Population Council Research that makes a difference

In September 2007, researchers from the Population Council in Mexico City and Salud y Desarrollo Comunitario de Ciudad Juarez/Federación Mexicana de Asociaciones Privadas (SEDAC/FEMAP) began an 18-month project in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to increase awareness of emergency contraception (EC) and promote its use among women in marginalized communities, vulnerable youth in school settings, and sex workers.
The project entails:

• the development of tailored informational materials and workshops for peer leaders (such as community-based health promoters and leaders of both youth and sex worker networks) to help them reach their respective target populations;
• well-planned strategic promotional activities with each of these three subgroups; and
• a possible knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey pending the availability of additional funding.
  
  

This EC work complements other research and technical cooperation by the Council that seeks to reduce the incidence of unwanted pregnancy and foster the rights of women seeking access to needed reproductive health services throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.