Female sterilization acceptors at permanent and temporary service delivery settings in Nepal
Thapa, S.; Pandey, K.R.; Shrestha, H.
Jnma; Journal of the Nepal Medical Association 32(111): 144-153
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2715 PMID: 12154939 Document Number: 293529
Public hospitals and outreach camps are the two major facilities for the delivery of sterilization services in Nepal. The paper compares the profile of female sterilization acceptors, awareness of other contraceptive methods, and regret about having had the sterilization between those receiving services from hospitals and camps. The results show that while there are differences with respect to the acceptors' socioeconomic background, their ages and parity are similar. Those accepting sterilization through camps, however, have a generally lower level of awareness of other contraceptive methods than their counterparts. There is no difference in the percentage of regret between the two groups of acceptors. The reasons for regret and the patterns of first contraceptive method use are similar between the two groups. The analysis shows that camps do not imply the provision of inferior quality services or less careful screening of the clients for sterilization. At the same time, the results indicate that camps need to make more effort to inform their clients about alternative methods of contraception and ensure their availability. Overall, camps in Nepal seem to have served an important role by bringing services to those areas, particularly rural, where sterilization services would not otherwise have been available.