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RESPOND Announces New Resources for Community Postabortion Care

Community Mobilization for Postabortion Care in Kenya: Baseline Evaluation Report
Report No. 2 (PDF, 1.9MB)

In Kenya, maternal health complications related to unsafe abortion and miscarriage were the fourth leading cause of morbidity among women in 2006. The Rift Valley Province has consistently had the most cases of abortion-related outpatient morbidity in Kenya since at least 2003. Successful prevention of abortion-related deaths depends on a combination of community awareness, the availability of adequate and quality obstetric care, and a supportive environment that provides community-facility linkages, essential drugs and supplies, equipment, and a referral system.

Postabortion care (PAC) is an effective intervention for reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. Yet barriers to accessing PAC services include lack of knowledge of sources of care, fear of stigma, and misperceptions among communities regarding PAC.

In response to this need, the RESPOND Project designed an intervention package aimed at increasing awareness and use of PAC services and improving family planning, reproductive health, and maternal health outcomes. This report summarizes the key results emerging from a baseline data collection exercise carried out from May to June 2010 in Naivasha District, in the Rift Valley Province, to provide a benchmark against which the RESPOND intervention may be measured during an endline evaluation.

Related Materials:

A Guide to Action for Community Mobilization and Empowerment Focused on Postabortion Complications-Facilitator's Manual (PDF, 1.9MB)
This training manual is based on the experiences in Kenya focused on community mobilization for postabortion care (COMMPAC) activities that are being implemented and evaluated in the Nakuru District of Rift Valley Province. Using the Community Action Cycle, a participatory problem-solving approach, community members are able to identify, prioritize, and solve the major problems relating to PAC in their communities.

Community Health Information Cards-Taking Action for our Health (PDF, 3MB)
In addition to the training manual, a set of behavior change communication cards was developed for use by community health workers in their catchment areas. Topics covered include: family planning, danger signs in pregnancy, three delays and information on comprehensive PAC. The cards are being used to generate community dialogue and increase knowledge of family planning and PAC, while encouraging positive health-seeking behavior.

You are invited to download these publications. 

 

1 Kenya Ministry of Health. 2008. Annual health sector status report: 2005-2007. Nairobi.
2 Kenya Ministry of Health. 2005. A report on performance status health management information system: 2003-2004 Annual Report. Nairobi.

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Photo credits: M. Tuschman/EngenderHealth; A. Fiorente/EngenderHealth; C. Svingen/EngenderHealth.

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