Integrating Population, Health, and Environment Programs with Contraceptive Distribution in Rural Ethiopia: A Qualitative Case Study

• Published in: Studies in family planning Vol. 46; no. 1; pp. 41 - 54
• Main Authors: Gonsalves, Lianne, Donovan, Samuel E., Ryan, Victoria, Winch, Peter J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescents; Age Factors; Agricultural land; Birth Control; Case studies; Children; Climate Change; Collaboration; Commodities; Communities; Community Health Workers - organization & administration; Condoms; Contraception; Contraception - methods; Contraceptives; Cooperation; Cooperative Behavior; Environment; Environmental conservation; Environmental degradation; Environmental programs; Ethiopia; Family Planning; Family Planning Services - organization & administration; Health; Health Education - organization & administration; Health Services Accessibility - organization & administration; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Natural Resources; Oral contraceptives; Population; Qualitative analysis; Reproductive health; Rural Areas; Rural Health Services - organization & administration; Sex Factors; Social Integration; Social networks; Socioeconomic Factors; Sustainable agriculture; Wetlands; Ethiopia
• ISSN: 0039-3665; 1728-4465
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2015.00014.x

In rural Ethiopia, environmental degradation and a shortage of arable land impose a major toll on the population. Population, health, and environment (PHE) programs, such as that of the Ethio-Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA), have evolved to address these issues. This article examines the community-based distribution (CBD) of family planning commodities in rural Ethiopia through EWNRA's large, multisectoral PHE program. Participants indicated that the integrated program encouraged acceptance of family planning and reduced geographic barriers to access. Through peer education and collaboration across government ministries, EWNRA leveraged integrated population–environment messages to garner support for its network of CBD providers. These integration strategies are a model for PHE programs worldwide, especially amid the global response to climate change. Because of the complex nature of PHE organizations, researchers often find it difficult to effectively document and evaluate their programs. With this in mind, we propose a framework to assess PHE integration.