Availability of long-acting and permanent family-planning methods leads to increase in use in conflict-affected northern Uganda: evidence from cross-sectional baseline and endline cluster surveys.

Humanitarian assistance standards require specific attention to address the reproductive health (RH) needs of conflict-affected populations. Despite these internationally recognised standards, access to RH services is still often compromised in war. We assessed the effectiveness of our programme in northern Uganda to provide family planning (FP) services through mobile outreach and public health centre strengthening.

Family planning in conflict: results of cross-sectional baseline surveys in three African countries.

Background: Despite the serious consequences of conflict for reproductive health, populations affected by conflict and its aftermath face tremendous barriers to accessing reproductive health services, due to insecurity, inadequate numbers of trained personnel and lack of supplies. Family planning is often particularly neglected.

Methods: In six conflict-affected areas in Sudan, northern Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, household surveys of married or in-union women of reproductive age were conducted to determine baseline measures of family planning knowledge, attitudes and behaviors regarding contraception.

A review of global mechanisms for tracking official development assistance for health in countries affected by armed conflict.

Background: Poverty is highly concentrated in countries affected by armed conflict which are the furthest from reaching the Millennium Development Goals. Tracking aid patterns for health is crucial for improving the effectiveness of external aid to countries affected by armed conflict which tend to depend heavily upon external assistance and also have particularly acute health needs.

Objectives: This study systematically assesses the reliability of global aid databases which are commonly used for tracking aid to countries affected by armed conflict.

Tracking official development assistance for reproductive health in conflict-affected countries.

Background: Reproductive health needs are particularly acute in countries affected by armed conflict. Reliable information on aid investment for reproductive health in these countries is essential for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of aid. The purpose of this study was to analyse official development assistance (ODA) for reproductive health activities in conflict-affected countries from 2003 to 2006.

A basic package of health services for post-conflict countries: implications for sexual and reproductive health services.

Health systems in countries emerging from conflict are often characterised by damaged infrastructure, limited human resources, weak stewardship and a proliferation of non-governmental organisations. This can result in the disrupted and fragmented delivery of health services. One increasingly popular response to improve health service delivery in post-conflict countries is for the country government and international donors to jointly contract non-governmental organisations to provide a Basic Package of Health Services for all the country's population.