An arid and mountainous country in the southern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is mostly rural, with over half the population younger than 15. One of the poorest Arab countries, Yemen’s birth and population growth rates – and infant mortality rates – are also among the world’s highest.  Although the government recognizes population growth as a major challenge to development, little progress has been made in implementing population policy, and societal consensus remains elusive. Thus, the structural context of reproduction in Yemen exposes women to many risks.  Women’s Reproductive Health in Yemen is a compilation of the authors’ studies and finds that higher economic levels and improved social conditions for women do help bring about real improvements in reproductive health.  It is an important book for scholars of demography and population health.

Author and MCH Section member T.S. Sunil is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  Co-author Vijayan Pillai is a professor of social work at the University of Texas.  For more information or to order the book, go to www.cambriapress.com.