Spacing Pregnancies for Improved Maternal and Newborns Health Outcomes – An Innovative and Sustainable Approach in Peri-Urban parts of Karachi, Pakistan
Abstract
Sukh Initiative, a multi donor funded project, is promoting Health Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy (HTSP) in 1 million, underserved peri-urban population of Karachi, a metropolitan city of Pakistan. Methodology: Sukh has a... [ view full abstract ]
Sukh Initiative, a multi donor funded project, is promoting Health Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy (HTSP) in 1 million, underserved peri-urban population of Karachi, a metropolitan city of Pakistan.
Methodology: Sukh has a multi-pronged approach. Focus is to target young married couples. Sukh Community Health Workers (CHWs) serves 3,000. These CHWs were trained on a modified module with include use of life size uterus model as an innovative counseling technique. To increase male involvement, male mobilizers reached out to young men, newlyweds and those with 1 or 2 children, along with community influencers and gatekeepers, by male support group meetings. Project is improving quality of FP services at 160 first level care facilities, both in public and private sectors with hands-on and on-job trainings of 180 providers on IUCD insertion, implants and infection prevention, followed by extensive monitoring.
Results: The baseline survey reveals that MCPR is 32% with a method mix favoring tubal ligation and condoms. To improve MCPR to 15% and improve method mix, CHWs have started process of registering households and by end of year one 848,000 individuals from approximately 84% of houses in the project area have been completed. CHWs formed Community Based Organizations with 5 designated members, meeting once a month. 100 CBOs have been formed with members from households. These CBOs provide support in project implementation, and come up with solutions to day to day challenges.
The project has yet to witness change in behaviors for FP/RH services, however as of now the project has ensured that with extensive mobilization, Sukh will not only encourage women to make educated FP/RH choices, but also involve men in decision-making. With improved quality of FP/RH services at FLCF and also by involving the Health Department from inception to implementation, tremendous results are anticipated in short period.
Authors
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Syed Sharjeel Ul Hasan
(Aman Health Care Services)
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Haris Ahmed
(Aman Health Care Services)
Topic Area
I. Urbanization AND Health: what interactions? 1.1 New paradigms, concepts, methods, and t
Session
PS-2 » POSTER SESSION 2 (11:45 - Saturday, 2nd April, TBA)
Paper
Spacing_Pregnancies_for_Improved_MNH_Outcomes_-_Sukh_1_.doc
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