In 2023, CHASE Africa commissioned an external evaluation by Progress Inc., a global organisation with a team in Kenya. We are pleased to share findings from the report.
Overall, the evaluation was an affirmation that the work we support increases knowledge, transforms attitudes and changes behaviour, leading to improved health outcomes, reduced school dropouts and proactive measures against issues such as early marriage and gender-based violence.
The report particularly highlighted how critical the fact that all the community-rooted organisations we partner with leverage their deep community-tied, contextual knowledge and existing infrastructure to deliver successful healthcare programmes.
The evaluation also identified a number of successful strategies that CHASE Africa’s partners have employed including:
- the positive impact of the term ‘spacing’ for family planning
- emphasising male involvement
- the use of community dialogues
- leveraging religious and opinion leaders within communities
- engaging traditional birth attendants
- collaborating with the Ministry of Health
- effectively combining community dialogues with outreach clinics to change attitudes and improve access.
Community Health Workers Taasi Uzieal and Ihuhalha with clients at an outreach clinic organised by RCRA Uganda
The findings for this external evaluation were collected through discussions with our partner organisations, individual community members, school health patrons, headteachers and local Ministry of Health staff.
Read the full report here.
In summary, CHASE Africa’s initiatives have had a profound impact, not only in effecting positive changes at the community level but also in providing substantial support to its network of partners. The organisation's unique approach involves strategic collaboration with partners deeply embedded in the communities they serve, an emphasis on integration principles, and a commitment to enhancing the capacity of partners, regardless of their size.
Progress Inc.
Key highlights
Increase in knowledge
The report found the knowledge and confidence of women, both young and old, has substantially increased, particularly concerning family planning and its side effects. Many attribute this success to the introduction of family planning in a culturally sensitive manner by local project staff and by Community Health Workers.
I've acquired the knowledge to protect myself from unplanned pregnancies and understand the importance of family planning. Furthermore, it has enriched our understanding of the importance of education.
Community member from Kenya
Change in attitudes
The evaluation testified that there had been a profoundly positive transformation in the perception of sexual and reproductive health, among both men and women. It was noted that more women felt free to discuss sexual and reproductive healthcare issues and many more men were accompanying their wives in the clinics for family planning.
The programme has encouraged spouses to come to mutual agreements on family planning, reducing conflicts. The perception that having many children is a symbol of wealth has also started to change.
Change in practice
The report found evidence of positive change around the health-seeking behaviour of community members. This was particularly evident in the increase in the uptake in family planning services, a reduction of immunisation defaulters and an increase in patients attending appointments at healthcare facilities following referrals.
It was noted that an increase in uptake of family planning services had wider benefits for women.
Most women are now well spacing their children. Child spacing has helped us to be able to do other economic activities to get money. Therefore, family planning has helped most mothers to do productive work but also manage to take their children to school.
A mother from Kenya
Improved support for young people
We are pleased to share that the report found that our Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health programmes are highly effective. School authorities interviewed reported that those schools who had initiated health clubs supported by CHASE Africa had seen a decrease in dropout rates and asserted that student rights education had produced an increase in confidence of children who were better able to assert their rights. This empowered students to make informed decisions and distinguish between right and wrong.
When you go home and find your father, mother, and an older man discussing your marriage, you must think critically and use the knowledge from the Child Rights Committee). We simply make an excuse to fetch water, and then we run to inform the chief.
A student from Kenya