Abstract

Introduction: The Minimum Initial Services Package (MISP) for reproductive health, a standard of care in humanitarian emergencies, is a coordinated set of priority activities developed to prevent excess morbidity and mortality, particularly among women and girls, which should be implemented at the onset of an emergency. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of selected health personnel about MISP objectives, additional priorities and emergency reproductive health (RH) services in Lahj governorate.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2022 to January 2023 with all health personnel who are involved in the procedures of MISP designing, implementing and monitoring either at the central level in the ministry or at the level of governorate and district health offices regardless of their position and specialty and present in their position within the last two years. Health personnel characteristics and their knowledge regarding MISP objectives, additional priorities and RH emergency services and activities was collected by interview using a semi structured questionnaire. Data were processed and analyzed using SPSS, version 23.0.

Results: A total of 21 health personnel were interviewed, their mean (SD) age was 42.4 (8.1) years and 66.7% were females. Although 47.6% of them received training, only 9.5% identified all MISP objectives and additional priorities. The two most commonly identified MISP objectives are to prevent excess neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality (81.0%) and to prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence (61.9%). A considerable portion of the interviewed respondents had limited knowledge about the MISP additional priorities and a clear gap in their knowledge about MISP-RH emergency services and activities are present.

Conclusion: The minority of the respondents know all MISP objectives and less than half received any form of MISP training with limited knowledge of additional priorities and gaps in knowledge about MISP-RH emergency services and activities. Therefore, full package training strategy targeting all health personnel at different levels of health care services is urgently needed.

Keywords: Minimum Initial Services Package, Reproductive Health, Emergencies, Crisis.

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