The Strategic Approach to Improving Reproductive Health Policies and Programmes: A Summary of Experiences

Since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo, countries have been addressing the challenges of developing and strengthening the capacity of their health systems to provide comprehensive reproductive health care. The Strategic Approach to Improving Reproductive Health Policies and Programmes is a methodology that countries can use to identify and prioritize their needs with regard to reproductive health technologies and services; test appropriate interventions to address these priority needs; and then scale up these tested interventions to a regional or national level. Other approaches to improving reproductive health services typically focus on incorporating specific technologies (e.g., new contraceptive methods, diagnostic tools, clinical protocols) or programmatic interventions (e.g., training of providers, management interventions or efforts to change behaviours and promote demand for services). In contrast, the Strategic Approach considers a range of alternatives: improving the provision of existing services; removing inappropriate or unsafe technologies; introducing new technologies; and promoting appropriate health-seeking behaviours among clients and potential clients of reproductive health services.

Publisher: WHO
Year of Publication: 2002