Population Council Research that makes a difference

Banner Photo: Group of young women in Senegal

Overview

The Population Council's office in Dakar, Senegal, served as the regional office for West and Central Africa from 1989 to 2002, when the region's base moved to Accra, Ghana. The Senegal office continues to support activities in Senegal and other francophone West African countries, including Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Mali.

Program focus

Reproductive health and family planning have been the main focus of the work undertaken by the Council's office in Dakar. Projects have sought to increase access to and improve the quality of services related to community-based distribution of family planning products, reproductive health services for young people, prevention of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), expanding contraceptive choice, supporting the African Forum on Emergency Contraception (ECafrique), introducing and decentralizing postabortion care, and using systematic screening to increase integration of reproductive health service delivery in Senegal. Researchers have also addressed the HIV/AIDS pandemic by improving health care services for men who have sex with men and assessing and planning the promotion of male and female condom use. An underlying theme of the office’s portfolio is strengthening the capacity of individuals and partner institutions to conduct operations research, to monitor and evaluate programs, and to implement evidence-based interventions, in addition to improving women’s well-being by increasing their access to services, fostering their empowerment, and reducing harmful practices and behaviors.

Highlights of past and present work

  • Assisted in the establishment of the Dakar-based Regional Centre for Training and Research in Reproductive Health (CEFOREP), a large regional institution providing clinical training to health-care professionals and conducting research in reproductive health throughout the region.
  • Informed programs for preventing FGM/C throughout the region by providing evidence-based results demonstrating what works and what does not.
  • Assisted Senegal's Ministry of Health in developing norms and standards for postabortion care, adolescent health, community-based services, FGM/C, and emergency contraception.
  • Assisted the Ministry of Health in refocusing programming to increase the use of female and male condoms.
  • Informed policymakers in Senegal and influenced regional programming to address the reproductive health needs of adolescents with a reorientation of the reproductive health program.
  • Developed training tools adopted by the Government of Senegal as national documents for use in building capacity to design and implement health programs for adolescents.
  • Provided important insights on parent–child communication experimentation, which were integrated into a World Health Organization policy paper (WHO Parenting Project).
  • Changed the orientation of the national AIDS program to address especially vulnerable groups who have a higher prevalence of infection, including men who have sex with men.
  • Developed strategies that have been integrated into the national reproductive health program to better meet clients’ needs, including emergency contraception, postabortion care, and systematic screening.
  • Developed a model for community-based distribution of services used by Senegal's Ministry of Health and partners.
  • Improved integration of emergency contraception into the public health systems of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Senegal.

Projects

ECafrique (more)
The African Forum on Emergency Contraception, or ECafrique, is a bilingual, international network of health care and business professionals that seeks to increase the availability of high-quality emergency contraception (EC) services in Africa.
(1/2002 - ongoing)
Access to contraceptive methods

Developing a Multisectoral and Comprehensive Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in East and Southern Africa (more)
The Council is working to alleviate sexual and gender-based violence in seven sub-Saharan African countries.
(8/2006 - 12/2012)
Sexual and gender-based violence

Demographic Data for Development (more)
The first phase of the Demographic Data for Development project consisted of case studies in Ethiopia, Ghana, Senegal, and Uganda to examine accessibility, use, and demand for demographic data. In the second phase of the project, the Council and its partners are working to increase data access and use among journalists and members of the media in Ghana, Senegal, and Namibia.
(8/2008 - 7/2011)
Population policy and demographic analysis

Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network (more)
The Population Council is providing technical assistance to a PEPFAR initiative to strengthen the delivery of comprehensive services, including postexposure prophylaxis, to victims of sexual violence.
(8/2006 - 12/2008)
Integrating health services; Sexual and gender-based violence

Comprehensive Condom Programming in West Africa (more)
This Council project identified strategies for re-integrating the female and male condom in the national reproductive health and HIV and AIDS programs of Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Mauritania, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
(1/2008 - 12/2008)
Access to contraceptive methods; Condoms (male and female); Scaling up interventions

Assessing Management Sciences for Health's Postabortion Care Decentralization Program (more)
Council researchers with the FRONTIERS program assessed the successful introduction of postabortion care in Senegal by the Ministry of Health.
(9/2006 - 1/2007)
Monitoring and evaluation; Postabortion care

