How To Guide: Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations, Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya

This is the ninth in a planned series of "How To Guides" that document how Reproductive Health (RH) activities were implemented in the field. Each How To Guide documents one field experience and illustrates and innovative approach to a particular area of RH. Its recommendations may be used and adapted to suit particular needs and conditions of each refugee setting.

This How to Guide describes the process used to assess the reproductive health (RH) services provided in the refugee camps in Kakuma and Dadaab, Kenya. Information is provided about RH services in refugee settings and the activities undertaken during the assessment process. The main findings of the assessment are presented, together with conclusions and recommendations for strengthening the capacity of the agencies involved in RH activities.

This How To Guide is intended for supervisors and coordinators of RH services in refugee settings. The guide covers the main components of reproductive health services (safe motherhood, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV/AIDS), and sexual and gender-based violence) and describes how to undertake an assessment of these services.

Topics include:

• How are health services administered?
• What are the reproductive health needs of refugees?
• What are some of the barriers to reproductive health in refugee settings?
• Assessing reproductive health services.
• How should the assessment be conducted?
• What were the findings of the assessment?
• What recommendations were made on the basis of the assessment findings?
• How were the assessment findings and recommendations disseminated