Title: Communities learn to take charge of their sexual lives and relationships.

POPLINE Document Number: 134881

Author(s):

Campbell L

Source citation:

In: Report from the Meeting on Changing Communication Strategies for Reproductive Health and Rights, December 10-11, 1997, Washington, D.C., [compiled by] Working Group on Reproductive Health and Family Planning. [New York, New York], Population Council, Health and Development Policy Project, [1998]. :9-12.

Abstract:

International Planned Parenthood Federation Family Planning Associations (FPAs) in St. Lucia, Guyana, and Belize participated in a process to facilitate community participation in efforts to achieve social and organizational changes so communities could control their own sexual health. The program involved institution building, expansion of clinical services, creation of user friendly services for adolescents, networking, and documentation and evaluation. In order to reorient their services from a top-down flow of information, the FPAs had to 1) listen to the community, 2) engage in a dialogue on sexual and reproductive health, 3) allow the community to take some responsibility for the process, and 4) have faith in the community's ability to know its needs and validate its capacity to devise solutions. The tools for social change included adoption of a participatory approach that facilitated broad-based thinking and a commitment to making sexual health a central focus in the minds of community members. In this case, sexual health was defined as including an understanding of the basic norms and beliefs that influence gender relations, human sexuality, and sexual decision-making. In addition to making a discernable impact on the community, the project inspired the FPAs to engage in institution building, expansion of services, creation of new protocols, peer counseling, networking, and more rigorous evaluation. The project demanded a significant investment of time and requires flexibility and patience, but it is effective, gender sensitive, and sustainable.

Keywords:

Saint Lucia
Guyana
Belize
Critique
IPPF
Community Participation
Reproductive Health
Social Change
Program Activities
Family Planning Programs
Communication
Evaluation
Caribbean
Americas
Developing Countries
South America, Northern
South America
Latin America
Central America
International Agencies
Organizations
Organization and Administration
Health
Programs
Family Planning