Roadmap set for new project — Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning (DESIP) in Kenya

More than 70% of women in counties such as Kirinyaga and Meru in central Kenya use modern FP — similar to FP use in the UK and parts of Western Europe. However, in counties such as Mandera and Wajir, only 2% of women use modern FP, a lower rate than Chad, Guinea, and South Sudan, which have less than 10% of married or in-union women of reproductive age using contraception. Photo: PS Kenya/ Ezra Abaga.

Athi River 21st June, 2019 : Population Services Kenya (PS Kenya) and partners met to discuss actionable steps towards Delivering Sustainable and Equitable Increases in Family Planning in Kenya (DESIP) programme, a follow up Family Planning programme after the just concluded Delivering Increased Family Planning across Rural Kenya (DIFPARK) programme (implemented under project name ‘Enabling Sustainable Health Equity’ (ESHE)).

DESIP will be implemented in a consortium led by PS Kenya in collaboration with Population Services International (PSI), AMREF Kenya, Options Consultancy Services, Faith To Action (F2A) Network, HealthRight International (HRI) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)Kenya.

During the three-day inception workshop, the consortium deliberated on approaches that would steer the project running from June 2019 to January 2024 to success.

The expected program impact is a reduction in maternal, new-born and child mortality while the program objective is to increase more sustainable and equitable access to modern contraceptives.

The key primary beneficiaries are poor women and adolescent girls, women under 20 years and people living with disabilities. Government health care workers and policymakers are the secondary beneficiaries.

Health Context.

Despite the great progress towards increasing uptake of family planning in Kenya, it has been noted that keeping family planning integral to development will require a multi-sectoral approach to ensure that different ministries, as well as the devolved governments, can support and utilize this crucial development intervention. (2016 Population Reference Bureau). This holistic approach should also not cloud the targeted efforts required to realize the fruits of every intervention.

Adoption of Family Planning can help improve sexual and reproductive health. Universal access to reproductive health and family planning not only improves women’s chances of surviving pregnancy and childbirth, but it also contributes to related issues such as gender equality, better child health, an improved response to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), greater education outcomes and poverty reduction. Universal healthcare which forms part of Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well Being) and 5(Gender Equality).

The National Reproductive health’s Family program goal is to ensure universal access to a wide range of quality and affordable family planning information and equitable services to enable all individuals to achieve their desired family size and improve their reproductive health. This goal has different strategies which include: -1. Increase FP service uptake among special groups (Youth/Adolescents, PLHIV, PLWD, Hard to reach areas and displaced populations) 2. Improve the capacity of service providers to offer quality FP services. 3. Strengthen FP commodity supply chain management and 4. Improve coordination of FP service provision nationally.

Studies have shown that Kenya’s overall use of modern FP has increased quite significantly, and FP use in many counties is now high. Photo: PS Kenya/Christine Were.

Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) data shows an increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) among married women from 39% in 2003 to 58% (53% using modern methods) in 2014. However, disparities and inequities are starker than ever before in Kenya.

In addition, a more recent Ministry of Health (MOH) 2017 data shows that CPR is below 60% in 34 counties and below 45% in 19 counties. Varied barriers to access of FP exist including limited access to services and low demand for family planning are key factors, reflecting weaknesses in public sector service coverage and quality, including shortages of contraceptives, and lack of alternative service providers. Socio-cultural factors, including the desire for large families, and financial and distance barriers prevent women and girls from seeking family planning services.

Through innovative and evidence-based market facilitation, and better-targeted service delivery that reaches the poorest of the poor, the program, funded with UK aid from the UK government seeks to deliver a more sustainable and healthier FP market in Kenya in the following 19 counties: Wajir, Garissa, Mandera, Samburu, Isiolo, Marsabit, Kilifi, Lamu, Kwale, Tana River, Mombasa, Baringo, Narok, Kajiado, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Turkana, Migori, and Homa Bay.