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Full-Text Articles in International Public Health

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Concerning Emergency Contraception: A Multicountry Study In India, Nigeria, And Senegal, Martha Brady, M.E. Khan, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Babacar Mane, Ian Askew, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2012

Providers' And Key Opinion Leaders' Attitudes, Beliefs, And Practices Concerning Emergency Contraception: A Multicountry Study In India, Nigeria, And Senegal, Martha Brady, M.E. Khan, Babatunde A.O. Ahonsi, Babacar Mane, Ian Askew, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Population Council conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, multicountry study in India, Nigeria, and Senegal aimed at understanding the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of providers and key opinion leaders (KOLs) regarding the provision and use of emergency contraception (ECP). The overarching goal of this study was to investigate and document providers’ attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding ECP, and to capture the opinions and insights of providers and KOLs on a range of policy and program issues. Findings indicate that many provider-related barriers can be overcome through implementation of targeted interventions such as training and values clarification, whereas other barriers will require …


Replication Of The Community Mobilization For Postabortion Care (Commpac) Model In Naivasha District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya: An Evaluation Report, Chi-Chi Undie, Francis Obare, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2012

Replication Of The Community Mobilization For Postabortion Care (Commpac) Model In Naivasha District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya: An Evaluation Report, Chi-Chi Undie, Francis Obare, Saumya Ramarao

Reproductive Health

The Population Council’s RESPOND project worked with districts and communities in Kenya to: strengthen service delivery points to provide postabortion care (PAC) services; conduct community mobilization to improve involvement in and knowledge of the prevention and treatment of postabortion complications; build community capacity to address needs related to PAC; and encourage involvement in community action of those most marginalized and most affected by postabortion complications. The program succeeded at increasing knowledge of critical danger signs; enabling providers to effectively offer PAC services; and raising awareness of PAC, among other goals. The intervention was less successful in increasing FP knowledge, current …


Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services Through The Community Midwifery Model In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Francis Obare, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Shiphrah Kuria, Ruth Wayua Muia, Assumpta Matekwa Jan 2012

Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services Through The Community Midwifery Model In Kenya, Wilson Liambila, Francis Obare, Chi-Chi Undie, Harriet Birungi, Shiphrah Kuria, Ruth Wayua Muia, Assumpta Matekwa

Reproductive Health

The overall objective of this project was to strengthen the delivery of family planning/reproductive health and HIV (FP/RH/HIV) services at the community level. The interventions included revision of existing guidelines and protocols for the community midwifery approach, training of providers, provision of equipment and supplies, and creating awareness on the use of community referral cards. In addition, cost analysis of community midwives’ services and willingness-to-pay assessments for various reproductive health services among current and potential users of community midwifery services were undertaken. The results showed that the community midwifery model improved clients’ access to a comprehensive package of RH/HIV including …


Defining Effective Voucher Management Information Systems: A Blueprint For Information Systems To Support Scalable Reproductive Health Voucher Programs, Based On System Evaluations With Programs In Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda, And Tanzania, Mahad Ibrahim, Benjamin Bellows, Jaspal S. Sandhu Jan 2012

Defining Effective Voucher Management Information Systems: A Blueprint For Information Systems To Support Scalable Reproductive Health Voucher Programs, Based On System Evaluations With Programs In Bangladesh, Cambodia, Kenya, Uganda, And Tanzania, Mahad Ibrahim, Benjamin Bellows, Jaspal S. Sandhu

Reproductive Health

This document defines the key elements of information systems to support the development of effective, scalable voucher information systems. It is based on an engagement between the Gobee Group and the Population Council to strengthen information systems of reproductive health voucher programs in five countries in 2011–12. At the time of publication of this document, the Population Council was in the midst of a multiyear evaluation of five of the biggest reproductive health programs worldwide, an effort supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While the work supporting this report has been focused on reproductive health voucher programs—which provide …


Evaluation Of The Population-Level Impact Of The Maternal Health Voucher Program In Uganda, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team Jan 2012

Evaluation Of The Population-Level Impact Of The Maternal Health Voucher Program In Uganda, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team

