Urban Family Planning in Sub‑Saharan Africa: an Illustration of the Cross‑sectoral Challenges of Urban Health
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Date
2022
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Journal of Urban Health
Abstract
The multi-sectoral nature of urban
health is a particular challenge, which urban family planning in sub-Saharan Africa illustrates well.
Rapid urbanisation, mainly due to natural population increase in cities rather than rural-urban migration, coincides with a large unmet urban need for
contraception, especially in informal settlements.
These two phenomena mean urban family planning
merits more attention. To what extent are the family planning and urban development sectors working together on this? Policy document analysis and
stakeholder interviews from both the family planning
and urban development sectors, across eight sub-Saharan African countries, show how cross-sectoral
barriers can stymie efforts, but they can also identify some points of connection which can be built upon. Differentiating historical, political, and policy landscapes means
that entry points to promote urban family planning
have to be tailored to the context. Such entry points
can include infant and child health, female education and employment, and urban poverty reduction.
Successful cross-sectoral advocacy for urban family planning requires not just solid evidence but
also internal consensus and external advocacy: FP
actors must consensually frame the issue per local
preoccupations, and then communicate the resulting key messages in concerted and targeted fashion.
More broadly, success also requires that the environment be made conducive to cross-sectoral action.
example, through clear requirements in the planning
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Reproductive health, Cross-sectoral, sub-Saharan Africa