population council

Improving health services for Mexican women living with HIV

We found that most women received neither routine HIV tests during pregnancy nor counseling on contraceptive methods and pregnancy options. "I told the doctor that really I want to have the baby and there was no need to insist that I get an abortion, and he said not to count on him for support," reported one 31-year-old HIV-positive woman.

In 2010, the Council organized a meeting of HIV-positive women and national and international health care professionals, starting a dialogue and outlining ways to improve care.

Improving health services for Mexican women living with HIV

PARTNERS

Salud Integral para la Mujer, Irapuato Vive, Casa del Centro, Mexico City Ministry of Health

DONOR

Anonymous

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Overcoming barriers to treating a common pregnancy complication

In Mexico and many other developing countries, the most common—yet treatable—causes of maternal death are severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. Although magnesium sulfate is a safe, effective, and inexpensive treatment, the Population Council has shown that in some Oaxaca hospitals, it is used inconsistently and incorrectly.

Overcoming barriers to treating a common pregnancy complication

"Throughout this country, phenytoin is the drug used to prevent seizures. Very few use magnesium sulfate. Why? Because they are terrified to use magnesium sulfate since they don't know how to use it." —Mexican obstetrician/gynecologist

Our investigators are documenting such practices and will work with local health officials to improve service delivery. A Council study in Nigeria demonstrated the impact such improvements could have. Introducing magnesium sulfate in Nigeria reduced maternal mortality by 40 percent across project sites.

Overcoming barriers to treating a common pregnancy complication

PARTNERS

National Center of Gender Equity and Reproductive Rights of the Mexican Federal Ministry of Health and the Oaxaca State Ministry of Health

DONOR

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

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Creating positive, safe, and healthy environments for indigenous girls

The Population Council's Abriendo Oportunidades project is building personal and professional skills among vulnerable Mayan girls and young women in Guatemala.

Creating positive, safe, and healthy environments for indigenous girls

In 2010, we launched a program to teach young leaders to instruct other young people and collaborate with community allies in preventing
gender-based violence in their own lives and families. We are working to strengthen social institutions to better serve girls. PBS NewsHour featured the project in March 2011.

"Everything we have learned here, we can apply in the communities where we live and in other communities if possible." —Juana Maria, girl leader in Abriendo Oportunidades

Creating positive, safe, and healthy environments for indigenous girls

PARTNERS

CICAM (the Center for Research, Training, and Women's Support) and DEMI (the Guatemalan Office for the Defense of Indigenous Women)

DONOR

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women

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Improving educational, health, and social opportunities for marginalized girls

In rural Upper Egypt, the Population Council's Ishraq project brings out-of-school adolescent girls into safe learning spaces.

Improving educational, health, and social opportunities for marginalized girls

The 24-month program improves functional and financial literacy and life skills, and allows girls to play sports, an opportunity not usually available to them. The project components work together to provide girls with new and valued skills and to increase their self-esteem and confidence.

"Ishraq fulfilled our dreams to be educated and respected by our families and our communities," said one participant.

Improving educational, health, and social opportunities for marginalized girls

PARTNERS

Caritas, Egyptian Food Bank, and Teaming for Development (formerly CEDPA)

DONOR

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

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Empowering married adolescent girls to protect them from HIV

Child marriage is common in rural Amhara, Ethiopia. The Population Council assists local agencies in conducting Meserete Hiwot (Base of Life), a project in which married adolescent girls meet to learn about gender-based violence, HIV and AIDS, spousal communication, and financial literacy.

This project is designed to support girls who are already married and help them foster better-informed, healthy, and gender-equitable family relationships.

Empowering married adolescent girls to protect them from HIV

PARTNERS

Ethiopia Ministry of Women, Children, & Youth and Amhara Regional Bureau of Women, Children, & Youth

DONOR

United States Agency for International Development/PEPFAR

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Engaging religious institutions to improve public health

The Population Council helped to create a "Developmental Bible," incorporating information about HIV and AIDS, reproductive health, and gender equity into the daily teachings of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Engaging religious institutions to improve public health

About half of Ethiopia's population is Orthodox Christian. The Developmental Bible has the potential to encourage individuals and communities to abandon harmful practices and to adopt healthy lifestyles. This grassroots approach is bringing essential health messages to one of Ethiopia's largest communities.

