Some field problems in follow-up surveys: a study of IUD acceptor
Talwar, P.P.; Singh, R.P.
Popcen News Letter. Population Centre 4(7): 6-11
1978
PMID: 12233602 Document Number: 440405
This paper deals with problems encountered in an attempt to conduct a follow-up study of Lippe's Loop insertion (among women who were reported to have had insertions between April 1977 and June 1978) in rural and urban areas of Lucknow, India. The problems in the rural areas included: 1) difficulty in deciphering handwritten addresses, 2) difficulty in locating clients without a member of local health center staff present, 3) lack of information on "caste" of husband of client, 4) biased reports given in the presence of health center staff. In the urban areas, similar difficulties were encountered with handwritten addresses, as well as problems in locating clients due to greater mobility in urban centers. It was also found that many cases were nonexistent and had been invented to increase a particular center's achievements. Some cases were found to have another form of IUD rather than Lippe's Loop. The authors recommend several improvements in follow-up study techniques, including: 1) clearer address records, 2) inclusion of "caste" on information care in rural areas, 3) name of hamlet in rural areas, 4) current as opposed to permanent address in urban centers. A table is provided to show how many clients were located for the follow-up and reasons for difficulty in locating clients.