Provision and Use of Family Planning in the Context of HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Abstract

This report from the POLICY Project documents a study which explored how family planning is being implemented in Kenya in the context of high HIV prevalence. The study involved discussions with providers, family planning and antenatal clients, and HIV positive women. Findings highlighted a need for intensive counselling, education and community awareness campaigns, including information on prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Most participants supported the integration of HIV/AIDS services with family planning, reproductive health and maternal and child health services to reduce stigma, ensure privacy, and save time. They also stressed the need to involve men directly, increase public acceptance of condom use, and make available other methods of protection against HIV, such as the female condom and microbicides. Providers identified a need for additional training, as well as for better precautions against infection in their work.

The report concludes that family planning in Kenya must adapt to the realities of HIV/AIDS by integrating HIV-related counselling and services and reaching out to women, men, and young people through a range of communication channels. It highlights the particular needs of providers, and calls for additional training in the integration of disease prevention counselling with family planning services.