Our Work in Ukraine
Assessment of Private Sector Prospects for Reproductive Health and Family Planning Products and Services in Ukraine
Ukraine is a middle-income country with increasing economic prospects, a thriving private sector market, and widespread access to affordable health services. The country is, however, experiencing reproductive health issues similar to those of other former Soviet republics. Among these issues are the limited use of modern contraceptive methods, high method failure and abortion rates, a growing incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and critical information gaps among both providers and potential users.
The USAID/Ukraine Mission requested technical assistance from the Abt Associates led-PSP-One project to assess the ability of the private sector to contribute to contraceptive security in Ukraine. In particular, the PSP-One team was charged with addressing the current and estimated future availability, affordability, and accessibility of contraceptives in the private sector. A report of the team’s findings provided recommendations for activities and policies that could increase private sector engagement in the contraceptive field, identified specific population groups not likely to be adequately served by the private sector, and suggested strategies to meet the various groups’ needs while averting an adverse impact on the growing contraceptive market.
A Rapid Participatory Assessment of Men Having Sex with Men (MSM) in Ukraine
Currently little is known about HIV risk behaviors and the context of risk among Ukrainian men having sex with men (MSM). A major reason for this lack of information is the severe stigma and discrimination associated with homosexuality, historically reinforced by its criminalization under the Soviet regime (Barnett et al 2000; Longfield et al 2004).
The primary objective of this rapid assessment was to identify and consider the range of HIV/AIDS risk among men having sex with men (MSM) in Ukraine, specifically to assess the vulnerability of MSM for transmission of HIV and to inform the future design of potential prevention activities. The assessment was designed to identify the behavioral risks and explain the social, cultural, political and economic contexts in which they are embedded.
The appraisal focused on the spectrum of the MSM population in Ukraine, the corresponding risky practices, and risk environments.
