Danielle Toppin

RH Reality Check, Caribbean

Danielle Toppin writes from Jamaica. She has experience with gender and development, and will be covering reproductive health issues in the Caribbean and Latin America.

In Jamaica HIV Affects More than Just Health

In a cultural climate with too many examples of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, a proposed plan in Jamaica to protect the right of HIV-positive workers could symbolize a major step in the way the country treats this key issue.

Domestic Violence Is an RH Issue

The presence of violence - be it emotional, physical or sexual - diminishes the ability of healthy individuals to demand healthy sexual relationships, and by extension a healthy sense of self.

Jamaica’s Flawed Abortion Laws

Illegal abortions are one of the top ten causes of maternal death in Jamaica. Safe, legal abortions are only accessible to those who can afford one. Existing abortion "common law" in Jamaica is ambiguous and differs than legislation on the books. Jamaica is in the midst of a heated abortion debate.

Child Brides: In Jamaica, Too

Although ideas regarding men's right to ownership over 'their' women in intimate relationships can be found across communities, the practice of cohabitation between under-aged females and older men is predominantly found in communities marked by poverty.