Faith leaders improve healthy timing and spacing of pregnancy: Results of operations research on the Channels of Hope methodology in Kenya and Ghana

This study evaluates the impact of World Vision’s Channels of Hope (CoH) methodology on promoting healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies (HTSP) and family planning (FP) in Kenya and Ghana. It found that faith leaders can significantly influence family planning practices by advocating for HTSP within their communities. The research, which included surveys of 4,372 mothers and in-depth interviews with 17 faith leaders, showed significant increases in awareness and use of contraceptive methods such as implants, injectables, and pills. Faith leaders also reported a shift in their attitudes toward HTSP/FP after participating in CoH workshops. The study concludes that integrating faith leaders into family planning advocacy can drive positive health and social changes, offering a model for scaling similar efforts across sub-Saharan Africa.