KMET Post Abortion Care (PAC) Project conducted a study in 2008/9 identified factors that influence male involvement in reproductive health and family planning. the results were that Male were rarely involved in RH and FP, Men had limited knowledge of RH and FP , Most men western Kenya are completely against abortion and Men had limited knowledge of abortion. The KMET PAC project ended in 2010 and this brought in the MISA project (Male Involvement in Safe Abortion) which began in June 2011.MISA project (Male Involvement in Safe Abortion) targets 5 counties: Kisumu, Kisii, Vihiga, Siaya and Kaka mega. Kisumu Medical & Education Trust (KMET) in collaboration with Ministry of health initiated this project funded by SAAF with a goal to contribute towards reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity due to safe abortion. The project has trained eighty (80) male champions on strategies of increasing Male support for safe abortion interventions. It is using the Gender Equitable Men (GEM) scale survey to determine current attitudes towards abortion in western Kenya. And it is ensuring that facilities in the five counties of Kenya are male friendly and offer male services.

The overall goal of the project is to: contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity related to unsafe abortion in 5 counties - Siaya, Kisii, Kisumu, Vihiga and Kakamega in western Kenya. Male involvement project has three objectives namely:

• To provide specific information, education and skills to 4,000 men on how to support interventions for increased access to comprehensive safe abortion services for 400,000 rural women
• To build the capacity of health providers in 40 health facilities working with men and boys to address the reproductive health needs of 500,000 men
• Facilitate networking of like-minded organizations to work with parliamentarians and other policy makers-makers to accelerate the implementation of the new constitution: Right to life – Article 26.

 



One of the Male Champions leading a group discussion

 

 

The beneficiaries of the project are rural women of reproductive age in 5 counties in western Kenya with a particular focus on the age cohort of 20-34 years who compose 70% of unsafe abortion cases and Women of reproductive age within the Living Standard Measure (LSM) category 1 to 5 who are vulnerable to unplanned pregnancy and unsafe abortion.
The project has managed to train 80 (eighty) men champions in Kisii and Kisumu District. Who are passing on information on reproductive health especial advocacy for safe and high quality abortion services to both men and women in the community?

 



Male champion in group discussion on safe Abortion services and who can access them at Kisii level five hospital