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Peer-reviewedCC BYReproductive health

Novel Mobile and Facility Reproductive Health Kits: enhancing safe abortion and post-abortion care during disasters and humanitarian crises.

  • Nibedita S Ray-Bennett1
  • Elvina Mustary2
  • Te Klangboonkrong3,4
  • Shahidul Hoque3
  • Maqbul Bhuiyan5,6
  • Fariha Haseen7
  • Adewumi Otonne3
  • Lasith Dissanayake3,8
8 affiliations
  1. 1School of Business and Institute for Environmental Futures, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. [email protected].
  2. 2Reproductive Health Services Training and Education Program (RHSTEP), Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  3. 3Avoidable Deaths Network, Institute for Environmental Futures, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
  4. 4School of Global Studies, Thammasat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
  5. 5Data Management Aid, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  6. 6Avoidable Deaths Network, Bangladesh Chapter, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  7. 7Department of Public Health & Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
  8. 8Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK.
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Abstract

Background

Maternal deaths from unsafe abortion and post-abortion complications are entirely preventable. Yet, women and adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to die due to a lack of timely, quality care, especially during disasters. Access to safe abortion and post-abortion care (PAC) is promoted through several strategies, including the Inter-Agency Reproductive Health (IARH) Kit 8. This study introduces the findings of two novel RH Kits prototypes, Facility and Mobile for disasters and crises, exploring: (i) the estimated number of affected persons a combined Kit can serve; (ii) the total and itemised cost of producing these Kits; and (iii) how the prototype Facility Kit aligns with national safe abortion aka menstrual regulation (MR) and PAC guidelines in Bangladesh compared to Kit 8.Methods

A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was used to prototype the Kits, combining document reviews, survey findings, key informant consultations, a focus group discussion, and expert input (Jan 2024-July 2025). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, side-by-side analysis and triangulation.Results

Findings indicate the Kits can serve 5-30 affected persons, depending on facility capacity. Estimated costs range from USD 535 (small Facility Kit) to USD 1,178 (large Facility Kit) and USD 82 (Mobile Kit). The Facility Kit offers a comprehensive, locally adapted package, including sterilisation equipment and context-specific design.Conclusions

These Kits have the potential to strengthen health system resilience to disasters. The Mobile Kit has the potential to address last-mile delivery, enabling trained providers to reach women in hard-to-reach areas affected by disasters. This innovation can improve access to safe abortion and PAC during disasters and can offer a scalable model for Bangladesh and other LMICs facing recurrent climate-related hazards.

Related

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  2. Self-rated mobility, physical health, and chronic pain among women seeking abortion in a health facility in Nepal (2019-2024): a prospective cohort study.
    Sarah Raifman, Rachel Murro, W John Boscardin +3
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  3. Sexual and reproductive health rights service utilisation and barriers in humanitarian and fragile settings in East Africa: a systematic review.
    Dessie Abebaw Angaw, Nimrod Muhumuza, Nana Koomson +4
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  4. Facility-based abortion care in India's public health system: 14-year trends, geographic inequalities, and the impact of the 2021 MTP Amendment Act
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  5. Knowledge regarding safe abortion among married women of reproductive age group in Vyas Municipality 9, Tanahun
    A. Bhujel, K. C. Prisha, D. Thapa
    medRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textEpidemiology & public healthmedRxiv

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{raybennett2026novel,
  title = {{Novel Mobile and Facility Reproductive Health Kits: enhancing safe abortion and post-abortion care during disasters and humanitarian crises.}},
  author = {Nibedita S Ray-Bennett and Elvina Mustary and Te Klangboonkrong and Shahidul Hoque and Maqbul Bhuiyan and Fariha Haseen and Adewumi Otonne and Lasith Dissanayake},
  journal = {Reproductive health},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s12978-026-02419-5},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958411},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Novel Mobile and Facility Reproductive Health Kits: enhancing safe abortion and post-abortion care during disasters and humanitarian crises.
AU  - Nibedita S Ray-Bennett
AU  - Elvina Mustary
AU  - Te Klangboonkrong
AU  - Shahidul Hoque
AU  - Maqbul Bhuiyan
AU  - Fariha Haseen
AU  - Adewumi Otonne
AU  - Lasith Dissanayake
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/30
JO  - Reproductive health
DO  - 10.1186/s12978-026-02419-5
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958411
AB  - Background  Maternal deaths from unsafe abortion and post-abortion complications are entirely preventable. Yet, women and adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to die due to a lack of timely, quality care, especially during disasters. Access to safe abortion and post-abortion care (PAC) is promoted through several strategies, including the Inter-Agency Reproductive Health (IARH) Kit 8. This study introduces the findings of two novel RH Kits prototypes, Facility and Mobile for disasters and crises, exploring: (i) the estimated number of affected persons a combined Kit can serve; (ii) the total and itemised cost of producing these Kits; and (iii) how the prototype Facility Kit aligns with national safe abortion aka menstrual regulation (MR) and PAC guidelines in Bangladesh compared to Kit 8.Methods  A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was used to prototype the Kits, combining document reviews, survey findings, key informant consultations, a focus group discussion, and expert input (Jan 2024-July 2025). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, side-by-side analysis and triangulation.Results  Findings indicate the Kits can serve 5-30 affected persons, depending on facility capacity. Estimated costs range from USD 535 (small Facility Kit) to USD 1,178 (large Facility Kit) and USD 82 (Mobile Kit). The Facility Kit offers a comprehensive, locally adapted package, including sterilisation equipment and context-specific design.Conclusions  These Kits have the potential to strengthen health system resilience to disasters. The Mobile Kit has the potential to address last-mile delivery, enabling trained providers to reach women in hard-to-reach areas affected by disasters. This innovation can improve access to safe abortion and PAC during disasters and can offer a scalable model for Bangladesh and other LMICs facing recurrent climate-related hazards.
SN  - 1742-4755
ER  -