Enhancing Utilization of the Findings from the Youth Reproductive Health Project (more)
The Council provided technical assistance to Senegal’s MOH to implement programs to improve adolescent reproductive health.
(1/2004 - 8/2007)
Scaling up interventions; Sexuality education

Evaluation of the Integrated Strategy to Reduce Maternal and Neonatal Mortality in Senegal (more)
Council researchers investigated the integrated introduction of active management of the third stage of labor and essential newborn care in five regions in Senegal.
(9/2007 - 10/2007)
Newborn/infant health; Postpartum maternal care; Safe pregnancy/antenatal and delivery care

Extending Operations Research to the Problems of Scale Up: Costs, Compliance, and Effectiveness of Systematic Screening (more)
Council researchers with the FRONTIERS program worked to combine support for scaling up systematic screening with research on specific aspects of the scaling-up process.
(9/2005 - 12/2007)
Quality of care; Scaling up interventions

Improving Communication About Reproductive Health in Families with Adolescents (more)
Council researchers with the FRONTIERS program conducted an intervention to enhance communication between parents and their children in rural and urban areas in Senegal on values, expectations, and reproductive health issues.
(7/2005 - 1/2007)
Sexuality education

Resources

Comprehensive responses to gender-based violence in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from implementation (PDF
Keesbury,Jill; Askew,Ian
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Reducing HIV-related stigma, Horizons studies 2000 to 2007 (PDF
Pulerwitz,Julie; Michaelis,Annie P.; Weiss,Ellen; Brown,Lisanne; Mahendra,Vaishali Sharma
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


Looking back, moving forward: Understanding the HIV risk and sexual health needs of men who have sex with men, Horizons studies 2001 to 2008 (PDF
Geibel,Scott; Tun,Waimar; Tapsoba,Placide; Kellerman,Scott E.
Horizons Synthesis Background Papers
Publication date: 2010


"Emergency contraception: Addressing unwanted pregnancies and maternal mortality in Senegal," fact sheet (PDF
Publication date: 2009


Demographic data for development in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF
Baldwin,Wendy; Diers,Judith A.
Poverty, Gender, and Youth Working Paper (no. 13)
Publication date: 2009


Demographic Data for Development: Senegal (PDF
Maruru,Rose; Baldwin,Wendy; Engebretsen,Sarah
final report
Publication date: 2009


Enquête sur la contraception d'urgence (CU) au niveau des pharmacies (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Mane,Babacar; Faye,Ousseynou; Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Thiaw,Thiaba; Sano Coly,Aissatou; Bintou Mbow,Fatou; Niang Faye,Youmane
rapport final [executive summary in English; report in French]
Publication date: 2009


The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML
series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009


The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Senegal 2005 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2009


The effectiveness of a community-based education program on abandoning female genital mutilation/cutting in Senegal (abstract
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Askew,Ian
Studies in Family Planning 40(4): 307-318
Publication date: 2009


Analyse de la situation du condom féminin au Senegal 
Diop,Nafissatou J.; et.al
Publication date: 2008


Enhancing utilization of the findings from the youth reproductive health project in Senegal [Executive summary in English; full report in French] (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Diagne,Anta Fall
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Evaluation of the long-term impact of the TOSTAN programme on the abandonment of FGM/C and early marriage: Results from a qualitative study in Senegal (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Moreau,Amadou; Benga,Helene
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Improving communication between parents and adolescents on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS [Executive Summary in English; full report in French] (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Diagne,Alioune
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2008


Multisectoral youth RH interventions: The scale-up process in Kenya and Senegal (PDF
Joyce,Stephanie; Askew,Ian; Diagne,Anta Fall; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Evelia,Humphres
FRONTIERS Program Brief (no. 13)
Publication date: 2008


PAC services in Senegal (PDF
presentation at Moving Forward with Postabortion Care: Lessons Learned from Five Postabortion Care Focus Countries, Washington DC, 18-19 March
RamaRao,Saumya
Publication date: 2008


Plan strategique du condom féminin au Senegal 
Diop,Nafissatou J.; et.al
Publication date: 2008


Senegal: Education and public declarations contribute to Tostan's success (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 70)
Publication date: 2008


