Integration has recently gained increased visibility. USAID’s Global Health Strategic Framework promotes an inclusive and integrated approach to global health. One of the key principles supporting the goal of Family Planning 2020 is the integration of FP within the continuum of care for women and children. Seventeen of the 2015 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are related through a network of targets, promoting integration across various sectors.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines integrated service delivery as “the organization and management of health services so that people get the care they need, when they need it, in ways that are user-friendly, achieve the desired results, and provide value for money.” Integrated health services can refer to multi-purpose service delivery points when a range of services for a catchment population is provided at one location and under one manager.
These are some of the key reasons for integrating services and programs:
- Integration can introduce health services that may not be initially sought by the community
- Integration improves the engagement of both sexes in activities, and has a particularly positive influence on male engagement
- Integration can generate demand for and increase uptake of essential health services by working across sectors and existing systems
- Integration can reduce the costs of implementation, leading to more positive outcomes for reduced financial investment
References
Hamdallah, Miriam, et al. 2017. The added value of integrating family planning into community-based services: Learning from implementation. Advancingpartners.org. Retrieved from https://www.advancingpartners.org/resources/technical-briefs/integrating-family-planning-into-community-based-services
