Using Communications and Community Engagement to Stimulate Demand for the IUD in Kenya

Background The position of the intrauterine device (IUD) in Kenya’s contraceptive method mix among married women of reproductive age has declined over time, dropping from a prevalence of 4.2% in 1993 to 2.4% in 2003 (CBS, MOH, & ORC Macro, 2004). Moreover, as contraceptive prevalence has increased (currently at 33% for modern methods), the IUD’s share of the modern method mix has declined by half, from 15.4% of current users in 1993 to 7.6% in 2003 (as the method mix skewed even more to oral contraceptives and injectables). In response to this situation, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and partners embarked on an initiative to revitalize the provision and use of the IUD in Kenya, as part of a balanced and sustainable contraceptive method mix. The MOH’s IUD revitalization initiative and strategy addressed 1) advocacy and sensitization; 2) capacity building and service delivery; 3) demand creation; and 4) monitoring and evaluation and operations research.