Access to Family Planning Services in Rural Tanzania

Download or read book Access to Family Planning Services in Rural Tanzania written by Flora Lucas Kessy and published by . This book was released on 2016 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This study has explored how quality issues in delivering family planning services (supply side), and attitudinal and behavioural issues of the potential users (demand side) merge together to influence adoption of family planning methods. The subject was explored by blending Bruce's (1990) quality of care of family planning services framework with an access framework with five determinants of decisions to use and sustain family planning services (availability, accessibility, affordability, adequacy, and acceptability of the services). Two districts, Misungwi and Ukerewe in Mwanza region, one of the regions with the lowest contraceptive prevalence rates, were used as case studies. Data were collected from providers of health services, clients of family planning services, and men and women non-users in catchment areas of the sampled health facilities. The study finds that although family planning services are generally available, the range of options available to users at the primary healthcare level tends to be limited, which limits the ability of users to switch methods. Proper management of clients, including protection of clients' privacy and ensuring that necessary tests and counselling are done before any method is prescribed, was also found to be weak. On the demand side, inadequate information on modern contraceptives (benefits, efficacy, side effects, and how to deal with them), misunderstandings on possible side effects, distrust among spouses, and problems of male inclusion stand out as important constraints to adoption. Delivery of comprehensive and appropriately packaged information to communities through properly designed social marketing campaigns, as well as deliberate efforts to ensure inclusive integrated services at primary healthcare level, can considerably help boost adoption. Improving the technical competence, in terms of infrastructure to allow for privacy in service delivery and skills to manage clients appropriately, is essential. The potential of community health workers in delivering services like injectable contraceptives should also be tapped.