Haiti

OVERVIEW
In Haiti, women face significant challenges in accessing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health. The country struggles with having the reputation as the poorest country in Western hemisphere and its turmoils have been compounded by disastrous earthquakes and hurricanes in recent years. This has left the country in need of international aid and a devastating lack of resources. This has obviously had a dramatic effect on sexual, reproductive and women's health care needs throughout the country. Though Port-au-Prince has more civil resources available than many of the countries more rural areas, there is still undoubtedly a lot of improvement to be made in these areas. Some of the issues include the lack of availability of contraception, overpriced feminine hygiene products, lack of proper medical facilities, unaffordable and outdated hospitals, a high rate of HIV infection and an alarming rate of sexual abuse against women. Additionally, abortion is completely illegal and there is little help from government organizations to curb the STI infection rate and lack of education on family planning. Historically, women's rights are not a high priority for the Haitian government. As of 2016, not a single woman holds a seat in the senate of Haiti.

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Haiti, a staggeringly low rate of 37.8% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 report using any kind of contraception at all with an overwhelming majority of them opting for the contraceptive injection. This is the lowest rate of any Caribbean country. Because of this, it is critical that local residents who are sexually active do there best to get tested and use condoms as much as possible.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Despite the fact that Haiti has a long history with oral contraceptives, the country has a staggeringly low rate of 37.8% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 report using any kind of contraception at all. This is the lowest rate of any Caribbean country. An overwhelming majority of women that do use birth control opt for the contraceptive injection. There have been multiple campaigns with mixed results to raise awareness for the use of contraceptives. Many women are raised in a conservative Christian families and don't want to admit that they are having premarital sex, so discussions about birth control are not likely to be widely discussed by most Haitians, especially amongst the youth.

• For a comprehensive list of all available hormonal contraceptive available in the country, visit the Haiti IPPF page.
• Condoms can be purchased at larger retailers but more difficult to find at smaller businesses.
• According to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, there are over 20 types of hormonal contraceptive pills (birth control pills) available. Most that are available are phasic and combined oral pills, but there is also a wide variety of hormonal implants available. There is only one hormonal IUD available by the name of "Mirena." The contraceptive ring (Nuvaring) does not seem to available for purchase in Haiti.
• You may be able to find contraceptive injectables, like Depo-Provera SAS 150mg/ml, Mesigyna, Mesigyna Instayect and Noristerat, according to IPFF.
• You may be able to find contraceptive implants, like Implanon and Jadelle, according to IPFF.

Costs

KORE, loosely translated, means "I've got your back" in Haitian Creole, is a brand of condom that became available in Haiti in 2013. The company aimed to provide a widely available and much more affordable condom for the people of Haiti.

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Haiti has a 1.8 percent prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS, among the highest percentage-wise in the Caribbean region (behind the Bahamas, and Belize). However, it has the most overall cases of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region with an estimated 120,000 HIV/AIDS-positive Haitians.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• AHF Haiti - Avenue Lamartiniere 1, Impasse Rigaud, Bois Verna Port-au-Prince Haiti

Testing Facilities

• IPPF Association Pour la Promotion de la Famille Haitienne
  

8 Rue La Forest, Delmas 31
HT 6120
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
P: (509) 2811-0411
E: info@profamilhaiti.org

• AHF Haiti - Avenue Lamartiniere 1, Impasse Rigaud, Bois Verna Port-au-Prince Haiti

Costs

Many clinics run by NGOs offer free STI/STD screening.

What to Get & Where to Get It

"Fluconazole" is the name of the active ingredient in yeast infection medication. Make sure this is listed under active ingredients to ensure that you are buying an effective medication. PReP is not available to buy in Haiti As far as HPV vaccinations go, Haiti has a "Pilot Program", which means it is available but not readily accessible to everyone.

What to Get & Where to Get It

"Fluconazole" is the name of the active ingredient in yeast infection medication. Make sure this is listed under active ingredients to ensure that you are buying an effective medication. PReP is not available to buy in Haiti. As far as HPV vaccinations go, Haiti has a "Pilot Program", which means it is available but not readily accessible to everyone. Click here to be redirected to a list of 11 pharmacies in Port-au-Prince and their Facebook pages.
Hôpital Immaculée Conception has a steady supply of antiretroviral HIV medication.

