Recorded presentation

Rose A. Wilcher, MPH¹, Tara Nutley, MPH¹, Ndugga Maggwa, MD, MSc², Pierre Ngom², and Maureen Kuyoh². (1) Field, Information and Training Services, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-544-7040, rwilcher@fhi.org, (2) Africa Regional Office, Family Health International, P.O. Box 38835, Nairobi, Kenya

Family planning (FP) has a critical role to play among HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, yet unmet need for FP continues to increase globally. For HIV-positive women, the prevention of unwanted pregnancies is essential for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and reducing the number of children orphaned when parents die of AIDS-related illnesses. To provide guidance on how to strengthen FP services, Family Health International (FHI), in collaboration with Ministries of Health, conducted programmatic assessments in five countries in East and Southern Africa. FHI and in-country partners gathered information on the current status of FP and HIV/AIDS programs and policies, explored challenges the epidemic has created for FP service delivery, identified opportunities for and barriers to integrating FP and HIV/AIDS services, and formulated strategies for strengthening FP programs in light of the burden of the epidemic. A systematic assessment process was followed in all countries. Core components of the process included the formation of an in-country steering committee to provide technical oversight and ensure the assessment produced locally relevant information; meeting with FP and HIV/AIDS stakeholders to elicit input on how to tailor the assessment to meet their information needs; a desk review of epidemiological, programmatic, and policy documents; in-depth interviews with FP and HIV/AIDS policymakers, donors, program managers, and providers; and a working meeting with stakeholders to present the assessment findings and formulate action plans for meeting contraceptive needs in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This presentation will focus specifically on the assessment process, findings, and recommendations for Kenya.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the process for conducting a country-wide programmatic assessment of family planning and HIV/AIDS programs.
• 2. Describe the contribution that family planning can make towards mitigating the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• 3. Identify two major challenges the HIV/AIDS epidemic poses to family planning service delivery in Kenya.
• 4. Articulate three strategies for better addressing the contraceptive needs of individuals in Kenya in the era of HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: International Family Planning, HIV/AIDS

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.

Recorded presentation