The PAC Connection e-Newsletter

NEW RESOURCES

USAID Postabortion Care Curriculum
Since 1994, USAID has supported PAC programs in more than 40 countries. A 2001 global evaluation of its PAC programs led to the development of a five-year strategy in 2003. The PAC Model was revised, a results framework with indicators was developed, and the development of a Postabortion Care Global Resource Package was identified as a key activity in the strategy to respond to the need for standardized materials.

A review of existing curricula for the PAC Global Resource Package demonstrated that programs needed a global, evidence-based curriculum to adapt for use in their countries. In keeping with the goal of the USAID PAC Working Group to produce evidence-based materials for PAC, this curriculum has been developed and field-tested in three different country contexts. This curriculum is adapted from the Kenya 2002 PAC curriculum developed by the Ministry of Health and incorporates the strong evidence on PAC, provider job aids, and client information.

Evidence on PAC, which is consolidated in a review of literature and research from 1994 to 2003 published in What Works: A Policy and Program Guide to the Evidence on Postabortion Care and a further review of literature and research from 2004 to 2009, is integrated throughout the curriculum. The curriculum is meant to be used by countries to adapt as needed for preservice, in-service, and structured, competency-based, on-the-job training programs. 

USAID's High-Impact Practice (HIP) Brief on Postabortion Family Planning (FP)
USAID's Research and Technology Division, with technical assistance from the USAID Postabortion Care (PAC) Working Group, recently released a HIP brief on postabortion FP entitled Postabortion Family Planning: Strengthening the Family Planning Component of Postabortion Care. Postabortion FP has been identified as one of several FP-related HIPs. When scaled up and institutionalized, these HIPs will maximize investments in a comprehensive FP strategy. The HIP brief on postabortion FP is designed to provide persuasive evidence regarding the importance and impact of these services when provided at the same time and in the same location as emergency treatment services.

• In the absence of complications, women can use a full range of contraceptive methods (WHO, 2004). Offering a range of FP methods for PAC clients is more likely to increase FP uptake.
• Engaging mid-level providers and community health workers in postabortion FP services can help increase access.
• Program planners need to consider cultural, institutional, and financial barriers to FP for PAC clients.

USAID disseminated the HIP brief on postabortion FP at The PAC Connection meeting in Dakar, Senegal, in November 2011 (see article below). It has also been posted on the USAID and K4Health web sites. We encourage readers of this e-newsletter to share the brief with their colleagues and partners. Learn more about High Impact Practices in Family Planning here.

USAID Global Postabortion Care Desk Review
Since 1994, USAID has been at the forefront of donors supporting the implementation of PAC programs. It has contributed, and continues to contribute, substantial funds for their implementation in four global regions and in almost 40 countries. PAC is a programmatic priority for the Office of Population (SO1) and is a key intervention in the pathway to maternal survival.

The primary purposes of the desk review were to:

• Assess the level of achievement in implementing the five-year PAC Strategy
• Note how this level of achievement addressed the key recommendations made in the 2001 global PAC evaluation
• Make recommendations about areas requiring future investment
• Determine whether there is a need to conduct country visits and develop country case studies to adequately assess the achievement of the PAC Strategy

Selected Findings

• Standardized tools for PAC training, guidelines, policies, and indicators have been developed and disseminated (although the degree to which they are used varies widely, dependent upon a country's will and resources).
• Successful models for expanding PAC within a country have been developed through intensive work in six focus countries (and work has been accomplished to replicate or to modify these models in other countries).
• PAC services have been expanded within many countries, although scale-up and sustainability present challenges to funding and are too often reliant on continued donor support.