Strategies for family planning service delivery in Bas Zaire
Bertrand, J.T.; Mangani, N.; Mansilu, M.; McBride, M.E.; Tharp, J.L.
International Family Planning Perspectives 12(4): 108-115
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0190-3187 DOI: 10.2307/2947981Document Number: 370582
An operations research project measured the impact and cost-effectiveness of two strategies for delivering family planning services in Bas Zaire: supplying dispensaries and community distributors with contraceptives while, at the same time, undertaking an extensive outreach programme, and supplying these sources but doing no outreach. The project was implemented in one rural and one urban area. Before the project began, only about 4-5% of urban women and 2-5% of rural women aged 15-44 years who were living in union were using modern contraceptive methods. Within two years, this proportion had increased to 10-19% in four study areas. However, use of traditional methods decreased, suggesting that many women substituted modern methods for traditional ones. Prevalence in the areas that received outreach was only 2-3% higher than that in areas that received no outreach. A cost-effectiveness analysis shows that the cost of providing one couple with a month of contraceptive protection was higher in the rural area than in the urban area. In addition, the cost per couple-month of protection was slightly higher when outreach was included. An operations research project measured the impact and cost-effectiveness of 2 strategies for delivering family planning services in Bas Zaire: supplying dispensaries and community distributors with contraceptives and at the same time undertaking an extensive outreach program, and supplying these sources but doing no outreach. Before the project began, only about 4-5% of urban women and 2-5% of rural women aged 15-44 who were living in union were using modern contraceptive methods. Within 2 years this proportion had increased to 10-19% in 4 study areas. However, use of traditional methods decreased, suggesting that many women substituted modern methods for traditional ones. Prevalence in the areas that received outreach was only 2-3 percentage points higher than that in areas that received no outreach. A cost-effectiveness analysis shows that the cost of providing one couple with a month of contraceptive protection was higher in the rural area than in the urban area. In addition, the cost per couple-month of protection was slightly higher when outreach was included.AS/Margaret A. Phillips An operations research project measured the impact and cost-effectiveness of 2 strategies for delivering family planning services in Bas Zaire: supplying dispensaries and community distributors with contraceptives and at the same time undertaking an extensive outreach program, and supplying these sources but doing no outreach. Before the project began, only about 4-5% of urban women and 2-5% of rural women aged 15-44 who were living in union were using modern contraceptive methods. Within 2 years this proportion had increased to 10-19% in 4 study areas. However, use of traditional methods decreased, suggesting that many women substituted modern methods for traditional ones. Prevalence in the areas that received outreach was only 2-3 percentage points higher than that in areas that received no outreach. A cost-effectiveness analysis shows that the cost of providing one couple with a month of contraceptive protection was higher in the rural area than in the urban area. In addition, the cost per couple-month of protection was slightly higher when outreach was included.AS/Margaret A. Phillips.