Community-Based Integrated Health Program (CBIHP/ MAHEFA) Using the Mentoring Approach to Meet Family Planning Needs of Underserved Youth in Madagascar Presented by Yvette Ribaira, MD, MPH APHA, Chicago, November 3, 2015

Presenter Disclosures (1)The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation existed during the past 12 months: Yvette Ribaira, MD, MPH No relationships to disclose

Outline 1.Objective 2.Background 3.Intervention 4.Methodology 5.Key findings 6.Conclusions

1. Objective Describe the community mentoring approach used to increase utilization of family planning and reproductive health (FP/RH) services among youth in Madagascar.

2. Background: Madagascar 22,434,363 inhabitants with 80% rural and 32% youth (10-24 yrs) Total Fertility Rate: 4.8; Rural areas: % of women yrs have given birth, including 26% of youth yrs Sources: Madagascar, INSTAT, 2014; DHS, 2008/2009

Source: Madagascar, DHS, 2008/2009

2. Background: CBIHP/MAHEFA CBIHP/MAHEFA reaches 3.4 million people in six remote regions (279 communes, 1/5 of national population). Community health volunteers (CHVs) provide integrated health services, including FP/RH, to all community members.

2. Background: MAHEFA regions 64% of young women aged have given birth; 46% before the age of 19* Formative research in 2012 revealed important enablers to acceptability of FP (all, p<.002):** –Recognition of the absence of disadvantages of FP –Acknowledgement of importance of FP –Importance of support from mother, friends, husband Sources: CBIHP/MAHEFA: *Baseline, 2012; **Barriers Analysis, 2012

3. Intervention Use findings from formative research to design approach for community-based service provision for youth in 24/279 communes One commune per district was selected to be a youth-focused commune The youth-focused communes have higher concentrations of youth compared to other communes in their district

3. Intervention Each youth-focused commune has Youth Peer Educators (YPE) trained to promote FP/RH services for youth (629 YPEs) Each YPE is linked to a CHV mentor who receives specialized training in provision of FP/RH services to youth. (629 CHV youth mentors /6,080 CHVs)

3. Intervention In 2015, MAHEFA added the following communications activities to its youth approach Trained YPEs to distribute FP/RH messages via SMS Radio programs focused on issues important to youth A “live-chat” line for youth to call and receive advice and referrals

4. Methodology Evaluated routine data on FP/RH service provision by CHVs in 279 communes Reporting period: FY2013-FY2015 Data analysis using Excel and SPSS.20 with a statistical test (Anova test)

Source: USAID/Madagascar, Outcome Monitoring Survey in MAHEFA areas, April 2015 Average increased 1.6 times in 2 years 5. Key findings: CPR by district 2012, 2014

5. Key findings Significant increase in use of FP among all clients in 24 districts: 172,892 in FY2015 compared to 24,970 FY2013 Sources: CBIHP/MAHEFA data, October 2015

5. Key findings (FY2015) 55,636 young people received FP/RH messages from YPEs in FY2015 4,507 youth <24 years called the live chat line Majority of the calls were about FP/RH, followed closely by HIV/STIs 6,627 youth were referred by YPEs to CHVs and/or CSBs for further FP/RH services Source: CBIHP/MAHEFA data, October 2015

5. Key findings Did CHV youth mentors have higher rates of FP use among youth than non-mentors in the same district? (22 districts*): –5 districts: higher rates for CHV mentors –14 districts: equal rates between CHV mentors and non-mentors –3 districts: lower rates for CHV mentors Sources: CBIHP/MAHEFA, quarterly reports, 2013 – 2015 *2 districts could not be analyzed due to lack of reporting by same CHVs across time

6. Conclusions CHV services increased overall knowledge and use of FP/RH services among youth and adults. YPEs are able to reach large numbers of youth with FP/RH messages Impact of specialized youth approach may not be apparent in the context of a positive impact from a general FP/RH intervention More support needed for CHV youth mentors to develop mentoring skills

Limitations, Further research Timing of introduction of youth approach makes it difficult to isolate the effect from other program interventions Need to compare mentoring approach with other youth approaches in Madagascar to increase access to FP/RH services (e.g., youth-friendly centers, life skills approach) Need for further research on communes that have successfully increased uptake among youth (positive deviants)

Thank you This document is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.