Fact Sheet: The Evolution of Community-Based Distribution of Family Planning in Kenya

Author(s):

Year: 2014

Abstract:

Family planning (FP) has been increasingly acknowledged for its health, economic and environmental benefits. However, about a quarter of married Kenyan women (mostly poor and residing in rural areas) would like to delay the next birth or stop childbearing altogether but are not using any form of contraception. Task-shifting specific services to trained volunteers (community health workers or CHWs) was initiated in Kenya in the early 1980s as a solution to the health workforce crisis and insufficient number of health facilities. The community-based distribution (CBD) program stalled in the late 1990s, affecting FP uptake, but was rejuvenated in the 2000s. The African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) was awarded a small grant from the MEASURE Evaluation PRH project to evaluate these policy and program changes. To read the full report, see: http://www.measureevaluation.org/publications/wp-14-144