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

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.