The Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project: Improving family planning in Siaya County, Kenya

Religious leaders play a key role in influencing the uptake of family planning (FP). This study, part of the Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancies (HTSP) project in Siaya County, Kenya, assessed changes in community knowledge and practices related to FP from September 2017 to June 2019. The evaluation focused on changes in knowledge of HTSP messages, identification of contraceptive methods, and modern contraceptive prevalence rates. Using a baseline and endline survey, the study found significant increases in knowledge of modern contraceptives among women, faith leaders, and the general population. Women aged 20–29 were the largest group at baseline, but older women’s representation grew by endline. Faith leaders and women showed more significant positive impacts compared to men in terms of increased awareness and knowledge of contraceptive methods. These findings highlight the HTSP model’s effectiveness in FP interventions and its potential for scaling up in Kenya and other low- and middle-income countries, especially where faith leaders and community stakeholders hold influence.