Mainstreaming emergency contraception in developing countries: A toolkit for policymakers and service providers

In late 2006 the Kenyan Ministry of Health (MOH) the Population Council and Population Services International (PSI) launched an initiative to mainstream emergency contraception (EC) in Kenya. This toolkit on mainstreaming emergency contraception in developing countries has been developed in response to one of the objectives of the 2006 initiative that sought to generate lessons that could serve as a model for other countries interested in improving access to EC and to generate in-depth knowledge on EC program strategies and utilization characteristics in sub-Saharan Africa. As has been pointed out in many publications including those produced by the International Consortium on Emergency Contraception (ICEC) for many women emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) offer an opportunity to prevent unintended pregnancy following unprotected sex and contraceptive method failure. ECPs are also given as primary prevention of unintended pregnancy in case of rape. Hence timely access to this safe effective option remains an essential element of womens quality reproductive healthcare. Yet ECPs remain inaccessible in many developing countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa where many factors continue to undermine the ability of women to access and use ECPs. This toolkit is based on a theoretical framework that was developed from a thorough review of the available evidence from the EC mainstreaming activities implemented by the Population Council MOH and PSI. The primary target groups for the toolkit are policymakers and health care providers. It can also serve as a resource for trainers (for both pre-service and in-service students) researchers RH program managers and technical advisors who organize or facilitate training events and advocacy workshops for emergency contraception activities advocates lay community members media and donors. The toolkit can be used in countries where ECPs are not currently available as well as in contexts where the intention is to expand or mainstream access to existing ECP services. The toolkit is generic and could be adapted by countries institutions and individual health care providers wishing to mainstream emergency contraception services in their respective settings.