Enhancing access to evidence-based information on reproductive health and family planning in Kenya and Senegal

Research shows that a lack of health information is a barrier to evidence-based health care in developing countries. This presentation describes how the Ministries of Health in Kenya and Senegal enhanced the communication of evidence-based practices in reproductive health and family planning (RH/FP) for their staff members and the public. The Knowledge for Health (K4Health) project conducted needs assessments in five countries to better understand the health-information needs of policymakers, program managers and service-delivery personnel. Barriers to knowledge management (accessing, sharing and using health information) exist at all levels of the health pyramid, and among health providers in the public and private sectors. To address a need for a central repository of country-specific information integrated with global evidence, K4Health created a Web-based platform for the development of user-friendly “eToolkits” — electronic libraries of evidence-based, up-to-date information. K4Health shared the eToolkit platform with the Divisions of Reproductive Health in Kenya and Senegal. Using the K4Health eToolkit platform, health professionals at the Divisions of Reproductive Health in Kenya and Senegal were able to overcome barriers to the identification, gathering, organization and presentation of information specific to their needs with only minimal input from staff with web expertise. They developed national RH websites, which include country-specific policies as well as evidence-based information on RH/FP. National repositories of country-specific and global evidence-based information on RH/FP will lead to better access, an essential condition for improved service delivery and quality of care.