Reproductive Health

This report is based on an evaluation of the population-level impact of the maternal health voucher program in Uganda focusing on targeting of beneficiaries, health service utilization (four or more antenatal care visits, facility delivery, and postnatal care), out-of-pocket expenses, and equity. It further reviews the findings from an independent verification of the program that was conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited in 2010. The impact of the program on the outcomes considered is determined through a simple comparison of changes in proportions between intervention and comparison groups before and after the program started as well as estimation of multilevel random-intercept logit …


Population Level Impact Of Vouchers On Access In Uganda, Benjamin Bellows, Francis Obare, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team Jan 2012

Population Level Impact Of Vouchers On Access In Uganda, Benjamin Bellows, Francis Obare, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team

Reproductive Health

No abstract provided.


Community Health Workers For Maternal And Child Health, Leah Jarvis, Nancy Termini Lachance Jan 2012

Community Health Workers For Maternal And Child Health, Leah Jarvis, Nancy Termini Lachance

Reproductive Health

In this factsheet, the Population Council notes the shortage of trained health professionals in the developing world; virtually all of sub-Saharan Africa stands below the critical threshold of 2.3 doctors, nurses, and midwives per thousand people. Doctors are especially unevenly distributed between urban and rural areas, with shortages being even more acute in rural communities. This document summarizes the important role of community health workers (CHWs) who can considerably increase coverage where access to health facilities is difficult and service utilization is already low. CHWs can play a vital role in increasing access to family planning and work within a …


Report Of The Voucher And Accreditation Evaluation Project Meeting, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team, Population Council Jan 2012

Report Of The Voucher And Accreditation Evaluation Project Meeting, Reproductive Health Vouchers Evaluation Team, Population Council

Reproductive Health

This is a report on a technical advisory meeting that brought together 45 participants from the five country programs being evaluated through the Reproductive Health Voucher and Accreditation (V&A) project, which is implemented by the Population Council with financial support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This group met for the first time as a newly emerging “voucher community” to learn from the successes and challenges faced in this early growth phase of emerging V&A programs that deliver maternal and reproductive health services. In addition to standardizing the collection of performance and financing metrics, who would use such data …


Hiv Integrated Biological And Behavioural Surveillance Survey (Ibbss) 2010, Federal Ministry Of Health Jan 2011

Hiv Integrated Biological And Behavioural Surveillance Survey (Ibbss) 2010, Federal Ministry Of Health

HIV and AIDS

This report by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health highlights the findings of an integrated biological and behavioral surveillance survey (IBBSS) in Nigeria among groups whose behaviors or occupations often place them at higher risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. The main objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge and beliefs of high-risk groups about STI and HIV, determine the prevalence of HIV infection among these groups, and obtain data that will permit identification of trends over time. Since the 2007 IBBSS survey report, a considerable number of interventions have commenced among the study groups.


Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services At The Community Level In Kenya, Population Council Jan 2011

Strengthening The Delivery Of Comprehensive Reproductive Health Services At The Community Level In Kenya, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Population Council APHIA II Operations Research Project collaborated with the Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation to improve the quality of services offered by community-based midwives in two districts in Western Kenya, to prepare them to offer more comprehensive maternal services through antenatal, obstetric, postpartum, and newborn care. The study found that community midwives can tremendously increase clients’ access to essential maternal health services and other reproductive health services. Therefore Ministry of Health and its partners should scale up community midwives’ activities to enable more women access these services. Furthermore, information campaigns are needed to promote the range of …


Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena Jan 2011

Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena

Reproductive Health

To improve access to, and use of, facility-based obstetric and newborn care services in rural areas, the Government of Bangladesh is implementing two innovative performance-based financing programs: demand-side financing (DSF) and pay-for-performance (P4P). Both programs have contributed to the increase in institutional deliveries, yet not enough women receive the recommended care during pregnancy and delivery. DSF and P4P are implemented in parallel and have their own merits and limitations. As described in this brief, a two-day workshop was organized in 2011 in Dhaka to identify the lessons learned and limitations of P4P and DSF models and scopes for cross-learning. Both …


Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Facility Assessment Report, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Amar Krishna Baidya, M. Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Nargis Sultana Jan 2011

Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Facility Assessment Report, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan, Amar Krishna Baidya, M. Mostafizur Rahman Khan, Nargis Sultana

Reproductive Health

In Bangladesh, first-level fixed-facility services—provided at the union level through Health and Family Welfare Centers (HFWCs)—are designed to improve maternal and child health by making services available in rural areas. However, most HFWCs do not have the capacity to provide normal delivery services. HFWCs could help women receive free normal delivery services within a convenient distance from their home, if they were strengthened with necessary human resources, infrastructure, and equipment. The Population Council, with financial assistance from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), carried out a policy and research systems study to strengthen union HFWC’s provision of normal delivery …


Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Workshop Report, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan Jan 2011

Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Workshop Report, Ubaidur Rob, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan

Reproductive Health

In Bangladesh, a network of government health facilities providing maternal and child health services has been established. In rural areas, first-level fixed-facility service is provided at the union level through Health and Family Welfare Centers (HFWCs). These facilities are designed to improve maternal and child health by making services available to the people in rural areas, however a full range of reproductive health services for women is not available in those facilities. At present, no evidence exists to support whether or not HFWCs can safely and cost-effectively provide normal deliveries. There is a need for a policy research initiative that …


Costing And Economic Analysis Of Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services In Bangladesh, Sushil Ranjan Howlader Jan 2011

Costing And Economic Analysis Of Strengthening Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services In Bangladesh, Sushil Ranjan Howlader

Reproductive Health

For a long time, the reduction of the maternal mortality ratio has constituted a major challenge for the health, nutrition, and population sector of Bangladesh. The objectives of this Population Council study is to estimate the costs of the additional inputs required for strengthening Health and Family Welfare Centers (HFWC) for providing normal delivery and newborn care services, the cost-effectiveness, and the financial implications of the addition of capacity. Results clearly show that the benefit-cost ratio for the intervention will be quite high. Some additional measures on the demand side should thus adopted. Intensive behavior change communication activities including interpersonal …


Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena Jan 2011

Innovative Financing Through Pay-For-Performance For Providers To Improve Quality Of Care In Bangladesh: Transforming Research Into Action, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena

Reproductive Health

To improve access to and use of facility-based obstetric and newborn care, the Government of Bangladesh is implementing two innovative performance-based financing programs, namely demand-side financing (DSF) and pay-for-performance (P4P). With the purpose of identifying the lessons learned, limitations of the P4P and DSF models, and scopes for cross learning, a two-day workshop was organized in Dhaka. This workshop report, prepared by the Population Council, resulted in several recommendations to modify DSF and P4P schemes. In Bangladesh, the need for continuing performance-based financing programs to meet MDGs and other health indicators is beyond argument, but it is urgently required to …


Using Evidence To Improve Primary Health Care In Thai Nguyen Province, Population Council Jan 2011

Using Evidence To Improve Primary Health Care In Thai Nguyen Province, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In partnership with a number of local stakeholders, the Population Council Viet Nam is working to improve the evidence base available to health authorities and to use that evidence to improve health in Thai Nguyen Province. Building on cooperation between the Population Council and the Thai Nguyen Health Department, the project detailed in this report has three main elements: 1) developing a computerized information system to generate regular reports; 2) supporting research in the province to better understand health problems, health-seeking behavior, and health services; and 3) increasing the capability of managers and providers to better use the evidence generated. …


The Prevention And Management Of Hiv And Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: Responding To The Needs Of Survivors And Those-At-Risk, Sarah Raifman, Ian Askew, Sajeda Amin, Jill Keesbury, Saiqa Mullick, Judith A. Diers, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Chi-Chi Undie, Mary Zama, Mantshi Menziwa, Sherry Hutchinson, Naomi Rutenberg Jan 2011

The Prevention And Management Of Hiv And Sexual And Gender-Based Violence: Responding To The Needs Of Survivors And Those-At-Risk, Sarah Raifman, Ian Askew, Sajeda Amin, Jill Keesbury, Saiqa Mullick, Judith A. Diers, Meiwita P. Budiharsana, Chi-Chi Undie, Mary Zama, Mantshi Menziwa, Sherry Hutchinson, Naomi Rutenberg

