Background
Having access to family planning services improves women’s health and allows them to choose when and how many children to have. Kenya has a high unmet need for family planning and women often face barriers when it comes to accessing family planning information, services and methods. In Kilifi County, these barriers relate to women’s lack of education, low income levels and male partners having a strong influence on decisions regarding family planning.

About the project
This project was created to reduce the unmet need for family planning, lower the rates of unplanned and unwanted pregnancies and improve maternal and child health in Kilifi County. In order to achieve this, the project team gave daily health talks at the clinics, informing clients about the benefits of family planning, the different methods available and encouraging women to share their positive experiences of family planning with each other. By the end of these sessions, women were offered a one-on-one appointment to select a contraceptive method of their choice.

The project also aimed increase men’s awareness by offering family planning counseling for couples. Community meetings took place with health workers and religious leaders, to discuss men’s role in family planning decisions and address common myths and misconceptions.

Results
Before the project, there was no documented family planning education taking place in the targeted clinics. After the project, 87% of all clients at these clinics had been empowered with information on family planning. 76% of the women visiting the clinic also gained access to a contraceptive method, compared to 18% before the project.

Going forward, the project team are planning on expanding the project to other health facilities in Kilifi County.

Year: 2104