Fertility transition and socio-economic change in western Kenya
Uitto, J.I.
African Study Monographs 13(4): 185-201
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0285-1601 PMID: 12319219 Document Number: 232537
The Family Planning Management Development Project presents a case scenario for family planning manager training and group discussion. The manager of a family planning clinic, Mrs. Asuman, notes that the demand for condoms has increased about 3-fold in the last 3 months. The Ministry of Health's condom promotional radio campaign, which began 2 months ago, is probably responsible for the increase. Clinic staff did not know about the campaign when they made their last order 2 months ago. The supplies of condoms are lower than the minimum level and the next routine ordering time is in another month. The supervising nurse comments that other clinics have the same problem, presumably due to the radio campaign. She inspects the storeroom, cartons of contraceptives and their expiration dates, and puts monthly tallies from the stock cards for each type of contraceptive on the Contraceptive Data Analysis Charts. This activity confirms the increase in demand for condoms. If the demand rate increases at the current rate, the clinic will be out of condoms in 2 weeks, the same amount of time it takes for an emergency order to arrive. Using the Max/Min System, and based on the demand in August, the supervising nurse and Mrs. Asuman calculate the average monthly consumption of condoms, which translates into a 4.1 months' supply. This should meet client demand until the next order arrives in February. Mrs. Asuman needs to closely monitor the number of condoms distributed for the next few months until demand stabilizes to determine whether the high demand for condoms continues at the high rate. The project presents questions on this case for group discussion. It also provides a case worksheet for this case study so family planning managers undergoing training can learn the Max/Min system. It includes sample worksheets of the Contraceptive Data Analysis Chart and an answer sheet.