"This is an innovative undertaking based on the age-old teachings of the church. We cannot overemphasize the role of community, religious organizations, and leaders as agents of change." —Bunmi Makinwa, UNFPA Africa Region Director

Engaging religious institutions to improve public health

PARTNER

Ethiopian Orthodox Church

DONOR

United Nations Population Fund

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Increasing the age at marriage in child marriage "hotspots"

Child marriage violates girls' human rights by excluding them from decisions regarding the timing of marriage and choice of spouse.

"I hate early marriage. I was married at an early age. My in-laws forced me to sleep with my husband, and he made me suffer all night. This is what I hate most." —Amhara girl, age 11, married at age 5, first sex at age 9

Increasing the age at marriage in child marriage "hotspots"

In 2010, the Population Council began an investigation in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to determine the essential elements—such as mentors, community awareness-raising, and economic incentives—of effective, sustainable, and replicable approaches to increasing the age at marriage where child marriage is common.

The Population Council is one of the few organizations in sub-Saharan Africa whose programs, in collaboration with local partners, have produced significant delays in marriage and increases in school enrollment among girls aged 10 to 14.

Increasing the age at marriage in child marriage "hotspots"

PARTNERS

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia Ministry of Women, Children, & Youth and Amhara Regional Bureau of Women, Children, & Youth. KENYA: Strengthening Community Partnership and Empowerment (SCOPE), Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, and Department of Gender and Social Development; TANZANIA: Kivulini and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; UGANDA: The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) (U) Ltd. and Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development

DONOR

United States Agency for International Development

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Financially empowering thousands of girls

As of 2010, more than 3,000 girls from urban Kenya and Uganda participate in the Population Council's Safe and Smart Savings programs, conducted in partnership with local financial institutions. The girls meet weekly in groups led by female mentors, receive health and financial education, and open formal savings accounts.

Financially empowering thousands of girls

"This idea of savings has come into my blood. I was not saving in the first place, but now I'm thinking about tomorrow," reported one girls' group member, age 18.

Evaluations have shown that girls in the program have fewer gender biases, more savings, and increased knowledge of sexual and reproductive health topics. Expansion of the program will be facilitated by the extensive branch networks of partner banks.

Financially empowering thousands of girls

PARTNERS

MicroSave Consulting, Ltd., K-Rep Bank, Faulu Kenya Limited, FINCA-Uganda, and Finance Trust

DONORS

Nike Foundation and Financial Education Fund

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Improving reproductive health service delivery

In East Africa and South Asia, the Population Council is studying the impact of voucher programs, which are used by the poorest of the poor to obtain high-quality reproductive health care.

Improving reproductive health service delivery

Preliminary results from Bangladesh, Kenya, and Uganda indicate that the voucher programs are associated with significantly increased use of antenatal, delivery, and postpartum contraceptive services and a reduced likelihood of paying out-of-pocket, improving care and keeping money in the hands of desperately poor women.

"If it wasn't for the voucher, I would not have been able to get services in the hospital. I needed an emergency cesarean section. I am really happy and satisfied that the voucher helped me. I am fine and the baby is fine." —Rose Atuma, 30-year-old voucher user, Korogocho, Nairobi, Kenya

Improving reproductive health service delivery

PARTNERS

Kenya Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Uganda Ministry of Health, Marie Stopes International, German Development Bank (KfW), Cambodia Ministry of Health, Bangladesh Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, USAID, DfID, EPOS Consulting, Kenya National Hospital Insurance Fund, Tanzania National Health Insurance Fund, Center for Advanced Studies, Cambodia National Institute of Public Health

DONOR

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

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Integrating alcohol abuse reduction into services for voluntary HIV counseling and testing

Alcohol abuse can increase the risk for HIV infection. The Population Council evaluated a program to provide alcohol abuse counseling within the context of voluntary HIV counseling and testing services.

Integrating alcohol abuse reduction into services for voluntary HIV counseling and testing

We found that HIV counselors can effectively screen for alcohol abusers among their clients, help them reduce their intake of alcohol, and facilitate their participation in peer support groups.

