• Login
    • Login
    Advanced Search
    View Item 
    •   AMREF IR Home
    • Research Papers
    • General - GEN
    • General - GEN
    • View Item
    •   AMREF IR Home
    • Research Papers
    • General - GEN
    • General - GEN
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Reducing unmet need for contraceptive services among youth in Homabay and Narok counties, Kenya:

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Reducing unmet need for contraceptive services among youth in Homabay and Narok counties, Kenya: the role of community health volunteers – a qualitative study (568.6Kb)
    Publication Date
    2021
    Authors
    Ormel, Hermen
    Kok, Maryse
    Smet, Eefje
    Oele, George (Amref Health Africa,)
    Oruro, Happiness (Amref Health Africa)
    Oluoch, Beatrice (Amref Health Africa)
    Indigo, Dorcus (Amref Health Africa)
    Show More
    (7 total)
    Type
    Article, Journal
    Item Usage Stats
    7
    views
    4
    downloads
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract/Overview

    Abstract Background: Access to contraceptive services is a cornerstone of human well-being. While Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) promote family planning in Kenya, the unmet need for contraceptives among youth remains high. CHVs seem to pay little specific attention to the contraceptive needs of the youth. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study exploring the role of CHVs in increasing access and uptake of contraceptive services among youth aged 18–24 years in Narok and Homabay Counties, Kenya. We undertook 37 interviews and 15 focus group discussions involving CHVs, youth, community members, community leaders, youth leaders and health programme managers. Data were recorded, transcribed, translated, coded and thematically analysed, according to a framework that included community, CHV and health system-related factors. Results: CHVs often operated in traditional contexts that challenge contraceptive use among unmarried female and male youth and young married couples. Yet many CHVs seemed to have overcome this potential ‘barrier’ as well as reigning misconceptions about contraceptives. While private and facility-based public contraceptive services were somehow available, CHVs were the preferred service provider for many youth due to ease of access and saving time and transport costs. This was influenced by varied perceptions among youth of CHVs’ knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding contraceptives and provider-client interaction, and specifically their commitment to maintain confidentiality. Conclusions: CHVs have the potential to increase access to contraceptives for young people, reducing unmet need for contraceptives. Their knowledge, skills and attitudes need strengthening through training and supervision, while incentives to motivate them and broadening the range of contraceptives they are allowed to offer should be considered.

    Subject/Keywords
    Community health volunteers; Community health workers; Contraceptive services,; Family planning; Youth in Kenya
    Publisher
    BMC Health Services Research
    Permalink
    https://repository.amref.ac.ke/handle/20.500.14173/837
    Collections
    • General - GEN [355]

    Related items

    Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.

    • HDCH 122: Family Health and Nutrition 

      Department of Community Health Practice, Amref International University (Amref International University, 2020-08-18)
    • HDCH 124: Health Promotion 

      Department of Community Health Practice, Amref International University (Amref International University, 2020-08-21)
    • Thumbnail

      Global Health in the Age of COVID-19: Responsive Health Systems Through a Right to Health Fund 

      Friedman, Eric A.; Gostin, Lawrence O.; Maleche, Allan; Nilo, Alessandra; Foguito, Fogue; Rugege, Umunyana; Stevenson, Sasha; Gitahi, Githinji; Ruano, Ana Lorena; Barry, Michele; Hossain, Sara; Lucien, Franciscka; Rusike, Itai; Hevia, Martin; Alwan, Ala; Cameron, Edwin; Farmer, Paul (Health and Human Rights Journal, 2020-06)
      We propose that a Right to Health Capacity Fund (R2HCF) be created as a central institution of a reimagined global health architecture developed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Such ...

    Amref International University. All rights reserved | Copyright © 2021 
    Contact Us | Send Feedback

     

     

    Quick Links
    Amref International UniversityAmref Health AfricaKLISC

    Browse

    All of AMREF IRCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsTypeThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsType

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Amref International University. All rights reserved | Copyright © 2021 
    Contact Us | Send Feedback