In 1998, AED/PCS began working on a new program in Albania. At the request of a number of UN agencies based in Albania (UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP, UNAIDS) and the non-governmental organization, PSI, AED was approached to conduct a broadscale survey on the reproductive and family health situation within the country.

During this time there was a growing problem of HIV/AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and their possible implications for public health within Albania was unkown. After many discussions with the local UN agencies and NGO's and the MInistry of Health, it was decided that the best way to monitor the current health situation was to create a broad survey covering all aspects of health including reproductive health in general, family planning and family formation, child care and welfare, adolescent health and drug abuse.

While there had been a variety of studies done in these areas previously by many of the agencies involved and the Ministry of Health, it was decided that it would be a useful to have an assessment of the current situation so the results could be used for future social development policies within the country. To be able to cover all the aspects of health mentioned above, it was decided that Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices (KABP) survey would best describe the situation in ways that would be useful for future health planning in the country.

To conduct the Survey, the NGO, International Centre for Migration and Health (ICMH)(http://www.icmh.ch/) was subcontracted to AED to:

• prepare the survey,
• design the questionnaire,
• train the national data collection staff and supervisors,
• prepare a data entry software package and
• prepare the final report.

After dicussions with all of the agencies involved it was decided that the Survey would provide information on:

• How people perceive and behave with respect to family planning and contraceptive use;
• What are the main sources of information people turn to with respect to family planning and contraceptive methods;
• How do people percieve and behave with respect to HIV/AIDS, STIs and drug abuse;
• How do people perceive selected aspects of child care, health and welfare;
• What are the emerging health concerns of adolescents.

The project started off strong but was was delayed for a period of six months or so due to civil unstability in the country. ICMH was able to continue with the Survey once the situation became stable again. The final report was completed in Spring 2001.

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