The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #70275

Kathy Le, MPP and Cathy Solter, CNM, MPH. Pathfinder International, 9 Galen St, Watertown, MA 02172

Under the Azerbaijan Humanitarian Assistance Program, Pathfinder International implements the Primary Health Care Program, which aims to increase knowledge of and access to quality reproductive health, family planning, maternal and child health, and STI/HIV services through community-based service delivery and training for local medical service providers. The project targets 90,000 people of reproductive age, including 70,000 women, 10,000 men and 10,000 adolescents in 29 refugee/IDP settlements in 13 districts of Baku, Apsheron Region, and Sumgait. To reach and educate these populations, 90 community-based service (CBS) workers and six supervisors from the refugee/IDP population were selected and trained to provide information on reproductive health (RH), maternal and child health, adolescent health, family planning (FP), STI/HIV/AIDS, and gender issues. IE&C materials aimed at increasing awareness about contraceptive methods, STI/HIV, and other RH matters were designed, pre-tested, printed, and distributed to clients by CBS workers. In addition, to better meet the RH/FP needs of refugees and IDP in the project areas, forty-four service providers were selected and trained in the same topics as the CBS workers.

A mid-term assessment, conducted in November 2001, demonstrated considerable increases in RH/FP knowledge and improvements in health-seeking behavior after only one year of project implementation. For example, the proportion of women surveyed who had never visited a gynecologist decreased from 67.4% in 2000 to 11.8 % in 2001. Among adolescent girls, correct knowledge about HIV/AIDS and other STDs increased from 29.4 % to 68.6%, and knowledge about contraceptive methods from 28.4% to 73.5%.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, participants will:
• Recognize the elements of a FP/RH/MCH program targeted to internally displaced and refugee populations,
• Identify areas in which this program has had measurable positive results, and
• Discuss changes in knowledge and behavior among adolescents within the target group.

Keywords: Refugees, Adolescents, International

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.