Oral

This session focuses on aspects of the policy process related to family planning/reproductive health and safe motherhood in developing countries. Presentations address how health issues get on the policy agenda, how advocacy can be successful in developing partnerships and promoting laws and policies, why policy initiatives should include decentralization and the use of FamPlan as a strategic planning tool in the policy process and as a policy monitoring and evaluation tool. The countries included in presentations are India (safe motherhood policy), Guatemala and Togo (advocacy and partnerships to promote RH laws and policies), Bolivia and Mexico (decentralization), and Nigeria (use of FamPlan).

Session Objectives: • Describe how health issues emerge on national policy agendas • Identify elements necessary for the success of a political advocacy campaign to position sexual and reproductive health public policy and create national partnerships • Analyze advocacy strategies that were successful in promoting the adoption of an RH law • Discuss the importance of integrating FP/RH into the decentralization process and describe relevant guidelines and strategies • Recognize ways in which FamPlan can be used as a strategic planning tool, appropriate points in the policy process for its use and using FamPlan as a policy monitoring and evaluation tool

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing