Population Council Research that makes a difference

Burkina Faso performs poorly on various health indicators, especially those concerning reproductive health. In response to its poor performance, the government has undertaken several initiatives to improve the state of reproductive health in the country, including the implementation of a National Plan to Develop Health (Plan National de Développement Sanitaire) 2001–2010 (PNDS).

The Sahel region, which consists of four provinces (l’Oudalan, Séno, Soum, and Yagha), contains four health districts (Djibo, Dori, Gorom-Gorom, and Sebba), 26 departments, four urban communes, 22 rural communes, and 556 villages. This region is characterized by a high prevalence of obstetric fistula. Social and cultural practices such as early marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) are common and increase women’s susceptibility to obstetric fistula. Furthermore, the region is characterized by a weak health infrastructure that lacks high-quality human resources and reproductive health materials and products.

This Council project targets the Sahel region and is expected to accelerate the achievement of the PNDS to decrease high-risk pregnancies, eradicate fistula, and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. This project follows a world campaign, launched by UNFPA and other partners in 2003, to eliminate fistula and aims to strengthen human security and rights to access reproductive health services in the Sahel region.

Banner photo: © Beryl Goldberg