Catalogue of Practices

Rural Women Take Reproductive Health Matters into their Own Hands

Rural Women's Social Education Centre (RUWSEC), India

Objective
To help the most economically and socially marginalized groups of rural women so that collectively they can act to change the circumstances of their lives including health.

Background
RUWSEC is both women centered and community based organization that was founded by a group of women from the same community in 1981 and originally an education group for Women. RUWSEC experience over years showed that empowerment and education generate demand for a curative services component within the program, hence the creation of a reproductive health (RH) clinic services.

Scope
Founded in 1981, RUWSEC's activities now covers 100 hamlets with a total population of over 30,000 serving women in the lowest caste in rural India.

Main Activities
RUWSEC's program are implemented mostly in response to community needs and findings of action research. They are: community-based action for health promotion and education; program for men; research; publications and dissemination of IEC materials and reproductive health clinic.

Evaluation Findings
From the reports of the health workers and the household data, it is concluded that RUWSEC's strategy for health promotion has been successful in altering health-seeking behavior which is seen in almost an 80% increase in the demand for immunization, fewer cases of diarrhoea among children and no death associated with it, hospital deliveries have increased and many more women are seeking medical or traditional help for RTIs.

Menagement Features
Strategy: The organization works closely with the community and all its programs have evolved out of needs articulated by the community. The strategy of forming women's sanghams (association) and providing leadership training to village women has created groups that are largely self-sustaining.

Human Resource Management: Nearly all staff members are local women and men. RUWSEC's staff policies are sensitive to women's needs and constraints, e.g. paid leave for abortions and sterilizations. Staff worked in informal tension-free atmosphere to encourage communications among all levels of staff.

Mobilizing Resources: The funds are from Rockefeller, Ford and MacArthur Foundations and the Tamil Nadu Government. Income generated from services and renting out facilities paid for some operations costs.

Managing Health and Counseling: All clients at the clinics are given education in health issues and problems. Counsellors provided the counselling services. Clients are encouraged to attend RUWSEC inter-village workshops on RH.

Management Leadership: RUWSEC priority on building the capacity of staff and communities has contributed to dedication and ownership of the organization. Empowering women through education lead to demand of health services including reproductive health. RUWSEC experience in RH education and services, together with a wealth of data and information is able to offer the government and other NGOs to build their RH programs.