Assessment of the extension of postabortion care services in Senegal 
RamaRao,Saumya; Ottolenghi,Emma; Niang Faye,Youmane; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Dieng,Thierno
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2007


Evaluation de l'Extension des services de soins apres avortement au Senegal 
RamaRao,Saumya; Ottolenghi,Emma; Diop,Nafissatou J.; Niang Faye,Youmane; Diouf,Fatou Nar; Faye,Ousseynou; Dieng,Thierno
Publication date: 2007


Grandir en harmonie: Curriculum d'animation des pairs-éducateurs et des aides-ados ou jeunes écoutant [Growing up in harmony: Animation curriculum for peer educators and adolescent helpers or young counselors] (PDF
Publication date: 2007


Grandir en harmonie: Document de références [Growing up in harmony: Reference document] (PDF
Publication date: 2007


Grandir en harmonie: Guide de l'utilisateur [Growing up in harmony: User's guide] (PDF
Publication date: 2007


Grandir en harmonie: Les questions/réponses les plus fréquentes posées par les adolescent(e)s [Growing up in harmony: Adolescents' most frequently asked questions and responses to them] (PDF
Publication date: 2007


Implementing STI/HIV prevention and care interventions for men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Moreau,Amadou; Tapsoba,Placide; Ly,Abdoulaye; Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diop,Abdou Khoudia
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007


Mainstreaming adolescent reproductive health in Senegal: Enhancing utilization of the findings from the youth reproductive health project (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Diagne,Anta Fall
FRONTIERS Report
Publication date: 2007


Sénégal: L'éducation à base communautaire et les Declarations Publiques ont contribué à l'Abandon de l'Excision 
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle (no. 54)
Publication date: 2007


Senegal: Mainstreaming adolescent health: Building on local support systems (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 64)
Publication date: 2007


Analyse de la situation du préservatif féminin au Sénégal 
Publication date: 2006


Plan stratégique du préservatif féminin au Sénégal 
Publication date: 2006


Revue de la littérature sur le préservatif féminin au Sénégal 
Publication date: 2006


Strategies for encouraging the abandonment of female genital cutting in West Africa: Experiences from Senegal, Burkina Faso, and Mali 
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Askew,Ian; Abusharaf,Rogaia Mustafa
from Female Circumcision: Multicultural Perspectives, pp. 125-141
Publication date: 2006


Systematic screening: A strategy for determining and meeting clients' reproductive health needs (PDF
Foreit,James R.
FRONTIERS Program Brief (no. 6)
Publication date: 2006


Poverty and children's schooling in urban and rural Senegal (PDF
Montgomery,Mark R.; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 196)
Publication date: 2005


Poverty and children's schooling in urban and rural Senegal [Arabic] (PDF
Montgomery,Mark R.; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 196)
Publication date: 2005


Poverty and schooling in Senegal (PDF
Population Council Annual Report 2004
Publication date: 2005


Senegal: Community education program increases dialogue on FGC (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 54)
Publication date: 2005


Sénégal: Le programme d'Education communautaire élargit le dialogue sur l'excision 
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle
Publication date: 2005


Using systematic screening to increase integration of reproductive health services delivery in Senegal (PDF
Sanogo,Diouratie; Vernon,Ricardo; Foreit,James R.; Seck,Awa; Adoye,Colonel Adama; Ndoye,Laty G.; Diop,Cheikh Bamba; Mboup,Balla Mbacke; Sarr,Omar
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2005


Etude expérimentale sur l'offre de services à base communautaire de santé de la reproduction au Sénégal: Une étude de cas dans le District Sanitaire de Kébémer" [Testing a community based distribution approach to reproductive health service delivery in Senegal: A study of community agents in Kébémer] (PDF
Sanogo,Diouratie; Cisse,Mady; Ndoye,Adama; Ndoye,Laty G.; Faye,Ousmane; Mboup,Balla Mbacke
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004


Improving the reproductive health of adolescents in Senegal (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Bathidja,Heli; Toure,Isseu Diop; Dieng,Thierno; Mane,Babacar; RamaRao,Saumya; Adamchak,Susan E.; Wong,Emelita; Ndoye,Adama; Sy,Aboubacry; Fall,Babacar
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004


