Increasing contraceptive acceptance through empowerment of female community health volunteers in rural Nepal
Shrestha, S.
Journal of Health Population and Nutrition 20(2): 156-165
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 1606-0997 PMID: 12186196 DOI: 10.2307/23498937Document Number: 243680
The study was initiated in March 2000 to enhance contraceptive acceptance among currently-married women of reproductive age (CMWRA) through empowerment training of female community health volunteers (FCHVs). 17 FCHVs, who were working in Kakani Village Development Committee in the hills of central Nepal, attended an empowerment training that used participatory action research and reinforcement mechanisms. Following the training, the FCHVs were expected to empower the CMWRA to increase their contraceptive use. The impact of the intervention was assessed in a sample of 241 CMWRA, who were neither pregnant nor using contraceptives at the time of selection, by interviewing them before and 6 months after the intervention. The implementation of the intervention significantly increased the proportion of CMWRA knowing at least one contraceptive method ( chi 21df=71.7, P=0.001). The use of modern contraceptives among the CMWRA from none before the intervention increased to 52.3% six months following the intervention. Satisfaction of the CMWRA with services provided by the FCHVs also significantly increased. The study concluded that empowerment training of FCHVs using participatory action research and peer reinforcement help increase the acceptance of contraceptives among CMWRA.