Expanding Access to Emergency Contraception in Four Francophone African Countries

EC promotion is hindered by socio-cultural barriers resulting in many African countries. That's why IPPF is trying to change the situation in countries where EC services are low. In this respect, Equilibres & Populations and the Compton Foundation supported an EC program targeted at young individuals in four francophone countries in Africa: Senegal, the Ivory-Coast, Congo-Brazzaville, and Guinea, with the following objectives: • Integrate EC, specifically norlevo, in the minimum delivery care package of RH services and promote maternal health at project sites. • Promote innovative services and information on family planning and widen access and utilization of these services, while addressing socio-cultural and legal barriers to EC access and use.

After three years of implementation of the project, it was possible to establish several clinics for for EC/norlevo distribution in the four countries. Clinics received support from the Minister of Health and Chief doctors, and an article on norlevo was released in local press. In Congo, 1191 cycles of EC were provided and 54 females adopted pre-coital contraceptive methods. Programs in the Ivory Coast distributed over 500 informational pamphlets on maternal health, as well as EC, and profiles of clinic users were collected. Ultimately, the project helped reduce unwanted pregnancies of young women and provided points of access to crucial reproductive health information.

Government collaboration was essential for the program success. Also the integration of norlevo into basic services is crucial to accelerate change. However, there still remain some socio-cultural barriers to be addressed.