A boost for family planning
Pearce-Biney, J.
World Health Forum 10(2): 200-202
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0251-2432 PMID: 2610832 Document Number: 365716
A 5-year demonstration project is underway in Ghana to distribute contraceptives to rural populations and counsel couples about family planning (FP) by a network of 500 retail pharmacists and 2500 private-sector chemical sellers. The research project will evaluate whether chemical sellers can reliably screen and counsel women to take the pill. At the end of the 5-year period if contraceptive prevalence rates have increased and maternal mortality rates have decreased, the law will be changed enabling the distribution of the hormonal pill without a prescription. This study includes 4 phases: 1) a training program for the retail pharmacists and chemical sellers involving the development of IEC material; 2) pre-testing of the IEC training materials through focus groups; 3) formal training of the retailers in the 10 regional capitals; and 4) establishing a nationwide monitoring and evaluation system to determine the distribution of the pill without prescription. The 3 products being marketed include the low-dose pill, condoms and vaginal tablets. Evaluation of the project will be an on-going process to learn about the marketing program for the pill and its usage by clients of pharmacies and chemical sellers. (Author's modified).