Menstruation

Laws & Social Stigmas

The women of Haiti have little access to education on feminine hygiene and menstruation. In one poll, nearly 25% of women surveyed did not know why they had their period. Given the income of the women ranged from an estimated $1 – $3/day, disposable sanitary pads are often too expensive. Therefore, more than 80% of the women regularly used folded cloth sheets or old T-shirts to absorb menstrual blood. The women with no access to sanitary pads are often forced them to modify daily activities such as going to school or work.

"Kotex" is the most common brand of disposable pads available in Port-au-Prince.

"Kotex" is the most common brand of disposable pads available in Port-au-Prince.

Organizations working on menstrual issues in Haiti:

Costs

A box of 32 Tampax OB tampons can cost around 600 Gourde (~$9 USD). This price is even higher than many western countries. Because of this, disposable menstruation products have not much popularity among many women in the country. A company called SOIL claims to provide reusable sanitary kits for free to all women in Haiti. Visit their website for more information.

Pregnancy

Laws & Social Stigmas

All women in Haiti are legally entitled to 6 weeks of maternity leave with 100% of their average pay to be compensated by their employer. However, the reality of the situation can be much different and many women find that they are not in a position to receive this aid. In Haiti, there are only 201 nurse-midwives for a population of 10 million. NGO Midwives for Haiti are trying to fill this gap with much needed help to improve mother and child survival. As of 2013, For every 100,000 babies born in Haiti, 630 women die of pregnancy-related causes.

Laws & Social Stigmas

All women in Haiti are legally entitled to 6 weeks of maternity leave with 100% of their average pay to be compensated by their employer. However, the reality of the situation can be much different and many women find that they are not in a position to receive this aid. In Haiti, there are only 201 nurse-midwives for a population of 10 million. NGO Midwives for Haiti are trying to fill this gap with much needed help to improve mother and child survival. As of 2013, For every 100,000 babies born in Haiti, 630 women die of pregnancy-related causes.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• An option available for women in need of medical care regarding their pregnancy is provided by the organization Médecins Sans Frontièreshas at least one location in Port-au-Prince that offers prenatal care for women with pressing health complications regarding their pregnancy. Unfortunately, their facilities are often overwhelmed with too many patients seeking aid and only have room for very few of them. However, these facilities do their best not to reject any woman in labor, regardless of their health status.
  
• Pran Men’m - Located in the Delmas 33 neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince, MSF’s 148-bed Centre de Référence des Urgences en Obstétrique (CRUO)
  
• Many women, if they can afford it, choose to fly to Jimani in the Dominican Republic to give birth where healthcare is more widely accessible.
• UNFPA: Address: LOCAL MINUSTAH, Log Base - Zone 5, Boulevard Toussaint Louverture and Clercine 18, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Email address: Office@unfpahaiti.org, Work timetable: Monday - Thursday 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Friday 7:30 AM - 1:30 PM
  Telephones: 509 2815-6000, 509 2813-0415.

Abortion

The cost for a stay in a Public hospital in Port-au-Prince can cost less than 1 USD a day. However, the patient is accountable to pay for all other expenses, such as syringes, medicine, transportation etc. Because of this, the price of giving birth in a public hospital is out of the question for most people since about 60% of Haiti lives beneath the poverty line.

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

It is considered extremely dangerous by almost all health professionals to seek an unlicensed abortion illegally. The most affordable and safest alternative to this is to travel to Miami, Florida and get the procedure done there. Additionally, you may be able to order the "abortion pill" by mail. Check out this link for details

Costs

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Costs

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Advocacy & Counseling

Laws & Social Stigmas

Line outside the Doctor Without Borders Clinic in Port-au-Prince

Rape and all other sexual assault goes largely unreported throughout Haiti due to the fact that many victims are subject to victim blaming by their communities. Many women also don't report such incidents due to fear of potential reprisals from their attackers. Haiti has a long history of of enforcing minor penalties for those convicted of rape and sexual assault, but this trend has been slowly changing since new legislation was passed in 2005. The new law now holds the attackers more accountable for their crime as well as guaranteeing free health coverage for sexual assault victims. The legal procedure for reporting a sexual assault to police is convoluted and difficult, further diminishing the number of reports made. Critics of Haitian police have called their response to reported rapes inadequate.

List of Additional Resources

• Haiti HPV Vaccine Status