Operationalizing and scaling up HIV/RH referrals in Kenya: The way forward

This policy brief describes the APHIA II Operations Research Project through which the Population Council and Kenya’s Ministry of Health (MOH) developed and tested an approach to systematically link HIV-positive family planning (FP) clients to treatment and care services. Key activities included provider training and testing of a referral package which showed how, where, when, and who is to make and receive referrals. This referral package consisted of a directory listing all facilities in the vicinity available for services including HIV counseling and testing, FP, STIs, tuberculosis, and well-child checks; and referral forms directing clients to appropriate receiving clinics. The results of the study showed that the referral framework was feasible, acceptable and effective in all the participating health facilities. Successful replication and scale-up activities of an effective referral system can only be realized if key conditions such as leadership from MOH, a functional partnership, and a revitalized pipeline of commodities and supplies are in place