Our Work in Central Asia
Central Asia has family planning issues similar to those of many of the former Soviet states. Abortion continues to be a commonly used intervention to control fertility, and providers face disincentives to prescribe modern methods of family planning. Access to a variety of contraceptive choices is limited, and stockouts are common. Rates of discontinuation of modern methods of contraceptives are high, and both providers and clients have incorrect information about side effects and appropriate use. USAID/CAR addresses family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) as part of its broad Primary Health Care (PHC) program agenda.
The Abt Associates led-PSP-One project jointly with the DELIVER and ZdravPlus projects conducted a series of contraceptive security and private sector assessments in three Central Asian countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2006. The assessments contributed to the USAID/CAR’s Strategic Objective 3.2: “Increased Utilization of Quality Primary Health Care Services.” The primary objective of these activities was to better inform the future design of a USAID reproductive health activity aimed at improving contraceptive security in Central Asia.
In each country the team evaluated activities and policies related to private and public product supply and distribution; logistics information systems; provider and consumer bias; and a status of leadership in FP.
A substantial assessment report of the team provides specific recommendations for ministries of health, donors and bilateral projects to promote contraceptive security in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
