FACILITATING COMMUNITY DIALOGUE SESSIONS ON FAMILY PLANNING AND PMTCT

by: Chikumbutso Gasper Willard - 11|05|2023

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As part of efforts to promote sustainable community health behavior change, the facilitation of community dialogue sessions on family planning (FP) and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) were conducted in two Traditional Authorities (T/As) - Mbenje and Mlolo.

A total of 58 sessions (one per community) were conducted by the Community Based Distribution Agents (CBDAs) in each of the 58 communities in the two T/As, with 310 participants (150 men and 160 women) taking part in the dialogue sessions. This program implemented by FACE with funding from Irish Aid through Goal Malawi.

During the community dialogue sessions on FP, participants shared their perceptions and adoption of family planning methods, challenges they have encountered with different methods, and discussed possible ways to address these challenges. The women were very active in the dialogue sessions and expressed their willingness to start family planning methods. However, the men still lag behind in terms of family planning. To address this, it was suggested to take family planning sessions to places where men gather, such as Bawo and fishing crews.

The PMTCT community dialogue meetings aimed to sensitize the community on how male involvement can boost family health and community development. The discussions focused on encouraging men to escort their wives to antenatal clinics, reducing further HIV infections from mother to child, and educating mothers on how NVP syrup works to exposed babies. The Foundation for Active Civic Education organized the meetings in all the 9 GVHs, with 452 people attending, including 320 women and 132 men.

During the PMTCT dialogue sessions, the role of husbands in promoting male involvement was emphasized. Men were encouraged to accompany their wives to every aspect of health services, which will assist in reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS, promote high adoption of family planning methods, and improve family bonds that result in household development. The discussions also covered the importance of attending antenatal clinics in the first three months of pregnancy, modes of HIV transmission, and the importance of taking ARVs by positive pregnant women.

In conclusion, the facilitation of community dialogue sessions on FP and PMTCT is an effective way to promote sustainable community health behavior change. Encouraging male involvement in family health services and addressing challenges related to family planning methods will go a long way in improving the well-being of households and communities.