{"id":62728,"date":"2024-08-12T07:48:43","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T11:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/?p=62728"},"modified":"2024-08-12T07:48:45","modified_gmt":"2024-08-12T11:48:45","slug":"introducing-smart-pathway-psi-ethiopias-journey-beyond-smart-start-for-maternal-and-child-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/pt\/2024\/08\/introducing-smart-pathway-psi-ethiopias-journey-beyond-smart-start-for-maternal-and-child-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing Smart Pathway \u2013 PSI Ethiopia\u2019s Journey Beyond Smart Start for Maternal and Child Health."},"content":{"rendered":"

By Fana Abay, Director of Marketing and Communications, PSI Ethiopia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Ethiopia, married adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are taking control of their health, lives, and futures by choosing contraception. But family planning doesn\u2019t stop at contraception and neither should we. In Ethiopia, where maternal mortality is among the top five leading causes of death<\/a> for adolescent girls, pregnant adolescents told us that they want support, information, and services every step of the way. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At PSI Ethiopia, with the generous support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and in partnership with the Ethiopia Ministry of Health and the Ethiopian Midwives\u2019 Association, we\u2019re supporting the entire reproductive journey of adolescents \u2013 and we\u2019re calling it Smart Pathway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Expanding Smart Start to Smart Pathway<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, PSI Ethiopia launched Smart Start, a girl-centered sexual and reproductive health program that combines financial planning with contraceptive programming for rural, married girls aged 15-19. Developed under the Adolescents 360 (A360) project<\/a>, Smart Start has made remarkable progress in reducing teenage pregnancy and supporting contraceptive choices among married adolescent girls in Ethiopia. To date, 356.6K+ married girls ages 15-19 have voluntarily started a contraception method of their choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the launch of Smart Pathway in November 2023, PSI Ethiopia supports married adolescents with the knowledge and tools they need to make healthy choices throughout their reproductive lives.\u00a0This initiative builds on the achievements of Smart Start and offers support before, during, and after pregnancy that goes beyond contraception alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the heart of this initiative is a partnership in which PSI Ethiopia is a key ally of the Ministry of Health in strengthening the health system and consumer-driven health care,\u201d said Dr. Dorothy Balaba, PSI Ethiopia Country Representative. \u201cWe are proud of our ongoing collaboration, mainly through the RISE project, and are pleased to announce today the expansion of our Smart Start partnership – an example of innovation and progress.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
What Smart Pathway Offers<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Smart Pathway focuses on the aspirations of girls and young women and supports them to prioritize their health and futures. This comprehensive approach includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n