Regional/Multicountry Programs
Evaluating
Adolescent Reproductive Health Services: Kenya and Zimbabwe
Few reproductive health projects for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have been designed
using empirical evidence and then systematically evaluated. For the most part,
programs for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa have been adaptations of programmatic
models used on other continents, models that do not necessarily work in the African
environment. The Adolescent Reproductive Health Services Research and Technical Assistance
Project, started in 1994, uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative research
among youth and adults.
In Nyeri, Kenya, young parents who are well known and well respected in their
communities are trained to give reproductive health information to young people, a system
that effectively replicates the "auntie/uncle" system of sexuality education
that is traditional in Kikuyu culture. These parents refer young people in need of
reproductive health services to a specially trained network of service providers through a
coupon system, through which young people can obtain services at a subsidized price. In
rural Zimbabwe, existing community-based outreach workers such as those involved in
community-based distribution of contraception, traditional birth attendants, village
health workers, and agricultural extension workers have been trained to give reproductive
health information and referrals to young people during their outreach activities. In
urban Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, existing municipal youth centers that are principally for
recreation, have been upgraded to incorporate reproductive health information and
referrals.
This intervention research project utilizes both baseline and endline surveys in
experimental and control areas to measure changes that take place as a result of the
interventions. In addition, continuous monitoring through service statistics data and
program assessments is used to track implementation activities.
Identifying Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Strategies for Youth: Kenya and
Uganda
Studies in Kenya and Uganda focused on how to make voluntary counseling and
testing (VCT) services more accessible to youth. The AIDS Information Center
(AIC) in Uganda has used the findings from the research to design and
implement youth-friendly VCT services. AIC staff have developed a training
manual on youth counseling and services and are expanding their youth and
VCT services to other centers. USAID/Zimbabwe is also interested in this
approach to VCT services for youth.
Building the Capacity of the Regional Centre for Quality of Health Care
Frontiers in Reproductive
Health, the Population Council's operations research in reproductive health
program, is providing technical assistance to the newly created Regional
Centre for Quality of Health Care at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
The project’s goal is to increase the number of people able to use
operations research in the East and Southern Africa region. Council staff
members assist the Centre in designing and teaching short courses on the
economic evaluation of reproductive health programs and assessing the
quality of health care programs. They also assist in designing and teaching
selected classes in a one-year diploma course in Quality of Health Care and
will provide support for production of high-quality materials.
Preventing Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and
Kenya
The Council is assisting CARE/International in developing and implementing an operations
research project to reduce the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in
Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Kenya. The study will test and compare the impact of these
interventions: training civil society actors to advocate for change in community norms
concerning FGM/C; providing community-based systematic information, education, and
counseling to increase awareness of individuals who influence decisions on family welfare;
and informing all levels of service providers and their supervisors of policies aimed at
decreasing the practice of FGM/C.
Reducing Sexually Transmitted Infection Prevalence in Mines and Agricultural Estates: South Africa, Zambia,
Zimbabwe
The critical role of the mining and agricultural sectors in social and economic activities
in South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe makes them appropriate for a comparative
study. The goal of this Horizons program is to
reduce HIV incidence by reducing community sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevalence
and sustain those reductions by means of enhanced STI curative and preventive services.
The first phase of the intervention consists of condom promotion and behavioral change
communication; the second phase investigates the optimal frequency of periodic presumptive
treatment in order to maintain low levels of STI infections in a community. Field
investigation sites include three mines located in the Mpumalanga Province of South
Africa, three mines and six agricultural estates in Zimbabwe, and three agricultural
estates in Zambia.
Perceiving the Risks of HIV and AIDS and Unwanted Pregnancies
The Council is collaborating in a multi-country study that explores how sexually active men and women perceive the twin risks
of HIV and AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. Further goals include the investigation of
strategies employed by sexually active individuals to identify options that are
appropriate, practical, and effective for reducing these twin risks. In addition,
researchers are exploring opportunities for, and constraints hindering, potential change
in sexual behavior, with a particular emphasis on partner communication.
Enhancing Resource Allocation
This Horizons research effort aims to improve the
prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS by researching resource allocation decisionmaking.
The first phase seeks to determine which tools or materials can help HIV and AIDS program
managers and donors improve the cost-effectiveness of resource allocation for HIV
and AIDS
programs. The second phase develops and disseminates these tools.
See Also
