Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #107775

Lester F. Coutinho, MA, MPhil, Public Health Institute, E-24 First Floor, Saket, New Delhi, 110017, India, 011-91-981-062-5332, lcoutinho@packard.org, Amulya R. Nanda, MSc, IAS, Population Foundation of India, B-28, Qutab Institutional Area, Tara Crescent, New Delhi, 110016, India, and Elmar Vinh-Thomas, MBChB, MPH, Population Program, David & Lucile Packard Foundation, 300 Second Street, Los Altos, CA 94022.

This paper examines an experiment in developing district level policies and action plans for improving the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes of young people in the states of Bihar and Jharkhand, India, and highlights the process variables that contributed to its success.

The objectives of this intervention were: a) To develop four district plans of action for SRH. b) To sensitize government staff at state, district, and local levels towards the need for addressing the SRH needs of youth to achieve state goals. c) To closely involve young people in the formulation of these policies and plans.

In order to ensure implementation, a complex mechanism of sensitization and consultation with all government and non-government stakeholders at three government levels was prepared. Findings from local level workshops were shared at the district level, and a jointly prepared district action plan was in turn brought to the state level. This was incorporated in the State Population and Health Policy/ Plan.

Effective policies and plans are dependent on community involvement not just in the implementation but also in the planning phases. The formulation process needs to be dialogic, involving various constituents of civil society (NGO, media) and agencies of government.

There are no shortcuts in the development of an adolescent-focused reproductive health policy. Donor agencies, government departments, and NGOs need to ensure that reproductive health policies that adhere to the Cairo agenda are developed systematically, gradually and carefully, and that they cast their net widely to include all stakeholders in the field.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• List the variables that contribute to the development of a solid grassroots-based policy initiative.
• Articulate the obstacles faced in developing policy action plans that pay attention both to grassroots needs and national policies.
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation model for the assessment of a policy initiative.

Keywords: India, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.