"The program is very supportive to clients. They were able to open up and actively participate. Two clients have changed their marriages from unhappy to happy ones." —Addiction counselor, Ruma, Nyanza, Kenya

Integrating alcohol abuse reduction into services for voluntary HIV counseling and testing

PARTNERS

Liverpool VCT, Care, and Treatment (LVCT) and Support for Addictions Prevention and Treatment in Africa (SAPTA)

DONOR

United States Agency for International Development

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Alleviating sexual and gender-based violence

In Zambia, and several other countries of East and Southern Africa, the Population Council is strengthening the evidence base for programming to alleviate sexual and gender-based violence.

Alleviating sexual and gender-based violence

We are documenting and testing best practices in the provision of services to victims of such violence and providing technical assistance through a network of partners.

Results from our research have influenced national policy and community-based responses to these crimes.

Alleviating sexual and gender-based violence

PARTNERS

Zambia Ministry of Health and Zambia Police Service

DONORS

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and Regional Swedish-Norwegian HIV/AIDS Team for Africa

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Building synergy to end violence against girls

The Population Council is improving the well-being of adolescent girls in Zambia by developing and evaluating programs that provide them with safe spaces to learn and develop social networks.

Building synergy to end violence against girls

By building coalitions and nurturing key alliances, we are helping our partners expand approaches we find to be successful.

Ultimately, this work aims to empower adolescent girls, sensitize boys, and strengthen the ability of school systems to prevent such violence.

Building synergy to end violence against girls

PARTNERS

Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), Equality Now, Forum for African Women Educationalists of Zambia (FAWEZA), Planned Parenthood Association of Zambia, and Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Zambia

DONOR

Subgrant from Equality Now funded by the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women

Understanding the lives of young Indians

In 2010, the Population Council concluded a massive survey of more than 50,000 young people in India. The landmark study collected data on such diverse topics as time use, sexuality and childbearing, and civic engagement.

Understanding the lives of young Indians

The findings are "deeply informative and thought-provoking," said Amartya Sen, the Nobel Prize–winning economist, and "can serve as the basis of a necessary understanding of the lives of young people in India."

Program planners and policymakers at the state level have begun to use this valuable information in designing their work.

Understanding the lives of young Indians

PARTNER

International Institute for Population Sciences

DONORS

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and The David & Lucile Packard Foundation

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Raising HIV awareness among non-infected wives in India

The Population Council is implementing and assessing RHANI Wives, an HIV-prevention project in Mumbai for at-risk married women—those who report that their husbands abuse alcohol or perpetrate partner violence.

Raising HIV awareness among non-infected wives in India

"My husband used to beat me. With participation in Rhani Wives, I gained the courage to talk to my relatives, and through them I was able to stop his violence." —woman, 32 years old, three children

Early results show high program acceptability and ability to negotiate with husbands on safe behaviors.

While some women reported feeling ashamed to discuss alcohol, sex, and marital violence in a group setting, they appreciated group support to reduce isolation and encourage self-assertion.

Raising HIV awareness among non-infected wives in India

PARTNERS

Boston University School of Public Health, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, and Harvard School of Public Health

DONOR

National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health through Boston University School of Public Health

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Assessing nurses' ability to provide safe, early abortion

In two carefully conducted trials in India, Population Council investigators found that nurses can perform early abortions as effectively and safely as newly trained physicians, and that clients reported overwhelmingly that they would return to a nurse if the need arose.

Assessing nurses' ability to provide safe, early abortion

This evidence supports advocacy to change laws to permit nurses to perform these procedures. Such a step could save lives by making safe, early abortion more accessible.

"In a country where nearly 10 percent of maternal deaths occur because women cannot access safe abortion services, these pathbreaking studies provide evidence that can help change the law and enable poor rural women to access safe abortion services." —Shireen Jejeebhoy, Population Council social scientist

Assessing nurses' ability to provide safe, early abortion

PARTNERS

Consortium for Safe Abortion in India, led by Ipas; Janani

DONORS

The David & Lucile Packard Foundation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

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