education is more comprehensive than before, gaps do exist in implementing comprehensive sexuality education in school systems. In the area of sexual harassment findings point to widespread sexual harassment embedded in Thai patriarchal culture. Sexual harassment in Thailand have not yet been inclusively defined and standardized, resulting in inconsistent law enforcement, interpretation, and public concern toward the problem.
Cambodia *new*Barriers to Contraceptive Use in Cambodia Cambodia continues to record a high maternal mortality rate (MMR) of 540/100, 000 live births[i]. This is one of the highest in the south-east Asia region. Low Contraceptive Prevalence Rates (CPR) of 27% in 2005 (modern methods), and high prevalence of unsafe abortions (20-29% of maternal deaths are due to unsafe abortion) are crucial factors contributing to the high maternal deaths. Cambodia is thus, unlikely to meet the UN MDG 5 goal on maternal mortality reduction by three quarters between 1990-2005.The Cambodia case-study aims to study the a) factors for poor acceptance of modern contraceptive methods and b) the estimated costs for improved and expanded Reproductive and Sexual Health (RSH) care. Poor decision making power of women with regards contraception, fear of complications and side effects – especially infertility, and health workers poor knowledge and counseling on contraception have been identified as main factors contributing to the poor acceptance and non-use of modern contraceptive methods in Cambodia.The study recommends that the Ministry of Health should continue to fund interventions that target contraceptive services; provide continued education on contraceptive counseling and provision for birth spacing to health care providers; and undertake mass media campaigns to correct misconceptions among the general public, and among health care providers at large, regarding the characteristics and safety of modern contraceptive methods. These interventions will go a long way to reduce the high maternal deaths in Cambodia  Indonesia The ICPD (1994) POA highlighted the role of decentralisation, recommending that government should promote community participation and the empowerment of communities in reproductive health services by decentralizing the management of health programs. Decentralisation was seen as a means of enhancing health system responsiveness to local needs to enhance sexual and reproductive health services. However the present case study carried out in Bogor District in Indonesia tell a different story. Problems in the implementation of the decentralised family planning programme, governance, recruitment systems and lack of rights-based framework in implementing comprehensive SRH services currently plague the SRH service delivery in Indonesia.
PhilippinesA Study on Contraceptive Use of Young People in Selected Urban Poor Metro Manila Communities This study looks into the reasons for the low level of contraceptive use among sexually active youth in selected urban poor communities in Metro Manila, with a focus on the accessibility of young people to family planning information, services and supplies and their knowledge about contraception. The study also presents the policy and legal situation vis-à-vis raising awareness about young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. The study seeks to establish that lack of effective access to FP information and services among Filipinos in general and young people in particular are due mainly to the absence of a government policy to provide the full range of safe and legally acceptable family planning methods. 
Nepal Prevalence of Uterine Prolapse Amongst Gynecology OPD Patients in Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Nepal and Its Socio-Cultural Determinants Reproductive morbidity is becoming a major public health problem in Nepal. The current study looks at the prevalence of uterine prolapse (UP) amonst gynecology OPD patients in a tertiary hospital in Nepal and suggests recommendations to the Government of Nepal including a National Uterine Prolapse Policy. 
PakistanInvestigating Barriers to Achieving Safe Motherhood: A Study in Selected Sites in Rural Sindh and Punjab - 2009 This study focuses on maternal health services including post-abortion care. The study examines the problems of availability and accessibility of safe motherhood services as well as the practices follwed in case of emergencies and unwanted pregnancies in the absence of services in selected sites in Rural Sindh and Punjab (Pakistan). 
Thematic Case StudiesTransgender People’s Access to Sexual Health and Rights: A Study of Law and Policy in 12 Asian Countries *new* Written by consultant (and ARROW Programme Advisory Committee member) Neha Sood, this study focuses on how State policies and laws in the 12 countries advance or prevent transgender people access to reproductive and sexual heath and rights. Among other recommendations, the study recommends the states to create and implement laws, policies and programs that facilitate transgender people’s access to education, health, housing, work and an adequate standard of living, and eliminate discrimination and other forms of violence faced by transgender people. Review of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Context of Disasters in Asia Written by independent researcher and ARROW's Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) member Ranjani Krishnamurthy, this study examines the impact of disasters in Asia on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women, adolescents and transgendered people; the strengths and weakness of international standards on disasters and of disaster response of government and other stakeholders; and good practices on addressing SRHR in disaster contexts. Based on this analysis, it makes recommendations to strengthen integration of SRHR in disaster risk reduction, response and recovery processes. 
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