scholarly journals Increasing Family Planning Access in Kenya Through Engagement of Faith-Based Health Facilities, Religious Leaders, and Community Health Volunteers

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 478-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allison Ruark ◽  
Jane Kishoyian ◽  
Mona Bormet ◽  
Douglas Huber
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Faith Based

scholarly journals Equipping Religious Leaders as Family Planning Champions

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bormet
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Mother Tongue ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
English Version ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
Time To Build ◽  
Language And Education

Abstract Faith-based organizations and faith-based health facilities are crucial providers of healthcare. They help ensure religious leaders (RLs) are equipped with the proper information and training to address barriers and myths about family planning (FP). A low-literacy booklet was adapted from “Facts for Family Planning” that religious leaders could use to talk about FP with community members with lower levels of formal education. They also included Biblical passages, definitions and reasons why it is important for Christians to discuss these issues. The English version was translated into seven languages. These guides have been shared with at least 1,000 faith leaders in Uganda and Kenya. Religious leaders in Uganda held 168 awareness-raising events and reached 4,335 people with this information and referred individuals to health facilities for further information about FP methods. These low-literacy booklets gave RLs the confidence to speak in churches, at weddings and markets, etc about this issue, partly due to their training and partly due to the confidence that these booklets were being distributed among RLs in multiple countries and languages. Taking the time to build a system to test translated materials is also important. CCIH worked with FHI360/APC to develop testing protocol, which was IRB approved. These materials were tested via Focus Groups and In-depth-Interviews and materials (we recommend translating all materials into the language being tested) are available for public use. Ensuring mother-tongue language and education level appropriate materials are available for community-based programs is critical for community ownership and application of training. In addition, ensuring such materials are not just available for one project in one place is key for information sharing digitally for anyone to use and translate the English version into further languages. Key messages Demonstrate the capacity of religious leaders to break down barriers and myths about family planning in their communities. Being responsive to community needs via low-literacy materials in local languages.

scholarly journals Role of community health volunteers in identifying people with elevated blood pressure for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension in Malawi: a qualitative study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvis Safary ◽  
Micrina Mwandeti ◽  
Beatrice Matanje ◽  
Claudia Beiersmann ◽  
Caroline Mtaita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Elevated Blood Pressure ◽  
Elevated Blood ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Health Volunteers ◽  
Provision Of Services

Abstract Background In recent years, there has been greater recognition of the important role of community health volunteers in many countries and their important role informs many health programs. This include health education, provision of services such as screening, monitoring and referral to health facilities. Their roles are better understood in the areas of communicable diseases like HIV infection, Tuberculosis and Malaria however little is known about their role in non-communicable diseases. This study seeks to explore perception of CHVs’ functions, tasks, and their fulfilment in identifying people with elevated blood pressure for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods This was a qualitative naturalistic research design utilizing observation and semi-structured interviews with community health volunteers working in Lilongwe, Malawi. Interviews were carried out with the researcher. Participants were recruited from the ZaMaC project. An interview guide was developed with a category-guided deductive approach. The interviews were recorded through note taking. Data analysis was performed using content analysis approach. Results Community health volunteers have multiple roles in prevention and monitoring of hypertension. They act as health educators and provide lifestyle counselling. They screened for hypertension and monitored blood pressure and assisted community members to navigate the health system such as linkage to health facilities. These roles were shaped in response to community needs. Conclusion This study indicates the complexities of the roles of community health volunteer in identifying people with elevated BP for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertension. Understanding community health volunteers’ roles provides insight into their required competencies in provision of their daily activities as well as required training to fill in their knowledge gaps.

scholarly journals Powerful Influencers: Kenyan & Zambia Religious Leaders Advocate for Family Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bormet
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
A Value ◽  
External Stakeholders

Abstract Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide approximately 40% of healthcare in Kenya and 30% in Zambia. Promoting healthy families is a value at the heart of faith communities. This intervention focused on equipping and encouraging religious leaders (RLs), whose churches own and operate faith-based health facilities, to advocate for family planning (FP) within their congregations, communities, governments. This project included baseline assessments, FP sensitization, and media trainings. Religious leaders were trained through an adaptation of the AFP SMART training by ensuring culturally appropriate messaging for religious audiences were included (i.e. using scripture to discuss and develop messages on families, planning, having children, etc.). Training RLs provides an entree into government fora as culturally respected leaders in positions of power. In order for external advocacy to take place outside of church settings, it is crucial to identify how each church defines FP before meeting with external stakeholders. Creation of low-literacy terms in English and local languages that equipped RLs to interact with community members in-person (i.e. church services, weddings, funerals, community barazas, etc.) and via TV and radio shows was key in addressing myths and misconceptions. Eighty-six religious leaders from 16 denominations in Kenya and Zambia were engaged to sensitize communities and advocate with their Ministries of Health on behalf of the faith community to ensure family planning services reach communities. Equipping RLs in culturally and language appropriate contexts builds stronger advocates for healthy families and communities. Key messages To demonstrate how religious leaders in Kenya and Zambia are equipped to advocate for family planning from a faith perspective. Words and definitions and messengers matter in Family Planning Advocacy from a faith perspective.

