 |
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
|
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Lisa Bohmer, MPH1, Kiche Magak, MA2, Muadi Mukenge, MA1, Monica Oguttu3, and Khama Rogo, MD, PhD2. (1) Director, Adolescent Health & Well-Being Program, Pacific Institute for Women's Health, 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (213) 386-2600, LBohmer@piwh.org, (2) Centre for the Study of Adolescence, PO Box 19329, Nairobi, Kenya, (3) KMET, Kenya Medical and Educational Trust, PO Box 6805, Kisumu, Kenya
This presentation will share findings from baseline evaluation research that is tied to a series of community-based and clinic-based interventions designed to prevent unsafe abortion in an under-served community in Western Kenya. Following pre-intervention research and planning exercises with a wide range of community members, the concept of community-based abortion care (COBAC) was born. The COBAC model includes efforts to catalyze community debate and action to prevent unsafe abortion. One component of the intervention will train a network of private and public clinic-based abortion care providers as well as a large cadre of community health workers. Abortion care providers will be trained to provide comprehensive abortion care and community health workers will be trained and supported to provide prevent education and referral. Emphasis will be placed on creating linkages between community health workers and trained providers to increase access to high quality, safe abortion and post-abortion care. The baseline research consists of interviews with clinic-based providers and community health workers to gauge their attitudes, medical practices, client profiles and available facilities and equipment. A structured survey was administered prior to training and the same survey will be administered at the conclusion of the intervention to document changes. It is anticipated that the results of this three-year intervention research project will provide research-based recommendations and tools to others seeking to address abortion issues at the community level and to connect clinic-based providers to the communities they serve.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Abortion, Community-Based Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.