 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Denise Kohn, MPH, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, 120 Wall Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10005-3902 and Rupal Sanghvi, MPH, International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, IPPF/WHR, 120 Wall Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10005, (212) 214-0242, rsanghvi@ippfhwr.org.
The two projects that make up the facilitating access to SRH medical services through mobile health units in rural Bolivia and Guatemala aim to provide SRH services to reproductive aged women in rural communities. The overall project objective is to improve the SRH in the Peten region of Guatemala and the Chuquisaca region of Bolivia through the provision of SRH services, especially in regard to unwanted pregnancies, responsible sexual conduct, prevention of STIs and the increase in knowledge and healthy SRH practices with a gender perspective. This is done through the provision of SRH services by medical providers in a mobile health unit that travels to rural communities within the mentioned municipalities. The results of the 3 year project have shown a favorable impact on the overall SRH of the women who have been served by the mobile units. Over 4,700 services were provided to women in Chuquisaca, including pap smears, STI tests, family planning consultations, general medical consultations, and OB/GYN consultations. In Peten, over 1,860 new users have been reached with a total CYP of 849.41 achieved through the distribution of contraceptive methods. Activities include not only the provision of services, but house visits, distribution of educational materials, and informational sessions on SRH themes. Women are offered the opportunity to receive subsidized tubal ligations and receive follow-up care on all SRH services received. The project has shown an impact on the overall health of women in these rural regions, where SRH options and care are limited.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Rural Health Care Delivery System, Models for Provision
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centro de Investigación, Educación y Servicios, Bolivia
Asociación Pro-Bienestar de la Familia de Guatemala, Guatemala
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.