HOW SIERRA LEONE BECAME AN FP EXEMPLAR BUILDING COMMUNITY TRUST AND DEMAND FOR FAMILY PLANNING: LESSONS FROM SIERRA LEONE

Sierra Leone, through the Centre for Community & Public Health Improvement (CPHI), participates in the Aga Khan University (AKU)-led Symposium on harnessing cross-country lessons to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking in Pakistan.

Sierra Leone is one of the few countries in the world to become an exemplar in family planning, having witnessed substantial gains in both modern contraceptive prevalence rate (mCPR) and demand satisfaction between 2000 and 2020. Our mCPR increased from 6.3% in 2000 to 24.9% in 2019, while demand satisfaction increased from 18% to over 45% during the same period.

Community engagement was a key driver of Sierra Leone's family planning success. CPHI shared experience with Pakistan on Sierra Leone's effort to address socio-cultural barriers through community dialogue with stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders. These leaders became trusted advocates who addressed myths and misconceptions about family planning usage.

The Sierra Leone experience shows that even resource-constrained countries can achieve rapid family planning progress when policies, health systems, and communities work together.

Thanks to the government of Sierra Leone, the MoH leadership, and our partners for the investment in RMNCAH interventions.