Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2008
Abstract
The Kenyan government’s reproductive health policy highlights service integration and quality of care. While integrating counseling and testing (C&T) for HIV into family planning (FP) can potentially increase the range of services to clients at risk from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, few studies have documented the feasibility, effects, or costs of such integration. From 2005–07, the Population Council worked with the Kenyan Ministry of Health to test the feasibility of two models for integrating C&T into existing FP services. Both models featured client education on HIV prevention during FP visits. Providers were trained to routinely use the Balanced Counseling Strategy Plus (BCS+) toolkit to improve quality of FP counseling. As noted in this brief, integration of STI/HIV screening and counseling and HIV C&T into FP services is feasible, increases clients’ access to STI and HIV testing services without compromising the quality of existing FP services, and is affordable in time and cost. The BCS+ is an effective tool for addressing STI and HIV risk among FP clients but FP providers need to use it routinely to ensure effectiveness.
Recommended Citation
"Kenya: Integrating services for FP and HIV improves quality and HIV testing," FRONTIERS OR Summary. Washington, DC: Population Council, 2008.
DOI
10.31899/rh14.1012
Language
English
Project
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender and Sexuality Commons, International Public Health Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medicine and Health Commons, Women's Health Commons