{"id":6496,"date":"2023-02-23T16:35:57","date_gmt":"2023-02-23T16:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kmtraining.org\/family-planning-and-reproductive-health-access-and-utilization-in-east-africa\/"},"modified":"2026-04-28T13:12:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T13:12:09","slug":"family-planning-and-reproductive-health-access-and-utilization-in-east-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kmtraining.org\/fr\/family-planning-and-reproductive-health-access-and-utilization-in-east-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Family Planning and Reproductive Health Access and Utilization in East Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From June to August 2022, 38 family planning and reproductive health (FP\/RH) workforce members from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda came together during the 2022 East Africa Learning Circles cohort. Through structured group dialogues over four sessions, they shared and learned from each other\u2019s practical experiences, on what works and what doesn\u2019t in improving FP\/RH access and use.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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CONTEXT<\/h3>\n

Expanding access to contraception and satisfying the need for family planning are essential elements for achieving universal access to reproductive healthcare services, as called for in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a>.<\/p>\n

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of women who want to use family planning has increased markedly over the past two decades, from 900 million in 2000 to nearly 1.1 billion in 2020. Consequently, the number of women using a modern contraceptive method increased from 663 million to 851 million, and the contraceptive prevalence rate increased from 47.7% to 49.0%. The UN projects that an additional 70 million women<\/a> will be using modern contraception by 2030.<\/p>\n

The proportion of women of reproductive age whose need for family planning is satisfied by modern contraceptive methods (SDG indicator 3.7.1) has increased gradually<\/a> in recent decades, rising from 73.6% in 2000 to 76.8% in 2020. Reasons for this slow increase include limited method choice s; insufficient access to services, particularly among young, poorer, and unmarried people; side effects (whether feared or experienced); cultural or religious opposition; poor quality of available services; user\u2019 and provider bias against certain methods; and gender-based barriers to access.<\/p>\n

State and non-state actors both have roles to play in ensuring that barriers to access and uptake of family planning and reproductive health (FP\/RH) services are addressed. A number of different elements need to be in place for successful FP\/RH programs, from strategic planning, program development, and implementation to monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and accountability.<\/p>\n

2022 EAST AFRICA LEARNING CIRCLES COHORT<\/h3>\n

To ensure that everyone is equipped with the knowledge and best practices to address the factors hindering access to and use of FP\/RH services, the Knowledge SUCCESS East Africa team hosted a Learning Circles<\/a> cohort on Family Planning and Reproductive Health Access and Utilization in East Africa. This topic was identified as a regional priority according to surveys and interviews among FP\/RH professionals and organizations based in East Africa.<\/p>\n

The weekly Learning Circles sessions and discussions were anchored by the FP2030 Rights-Based FP Program Framework<\/a>, which depicts essential elements that should be in place at various levels in the healthcare system, including empowered and satisfied clients, quality information and services, an enabling legal and policy environment, and supportive culture and community.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

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The Learning Circles cohort participants also considered the 10 human rights-related principles and standards pertaining to contraceptive information and services upon which the framework is based. These principles, agreed on by WHO, UNFPA, FP2030, and others, include:<\/p>\n