Reproductive Health Matters
Volume 25, Issue 51, 2017, Pages 18-24

The 2018 Inter-agency field manual on reproductive health in humanitarian settings: revising the global standards (Article) (Open Access)

Foster A.M.* , Evans D.P. , Garcia M. , Knaster S. , Krause S. , McGinn T. , Rich S. , Shah M. , Tappis H. , Wheeler E.
  • a Faculty of Health Sciences, University of OttawaON, Canada
  • b Hubert Department of Global Health & Director, Center for Humanitarian Emergencies, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c International Consortium for Emergency Contraception hosted by Management Sciences for Health, New York, NY, United States
  • d Women’s Refugee Commission, New York, NY, United States
  • e Sexual and Reproductive Health Program, Women’s Refugee Commission, New York, NY, United States
  • f Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
  • g Sexual and Reproductive Health Program, Women’s Refugee Commission, New York, NY, United States
  • h Center for Reproductive Rights, New York, NY, United States
  • i Jhpiego, Baltimore, MD, United States
  • j International Rescue Committee, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

Since the 1990s, the Inter-agency field manual on reproductive health in humanitarian settings (IAFM) has provided authoritative guidance on reproductive health service provision during different phases of complex humanitarian emergencies. In 2018, the Inter-Agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Crises will release a new edition of this global resource. In this article, we describe the collaborative and inter-sectoral revision process and highlight major changes in the 2018 IAFM. Key revisions to the manual include repositioning unintended pregnancy prevention within and explicitly incorporating safe abortion care into the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) chapter, which outlines a set of priority activities to be implemented at the outset of a humanitarian crisis; stronger guidance on the transition from the MISP to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services; and the addition of a logistics chapter. In addition, the IAFM now places greater and more consistent emphasis on human rights principles and obligations, gender-based violence, and the linkages between maternal and newborn health, and incorporates a diverse range of field examples. We conclude this article with an outline of plans for releasing the 2018 IAFM and facilitating uptake by those working in refugee, crisis, conflict, and emergency settings. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Author Keywords

displaced persons human rights Contraception Refugees sexual and reproductive health abortion Gender-based violence Maternal and newborn health

Index Keywords

Humanitarian cooperation refugee economics sexual education human Refugees Relief Work violence health service priority journal policy United Nations unplanned pregnancy procedures knowledge human rights Sex Education Reproductive Health Services Humans patient safety maternal child health care female welfare Contraception supply and distribution sexual health child health women's health Article Maternal-child Health Services organization and management awareness health care quality capacity building Reproductive Health abortion maternal welfare practice guideline Cooperative Behavior
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85042565682&doi=10.1080%2f09688080.2017.1403277&partnerID=40&md5=98142c808351eec7ef48e777adb4c340
DOI: 10.1080/09688080.2017.1403277
ISSN: 09688080
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English