Le Programme de Tostan: Evaluation d'un programme d'éducation de base 
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Faye,Modou Mbacke; Moreau,Amadou; Cabral,Jacqueline; Benga,Helene; Cisse,Fatou; Mane,Babacar
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004


New findings from intervention research: Youth reproductive health and HIV prevention (PDF
Publication date: 2004


Senegal: Expand access to safe postabortion care services in rural areas (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 43)
Publication date: 2004


Testing a community- based distribution approach to reproductive health service delivery in Senegal (a study of community agents in Kébémer) (PDF
Sanogo,Diouratie; Cisse,Mady; Ndoye,Adama; Ndoye,Laty G.; Faye,Ousmane; Mboup,Balla Mbacke
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004


The Tostan program: Evaluation of a community Based education program in Senegal (PDF
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Faye,Modou Mbacke; Moreau,Amadou; Cabral,Jacqueline; Benga,Helene; Cisse,Fatou; Mane,Babacar; Baumgarten,Inge; Melching,Molly
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004


Evaluation of the TOSTAN approach in Kolda, Senegal 
Research Update no. 5
Publication date: 2003


Improving quality of care and use of contraceptives in Senegal (abstract
Sanogo,Diouratie; RamaRao,Saumya; Jones,Heidi E.; N'Diaye,Penda; M'bow,Bineta; Diop,Cheikh Bamba
African Journal of Reproductive Health 7(2): 57-73
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML
annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Senegal (PDF) (HTML
annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003


Senegal: Involve community networks in adolescent reproductive health (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 35)
Publication date: 2003


Serving the reproductive health needs of adolescents in Senegal: Analysis of costs 
RamaRao,Saumya; Diop,Nafissatou J.
FRONTIERS Project Report
Publication date: 2003


Taking postabortion care services where they are needed: An operations research project testing PAC expansion in rural Senegal (PDF
EngenderHealth
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2003


Améliorer la santé des adolescents au Sénégal: Enquête de base [Improving the health of adolescents in Senegal: Baseline report] 
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2002


Documenting impact of quality of care on women's reproductive health, Philippines and Senegal 
Costello,Marilou P.; Sanogo,Diouratie; Townsend,John W.
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2002


Evaluation d'un programme d'éducation à base communautaire pour améliorer la santé de la reproduction des femmes et lutter contre l'excision à Kolda: Enquête de base [Assessment of a community-based educational program to improve women's reproductive health and reduce female genital cutting in Kolda: Baseline study] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.
Publication date: 2002


Le mariage pendant l'adolescence est un fait commun pour les filles au Sénégal [Adolescent marriage is a fact of life for girls in Senegal] 
Research Summary
Publication date: 2002


Meeting the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2002


Meeting the sexual health needs of men who have sex with men in Senegal (PDF
Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diagne,Moustapha; Niang,Youssoupha; Moreau,Amadou; Gomis,Dominique; Diouf,Maye; Seck,Karim; Wade,Abdoulaye Sidibe; Tapsoba,Placide; Castle,Christopher
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2002


New study examines lives of MSM in Senegal (HTML
Dadian,Margaret
Global AIDSLink 72: 15-15
Publication date: 2002


Philippines and Senegal: Services improve quality of care but fail to increase FP continuation (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 30)
Publication date: 2002


Satisfaire aux besoins de santé des hommes qui ont des rapports sexuels avec d'autres hommes au Sénégal (PDF
Niang,Cheikh Ibrahima; Diagne,Moustapha; Niang,Youssoupha; Moreau,Amadou; Gomis,Dominique; Diouf,Maye; Seck,Karim; Wade,Abdoulaye Sidibe; Tapsoba,Placide; Castle,Christopher
Horizons Final Report
Publication date: 2002


Satisfaire les besoins de santé des hommes qui ont des rapports sexuels avec d'Autres hommes au Sénégal (PDF
Horizons Resume de Recherche
Publication date: 2002


Services à base communautaire de SR: 60 agents opérationnels à Kébémer, Sénégal. Update n°2. Juillet 2002. 
FRONTIERS Update no. 2
Publication date: 2002


Tester un programme d'éducation à base communautaire pour améliorer la santé de la reproduction des femmes et lutter contre l'excision au Bazéga au Burkina Faso: Enquête de base. [Pilot-testing a community-based educational program to improve women's reproductive health and reduce female genital cutting in Bazega, Burkina Faso: Baseline study] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.
Publication date: 2002