scholarly journals HEALTH FACILITY AND HUMANRESOURCE FACTORS SUPPORTING UPTAKE OF CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 632-638
Author(s):  
Gregory Okonya Sakwa ◽  
◽  
Peter Bukhala ◽  
Zachary Kwena ◽  
Mary Kipmerewo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Cancer Screening ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Cervical Cancer Screening ◽  
Quantitative Methods ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Community Health Volunteers

Main objective was to describehealth facility and human resource related factors supporting uptake of cervical cancer screening in Kakamega County.Design; descriptive cross-sectional study adopting quantitative methods. Setting; Kakamega County within 16 community units in 8 sub counties.Sampling;multistage sampling was used to sample 48 community health volunteers and 16 health facilities.Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data from Community Health Volunteers and the heads of link health facilities.Validity and reliability of questionnaire was ensured through expert review.Analysiswasby use of descriptive statistics. Results;Majority of participants were female (91.7%) aged between 30-50 years (75%), with primary level of education(47%) and had worked for more than five years as Community Health Volunteers (60%). More than 95% ofCommunity Health Volunteers visited clients’ homeson monthly schedule(77%).Regarding cervical cancer screening,60% of Community Health Volunteers agreed that they were involved in referring women for cervical cancer screening.Almost all(92%)of Community Health Volunteers had not been trained on aspects of cervical cancer screening. Further, 94% of Community Health Volunteers confirmed that cervical cancer screening was part of the health education package they discuss with women. Approximately 81% of health facilities were health centers and offeredcervical cancer screening services weekly (75%).Conclusion;Health facilities offer cervical cancer screening adequately. Community Health Volunteers have established network to reach women but lack capacity to sensitize women on cervical cancer screening. Recommendation: Community Health Volunteersshould be empowered to mobilize women for cervical cancer screening.

scholarly journals Health facility capacity to provide postabortion care in Afghanistan: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Farzana Maruf ◽  
Hannah Tappis ◽  
Enriquito Lu ◽  
Ghutai Sadeq Yaqubi ◽  
Jelle Stekelenburg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Public Health Facilities ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Vacuum Aspiration ◽  
Postabortion Care ◽  
Products Of Conception ◽  
Family Planning Counseling

Abstract Background Afghanistan has one of the highest burdens of maternal mortality in the world, estimated at 638 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017. Infections, obstetric hemorrhage, and unsafe abortion are the three leading causes of maternal death. Contraceptive prevalence rate has fluctuated between 10 and 20% since 2006. The 2016 Afghanistan National Maternal and Newborn Health Quality of Care Assessment evaluated facility readiness to provide quality routine and emergency obstetric and newborn care, including postabortion care services. Methods Accessible public health facilities with at least five births per day (n = 77), a nationally representative sample of public health facilities with fewer than five births per day (n = 149), and 20 purposively selected private health facilities were assessed. Assessment components examining postabortion care included a facility inventory and record review tool to verify drug, supply, equipment, and facility record availability, and an interview tool to collect information on skilled birth attendants’ knowledge and perceptions. Results Most facilities had supplies, equipment, and drugs to manage postabortion care, including family planning counseling and services provision. At public facilities, 36% of skilled birth attendants asked to name essential actions to address abortion complications mentioned manual vacuum aspiration (23% at private facilities); fewer than one-quarter mentioned counseling. When asked what information should be given to postabortion clients, 73% described family planning counseling need (70% at private facilities). Nearly all high-volume public health facilities with an average of five or more births per day and less than 5% of low volume public health facilities with an average of 0–4 deliveries per day reported removal of retained products of conception in the past 3 months. Among the 77 high volume facilities assessed, 58 (75%) reported using misoprostol for removal of retained products of conception, 59 (77%) reported using manual vacuum aspiration, and 67 (87%) reported using dilation and curettage. Conclusions This study provides evidence that there is room for improvement in postabortion care services provision in Afghanistan health facilities including post abortion family planning. Access to high-quality postabortion care needs additional investments to improve providers’ knowledge and practice, availability of supplies and equipment.

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