While the overall level of HIV infection in Ghana has remained relatively low, the national
estimated prevalence is increasing, and half of the people living with HIV/AIDS are women of
childbearing age. In addition to the expansion of HIV prevention and care programs, including
voluntary counseling and testing (VCT), family planning has a critical role to play in curbing the
HIV/AIDS epidemic in Ghana. Strengthening linkages between family planning and VCT
services provides an opportunity to make efficient and effective use of available resources to
holistically address clients’ dual risks of unintended pregnancy and HIV infection.
Despite the potential benefits of integrating family planning and VCT services, little evidence
exists to describe the current demand for and provision of integrated services. Also, potential
facilitators of and obstacles to effectively integrating these two services are not well defined. In
an effort to address these gaps in knowledge, this rapid programmatic assessment of family
planning and VCT services in Ghana examines opportunities for and challenges to strengthening
linkages between the two services. The specific objectives of the assessment were to:
1.) Document the extent to which family planning services and/or referrals are currently being
provided by VCT service providers in Ghana;
2.) Document the extent to which VCT services and/or referrals are currently being provided by
family planning service providers in Ghana;
3.) Identify opportunities for and challenges to integrating family planning into VCT services;
4.) Identify opportunities for and challenges to integrating VCT into family planning settings;
5.) Define programmatic options for strengthening linkages between family planning and VCT
services.