Approche d'offre SBC de SR à Kébémer: Un espoir annoncé pour les communautés rurales du Sénégal. [Strategy for reproductive health community-based services: Hope for rural communities in Senegal] 
Sanogo,Diouratie
Publication date: 2001


Collecte de l'information pour la prévention des IST et du VIH/SIDA chez les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d'autres hommes à Dakar [Collecting information for STI and HIV/AIDS prevention from men having sex with men in Dakar] 
Tapsoba,Placide
Publication date: 2001


Comment promouvoir l'utilisation des résultats d'une analyse situationnelle à l'échelle nationale: Expérience du Sénégal [Promoting utilization of results from the national situation analysis in Senegal] (PDF
Ndoye,Adama; Mbow,Bineta; Diop,Cheikh Bamba; Cisse,Mady; Thiam,Macoumba; Sanogo,Diouratie; Niang,Mbacke
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2001


Données sur les adolescents tirées de l'Enquête Démographique et de Santé-Tableaux Statistiques aux fins de la préparation de programmes: Sênêgal 1992-1993 et 1997 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2001


Etude exploratoire du vécu des adolescentes mariées et de leurs besoins en opportunités économiques et en santé de la reproduction à Louga et Saint-Louis [Exploratory study of married adolescent life experiences, their need for economic opportunities, and reproductive health needs on Louga and Saint-Louis] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML
series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Senegal 1992-1993 and 1997 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2001


La stratégie de Tostan: Evaluation du programme d'éducation à base communautaire. [The Tostan strategy: Evaluation of a community-based education program] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.; Faye,Modou Mbacke; Benga,Helene; Cisse,Fatou; Mane,Babacar; Baumgarten,Inge; Melching,Molly
Publication date: 2001


Le point sur une expérience en cours: Etude sur l'amélioration de la santé de la reproduction des adolescents au Sénégal [Status of an ongoing study: Improving adolescent reproductive health in Senegal] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.
Publication date: 2001


Savoir pour agir: Etude sur l'amélioration de la santé de la reproduction des adolescents au Sénégal [Knowledge for action: Improving adolescent reproductive health in Senegal] 
Diop,Nafissatou J.
Publication date: 2001


Sexualité cónjùgale et prévention des IST/VIH/SIDA chez les femmes enceintes: Implication du conjoint, contexte socioculturel et offre de services [Sexuality among couples and STI/HIV/AIDS prevention among pregnant women: Men's involvement, social and cultural background, and services offered] 
Tapsoba,Placide
Horizons Report
Publication date: 2001


Améliorer la santé des adolescents au Sénégal: Et si on en parlait [Improve adolescent health in Senegal: And if one speaks of it] 
FRONTIERS Research Update
Publication date: 2000


Senegal: Capacite a más proveedores en atención postaborto (PDF
FRONTERAS Resúmenes de Investigación Operativa (número 3)
Publication date: 2000


Sénégal: Former un plus grand nombre de prestataires en soins après avortement (PDF
FRONTIERES Résumés de Recherche Opérationnelle (no. 4)
Publication date: 2000


Senegal: Train more providers in postabortion care (PDF
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 4)
Publication date: 2000


The Tostan story: Breakthrough in Senegal ending female genital cutting 
FRONTIERS Report
Publication date: 2000


ECLOSION au Sénégal: Pourquoi les populations abandonnent la pratique de l'Excision (PDF
Tostan
Rapport du Projet de Recherche Operationnelle et d'Assistance Technique en Afrique II
Publication date: 1999


The Tostan story: Breakthrough in Senegal ending female genital cutting [Arabic] (PDF
FRONTIERS Report
Publication date: 1999


Ethnicity and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF
Brockerhoff,Martin; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 107)
Publication date: 1998


Senegal Fast Facts

Population (millions)12.5
Total fertility rate5.0
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births61
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births980
Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%)39
HIV/AIDS prevalence (%)1.0
Living below US $2 per day (%)60

What's New

  • New resource: "Comprehensive responses to gender-based violence in low-resource settings: Lessons learned from implementation" reviews the findings, lessons learned, and promising practices in the provision of comprehensive SGBV services in sub-Saharan Africa. (PDF)

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