PSI

The East African country of Kenya – slightly smaller than France – is home to more than 38 million people from more than 40 different ethnic groups. Rapid population growth and communication barriers between ethnic groups create a disjointed healthcare infrastructure that leaves many Kenyans underserved.

PSI/Kenya was founded in 1990 to socially market condoms and has since expanded to include programs for malaria, reproductive health, HIV/AIDs and child survival. More than 230 employees and nearly 60 temporary staff members work to improve health conditions for Kenyans in seven out of the eight provinces. PSI has built a network of more than 5,000 commercial partners that help enable low-income and vulnerable Kenyans to lead healthier lives.

Please visit PSI/Kenya's website for more information.

Health Areas

Child Survival, HIV, Malaria, Reproductive Health

Health Impact

PSI/Kenya estimates that in 2010, its products and services helped avert:

• 241,968 HIV & TB DALYs1
• 143,719 Reproductive Health DALYs
• 1,191,688 Malaria Control DALYs
• 27,023 Child Survival DALYs

Please visit PSI/Kenya's website for more information.

1. 1. Source: The DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) is a widely-used, credible metric that was first developed by the World Bank and is now routinely relied upon in the public health community.

Health Interventions

• Family Planning/HIV Integration
• Oral Contraception
• Injectable Contraception
• Male Condom
• HIV Counseling and Testing
• Concurrent Sexual Partnerships
• Male Circumcision
• Safe Water Solution

Improving Health in Kenya

Malaria

Nearly 90 children die daily of malaria – making it the biggest killer of young children. 1 PSI/Kenya runs one of the largest insecticide-treated net (ITN) social marketing programs in Africa aimed at creating a "net culture." Extensive marketing and education campaigns have resulted in about 50% of the population sleeping under a treated net every night – up from only 37% in 2003. 2

Distribution targets children under 5 and pregnant women through public health antenatal clinics and rural-based health clinics. However, PSI/Kenya has also partnered with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to achieve universal ITN coverage for all.

Reproductive Health

Less than half of married couples in Kenya use modern contraceptives. Unmet need for family planning is considered high. One in four married women either do not have access to family planning services, or lack information/motivation to use services. PSI helps bridge this gap by distributing quality products and organizing women’s groups to educate fellow women.

In 2000, PSI launched a program for Femiplan oral and injectable contraceptives. And in March 2009, it added counseling services through its Family Health Network – Tunza.

Child Survival

PSI/Kenya supports the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation (MoPHS) to increase demand for affordable household water treatment products through multiple campaigns geared at specific target audiences.

PSI/Kenya socially markets WaterGuard and PUR which are water purification products.

WaterGuard is a dilute chlorine water purification kit which inactivates pathogens that cause diarrhea.

According to a TRaC3 survey conducted by PSI/Kenya, the most common size of container used for water storage in households is a 20 liter jerry can with over 50% of households using this container. From this container care-givers can treat water using WaterGuard which is easy to use and affordable. PUR is a turbid water purifier which not only clears murky water but also disinfects it for domestic use.

Mass Media Campaign Running

Dubbed ‘Zuia kuhara Okoa Maisha’, the campaign was developed to achieve the following objectives:

• Raise awareness of severity of diarrhea communicating the risks to a child less than 5 years.
• Promote preventative practices to prevent diarrhea in your home, with particular emphasis on household water treatment and safe storage of drinking water.

HIV

Nearly 2 million people are living with HIV in Kenya – about 7% to 8% of people ages 15 to 49. However, many Kenyans underestimate their risk.4 Nearly half of young adults who did not use condoms regularly said that they "trusted their partner" and did not believe they were at risk.

PSI/Kenya launched Trust condoms in 1993 to address these beliefs with a campaign for high-risk, sexually active groups. Today, the campaign has expanded to encourage communication between all partners and build a positive public image of Trust condoms. PSI/Kenya also helps:

• Combine HIV prevention with diarrhea and malaria prevention through a multiple concurrent relationship campaign – with the tagline, “Acha Mpango wa Kando, Epuka Ukimwi” (Shun ‘spare wheels’ relations, avoid HIV).
• Create behavior change communications (BCC) with television and radio spots, and billboards that encourage HIV testing and consumer confidence in VCT services.
• Increase demand for prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services and for male circumcision.
• Launch popular abstinence campaigns, such as “Chill,” which has entered a second phase after a remarkably successful launch in 2004.
• Partner with governmental organizations to create suitable multiple message forums. For example, PSI/Kenya and USAID launched an entertainment-education television drama dubbed “SIRI” (Swahili for “secret”). The series uses popular culture to empower women to make informed reproductive health choices for themselves and their families with support from the men in their lives.
• Launch the integrated web site www.aphia2kenya.org that joins USAID-funded Aids, Population and Health Integrated Assistance II partners and stakeholders in the country under one interactive and communication-sharing umbrella.

Please visit PSI/Kenya's website for more information.

1. 1. Kenya – Population and Health.
2. 2. Sentinel survey data released by the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation.
3. 3. Tracking Results Continuously
4. 4. UNAIDS – Country situation analysis.

Target Populations

HIV: High risk sexually active populations; Reproductive Health: married women of reproductive age; Malaria: women of reproductive age and children under five; Child Survival: care giver of children under 5 and her husband.

Latest News

• Being prepared with bednets in Kenya
  January 18, 2011
• USAID's POUZN Project Leads to Increased Household Water Treatment
  January 7, 2011
• "Mpango Wa Kando: Concurrent Partnerships" Campaign Video Wins AIGA InShow Award
  November 19, 2010
• Mainstreaming Emergency Contraception Pills in Kenya
  June 23, 2010