Reproductive health policies and programs in eight countries: Progress since Cairo

Context: Although many countries adopted the Programme of Action drafted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, little is known about countries' experiences with revising reproduct ive health policies and implementing programs since then. Methods: in-depth interviews were conducted in 1997 with stakeholders in ei ght countries-three in Asia (Bangladesh, India and Nepal), three in the Mid dle East and Africa (Jordan, Ghana and Senegal) and two in Latin America an d the Caribbean (Jamaica and Peru). Results: While all but two of the countries have adopted the ICPD definitio n of reproductive health and ail have initiated policy reforms to reflect a new focus, less has been accomplished in implementing integrated reproduct ive health programs. Several challenges face all eight countries as they co ntinue to design reproductive health programs: improving knowledge and supp ort among stakeholders;planning for integration and decentralized services; developing human resources; improving qualify of care;and maintaining a lo ng-term perspective regarding the implementation of the Cairo agenda. Conclusions: The next critical steps needed far moving from policy formulat ion to program implementation are to help countries set priorities for esta blishing integrated reproductive health interventions to increase financing for services and to develop strategies for delivering them.