AMUA is implemented on behalf of the Government of Kenya by Marie Stopes Kenya with funds from the German Development Corporation (KfW). AMUA franchisees operate in peri-urban and rural area of five strategically selected zones where Kenya DHS data indicate higher fertility and unmet need for family planning. The majority of franchisees comprise small, stand-alone medical clients that are owned and operated by a licensed nurse and staffed by a few other health workers. Services provided include the provision of a variety of contraceptives, sterilization, HCT, labor and delivery, and emergency obstetric care. SMS reporting of stock-outs is planned.
AMUA currently works with 350 Community Health Workers (CHW), in which 2 individuals are assigned per franchise, and each CHW receives branded materials, pictorial aids and bicycles. The franchise is currently facing difficulties in recruiting medical doctors due to the low interest in family planning and bringing the franchises' quality standards up to par.
AMUA has been successful in improving private-public partnership with the Ministry of Health; AMUA franchisees are now recognized by the government and are able to source family planning commodities from the Ministry stores.
AMUA Project Reporting System
In March 2009, AMUA implementing an SMS Data Collection system in all its franchise outlets. The system aimed to increase the timeliness and accuracy of service reporting from social franchisees by using SMS. All franchisees (165 across five provinces) were able to send in monthly service reports for 12 services in a single text using a numeric code. Reports could also be submitted via an online form. SMS reminders were sent if service reports were not submitted. Franchisees were reimbursed with mobile airtime to cover the cost of sending in the monthly SMS.
Data from all franchisees could be viewed on a web-based real time reporting system, and exported as PDF or CSV files. Regional coordinators were provided with laptops and internet connections in order to verify and approve service reports. Paper-based service reporting continued alongside the SMS data collection, with the eventual intention of halting paper-based reporting.
This system was successful in establishing an electronic data system, and was acceptable to franchisees. At the time of system closing, data was being received from around 70% of franchisees. However several difficulties were encountered (mobile network difficulties, staff mobility between sites, intensive training required, staff insecurity and turnover, cost), leading to the closure of the system.
