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

Abstract #113299

Graciela Salvador-Davila, MD, MPH, MS, CATALYST Consortium, 1201 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036, Gladys Pozo, CATALYST/Bolivia Country Representative (Retired), Calle Fernando Guachalla No. 342, Edificio Victor, Piso 3, La Paz, Bolivia, Diane R. Bushley, MA, Programmatic Consultant, CATALYST Consortium, 611 Summit Drive, Greenville, SC 29609, Patricia J. Hammer, PhD, Consultant, Technical Advisor to project, CATALYST Consortium, Malecon Grau 1037, Depto. 2-B, Chorrillos, Lima, 9, Peru, Maria del Carmen Monasterios Orgaz, MD, Project Coordinator, CATALYST/Bolivia, Calle Fernando Guachalla No. 342, Edificio Victor, Piso 3, La Paz, Bolivia, 01159122440142, carmenmonasterios@hotmail.com, and Kiyomi Tsuyuki, MPH, CATALYST/Bolivia, University of Michigan Population Fellow, Calle Fernando Guachalla No. 342, Edificio Victor, Piso 3, La Paz, Bolivia.

A postabortion care (PAC) community mobilization activity in two distinct urban areas of Bolivia increased knowledge about PAC-related services and motivated community members to improve their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). A total of 48 community groups comprised of 1,217 women, men and adolescents of both genders participated in the activity. Through a participatory needs assessment facilitated by community leaders, the groups prioritized their needs associated with PAC-related services, including family planning services for prevention of unintended pregnancy and services for treatment of postabortion complications. The groups developed and implemented a total of 16 action plans based on their priority needs, which included education on reproductive health issues, improved quality of care at facilities, increased awareness about the national maternal health insurance package, reduction of gender-based violence, and ongoing community involvement in SRH issues. A pre-post test completed by project participants before beginning the process and after completion of the action plans showed a significant increase in knowledge about types of contraceptive methods (88.3% to 94%) and the availability of PAC services (64.8% to 71.3%). The test also revealed a significant increase in participants who reported using a contraceptive method in their last sexual intercourse (45.6% to 54.2%). Qualitative results show that the project was successful in empowering the community to discuss reproductive health problems and collectively take action to solve those problems. The presentation will outline the community mobilization process and results, and will also highlight how the process can be transferred to other countries and contexts.

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