The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50255

Muadi Mukenge, MA¹, Kitche Magak, MA², Christine Ombaka, MA², Lisa Bohmer, MPH³, and Khama Rogo, MD, PhD². (1) Africa Program, Pacific Institute for Women's Health, 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90010, (213) 386-2600, mmukenge@piwh.org, (2) Centre for the Study of Adolescence, PO Box 19329, Nairobi, Kenya, (3) Director, Adolescent Health & Well-Being Program, Pacific Institute for Women's Health, 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90010

There is increasing interest in linking post-abortion care (PAC) to community level education. This presentation will share experiences from a comprehensive community-based project in Western Kenya to develop interventions to prevent unsafe abortion and increase access to PAC. The community-based abortion care model (COBAC), developed by the Pacific Institute for Women’s Health and the Center for the Study of Adolescence, de-medicalizes unsafe abortion and enables community members to recognize the important roles they can play in saving lives. Intervention efforts include the use of a new film entitled “The Great Betrayal”, about a young girl facing an unplanned pregnancy. The film is an innovative approach to catalyzing community debate and action and is part of the project goals to mobilize community members and groups to play a role in preventing unsafe abortion. Discussion guides have been developed to facilitate debate following film showings in schools and other community venues. Lessons learned will be shared in using the film as a mobilization tool. The presentation will include a 7-minute film excerpt.

The presentation will also describe how the film relates to several other community level strategies to prevent unsafe abortion and augment clinic-based post-abortion care efforts. These strategies include training of CBO staff in effective outreach strategies to increase community awareness of services and the creation of a network of trained abortion care providers.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants of the session will be able to

• Identify and discuss community level intervention components to prevent unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
• Analyze the benefits of using film and other educational media as tools for community action and advocacy to prevent unsafe abortion.

Keywords: Abortion, Community Education

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.