Integrated services
Strengthening linkages for sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS: progress, barriers and opportunities for scaling up
Summarising the main obstacles to jointly addressing sexual and reproductive health, HIV and AIDS
Authors:
N. Druce; C. Dickinson; K. Attawell
Publisher:
Department for International Development Health Resource Centre (HRC), 2006
This review, produced by the DFID Health Resource Centre, explores the policy, financing and institutional factors that enable or constrain the integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes with policy programmes for HIV prevention and AIDS treatment and care. Based on a review of the literature, key informant interviews and policy and programme analysis, it discusses the main constraints to developing linkages and the possible strategies and opportunities for engagement. Key challenges to scaling up include: downward trends in donor financing for reproductive health and family planning and weak international leadership for the promotion of linkages. Institutional arrangements and support for targeted disease specific programmes also create incentives that weaken synergistic approaches.
The review provides examples of enabling processes to promote linkages. These include improved government and donor coordination and cross programme working groups and task forces. Finally, the authors suggest potential opportunities for engagement. These opportunities fall into four categories; civil society and private sector engagement, actions on commitments, opportunities among multi and bilateral donors, and support to harmonised country processes with key stakeholders. [adapted from authors]
