Leveraging Farmer Field Days to Provide Family Planning and Other Health Services in Rural Kenya

Abstract

Background: Access to family planning (FP) and other reproductive health (RH) services is difficult in much of rural Africa. Distance to health facilities, staff shortages, stock-outs, and other barriers impede the uptake and continued use of contraception. One way to improve FP access in rural areas is to deliver FP services at non-health events. FHI and Land O’Lakes collaborated to assess a model for providing health services through existing farmer-education events.  This study examined the introduction of Family Planning/Reproductive Health services through Land O’Lakes-supported dairy cooperatives. Methods: The study was conducted at seven events in Central and Rift Valley provinces between August and December 2010. Typical field days draw attendees from across the dairy sector: farmers, processors, development partners and officials from the Ministry of Livestock Development and the Kenya Dairy Board. At each study site, local Land O Lakes and dairy cooperative staff helped to incorporate a “family health camp” where attendees could consult with clinicians. The package included FP services, child immunizations, antenatal care, sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment, and HIV counseling and testing. All women, 18 to 49 years old, who received services from an on-site provider, were invited to participate in a survey about the health camp and the offered services. A total of 319 women were interviewed. Key findings: Use of health services at the seven field days was high; more than 80% of the 2,344 attendees received consultations. The services provided most frequently during the field-days were non-reproductive health exams (66%), FP counseling (18%), and HIV counseling and testing (13%). Of the women interviewed, 40% were affiliated with a dairy cooperative. One-quarter of current FP users acquired additional supplies of contraceptives at the event.  Knowledge contributions: This study contributes to the scant data regarding the provision of health services in the non-health sector. . This model provides a convenient way for rural people to access health services.

Key Words: FP services, non-health sector, rural area, farmers