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

Abstract #113858

Rose A. Wilcher, MPH, Field, Information and Training Services, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919-544-7040, rwilcher@fhi.org, Heidi W. Reynolds, PhD, Health Services Research Department, Family Health International, P.O. Box 13950, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, Joshua Kimani, Family Health International, Chancery Building, Valley Road, Nairobi, Kenya, Jennifer Liku, MA, Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program, Family Health International, The Chancery 2nd Floor, Valley Road, PO Box 38835, Nairobi, Kenya, and Ndugga Maggwa, MD, MSc, Africa Regional Office, Family Health International, P.O. Box 38835, Nairobi, Kenya.

Given that most clients of VCT services are sexually active and of reproductive age, the integration of family planning (FP) services into VCT programs offers many potential benefits, including allowing providers to holistically address clients' dual risks of HIV infection and unintended pregnancy. It also provides an opportunity to reach clients who might never seek traditional reproductive health services, such as men and youth, with critical FP information. Furthermore, offering FP to HIV-infected or at-risk VCT clients can reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV by preventing unintended pregnancies. For three years, Family Health International (FHI) has been working with the Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH) to integrate FP services into the country's VCT programs. Initially, FHI conducted a study of VCT centers in Kenya that demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability of integrating FP into VCT centers. Based on this evidence, the MOH then developed a strategy for providing FP services at all VCT centers in the country. The strategy identifies four levels of integration, each contingent on resources available at particular facilities. FHI is now working with the MOH and other local partners to implement and test the first level of integration in 20 VCT centers, and to scale-up integration to 30 additional sites. The findings from testing the strategy and monitoring the scale-up will inform the development of a national implementation plan for integrating FP into 300 VCT sites countrywide. Government leadership, an effective task force, and stakeholder commitment have been key to achieving integrated FP/VCT service delivery in Kenya.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Articulate three benefits of integrating family planning services into VCT programs.
• 2. Describe the key elements of Kenya’s national strategy for integrating family planning and VCT services.
• 3. Describe the process followed in Kenya to achieve evidence-based implementation of integrated family planning and VCT services countrywide.

Keywords: International Family Planning, HIV/AIDS

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.

Recorded presentation