Ethiopia is a beautiful country with an ancient culture, vast untapped natural resources, and a newly decentralized political system. It is also a country struggling to emerge from the effects of decades of civil war. There is widespread poverty and recurring famine, high prevalence of unsafe abortion, numerous harmful traditional practices (for example, Female Genitial Mutilation and early marriage), and limited access to health services. As a result there are high maternal and child mortality rates (Maternal mortality rates are between 5 - 20 per 1000 live births and infant mortality rates are 139 per 1000 live births).
Half of the pregnancy-related deaths in urban hospitals have been reported to occur as a result of complications from illegal abortion, which indicate high levels of unwanted pregnancy. Poor access to basic and essential reproductive health services, including family planning as well as child health-related information and services are major contributors to the high maternal and child mortality rates. Due to limited resources, the current level of service delivery by MOH, is extremely low, both in-terms of outreach and quality. Few non-governmental service networks exist. With the invasion of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, health is threatened even further. Furthermore, the high prevalence of chronic under-nutrition plays a detrimental role in the health of mothers and children.
Project Background (through June 1998): The Family Planning and AIDS project is a five-year project which started in 1996. The goal of the project is to improve awareness of and access to family planning services. In addition, the project strives to increase community awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Major program activities include the design and implementation of a culturally-sensitive information, education and communication (IEC) strategy, and the distribution of condoms and oral contraceptives through community based distibutors. Another project goal is to build capacity of the government service delivery system by assisting the government to aquire equipment, renovate health facilities and train staff.
Strategic Approach: Family Planning and AIDS project of CARE-Ethiopia implements its programme in integration with five of CARE's on-going community based development projects. The focus of the projects include emergency management and prevention of maternal and child malnutrition through targeted food supplements, food-for-work and community development initiatives, including women group education and income generation. The Family Planning and AIDS project supplements these interventions by working with the MOH and other relevant partners to improve access of the community to basic reproductive and child health information and services.
