Maternal Health/Family Planning Project (Senegal)
The overall goal of the Maternal Health/Family Planning Project is to reduce maternal mortality in Senegal by promoting safe motherhood. It is a five-year project (2000-2005) to be implemented in 21 districts out of the capital, Dakar. The communication mandate of the project is to increase demand for quality MH/FP services using mass media, interpersonal communication, community mobilization, and outreach.
Communication Strategies
In 2001, major activities included:
- Mass-media: In the districts of Kaolack and Louga, radio broadcast of Family Planning spots and a radio soap opera on men's involvement in family health;
- Interpersonal communication and counseling: Service providers and community health workers were trained to conduct community activities in the district of Louga;
- Community outreach in reproductive health: group discussions, film projection, and home visits were held in Kaolack in collaboration with the Relays Association of Kaolack. Approximately 6,000 women from community nutrition centers, women groups, and literacy centers were reached in 2001;
- A traditional song and poem contest on Maternal Health topics was organised with youth in the districts of Kaolack and Louga.
Development Issues
Health, HIV AIDS, Reproductive Health, Women.
Key Points
In Senegal, the problem of maternal mortality is a significant one, as 510 of every 100,000 mothers die in childbirth.
The activities organised so far will in coming years be extended to other districts in Senegal. To increase the quality of and demand for services, a quality accreditation project (PONT d'OR) was initiated in 2001 in two districts (Thiadiaye and Foundiougne).
Partners
USAID (funding); Management Sciences for Health (clinical and logistical aspects); JHU/CCP (behavior change communication-BCC); and the Futures Group International (policy and advocacy).
Source
Letter sent from Amelie Sow to the Communication Initiative on February 21, 2002.
Placed on the Soul Beat Africa site June 09 2006
Last Updated April 06 2009
How useful did you find the knowledge and contacts on this page to your work?
Post your comments (review comments from others below):
COMMENTS POSTED