Reproductive Health

The Population Council seeks to understand the social, economic, political, and physical context of risks for sexual and gender-based violence and HIV. Among the top priorities of Council research are supporting and evaluating efforts to prevent violence and HIV, including creating safe spaces for adolescent girls, and working with men and boys to change gender norms within the community; and comprehensively responding to the needs of survivors (including those who are HIV-infected) by strengthening health systems and integrating services. The purpose of this guide is to provide practical guidance on the steps necessary to establish and strengthen sexual violence (SV) …


Ten Years Of The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project: What Has Happened?, Humphres Evelia, Monica Wanjiru, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi Jan 2011

Ten Years Of The Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Project: What Has Happened?, Humphres Evelia, Monica Wanjiru, Francis Obare, Harriet Birungi

Reproductive Health

This evaluation by the Population Council’s APHIA II Operations Research Project sought to find out whether the adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) and HIV/AIDS activities in Kenya had been sustained over a 10-year period when the project was replicated and scaled up to cover seven provinces in the country. The evaluation had three main objectives: 1) to determine the extent to which activities of the Kenya Adolescent Reproductive Health Program (KARHP) have continued at national, provincial, and district levels; 2) to determine whether desired sexual and reproductive health outcomes (knowledge, behavior, and practices) have been sustained among in- and …


Increasing Access To Family Planning (Fp) And Reproductive Health (Rh) Services Through Task-Sharing Between Community Health Workers (Chws) And Community Mid-Level Professionals In Large-Scale Public-Sector Programs: A Literature Review To Help Guide Case Studies, James R. Foreit, Sarah Raifman Jan 2011

Increasing Access To Family Planning (Fp) And Reproductive Health (Rh) Services Through Task-Sharing Between Community Health Workers (Chws) And Community Mid-Level Professionals In Large-Scale Public-Sector Programs: A Literature Review To Help Guide Case Studies, James R. Foreit, Sarah Raifman

Reproductive Health

This literature review covers case studies related to community-based distribution of family planning programs, and community health worker (CHW) programs that included family planning and other reproductive health services. It offers essential processes and implications for additional operations research which look at constraints and factors critical to introducing new program procedures or strengthening existing ones.


Identifying Opportunities And Challenges To Strengthen Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Findings From Policy Advocacy Activities, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan Jan 2011

Identifying Opportunities And Challenges To Strengthen Union Level Facility For Providing Normal Delivery And Newborn Care Services: Findings From Policy Advocacy Activities, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, A.K.M. Zafar Ullah Khan

Reproductive Health

The Population Council/Bangladesh, with assistance from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), organized a series of advocacy meetings and workshops that were carried out as part of a policy and systems research study titled “Strengthening Union Level Facility for Providing Normal Delivery and Newborn Care Services.” The Council held one consultative meeting, one stakeholders’ meeting, two experience-sharing workshops in Jamalpur and Thakurgaon, two local-level advocacy workshops in Kurigram and Habiganj, and two roundtable dialogues with journalists from Bengali and English newspapers. This document includes five reports: Strengthening HFWCs (Health and Family Welfare Centers) for Normal Delivery and Newborn Care …


A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities: Lessons And Tools From Sexual Violence Services In Africa, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson Jan 2010

A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities: Lessons And Tools From Sexual Violence Services In Africa, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson

Reproductive Health

Sexual violence (SV) is a serious health and human rights problem across Africa that disproportionately affects women and girls. Survivors require comprehensive and sensitive care to mitigate the negative health consequences of SV, minimize psychological trauma, and promote long-term reintegration and recovery. Despite high levels of sexual violence and a growing recognition of the need to improve the management of rape and sexual assault, many public health facilities in Africa do not currently have capacity to provide comprehensive, patient-centered SV care to adult and child survivors. Public facilities face numerous challenges including lack of specialized SV training, general understaffing and …


Planning And Implementing An Essential Package Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Services: Guidance For Integrating Family Planning And Sti/Rti With Other Reproductive Health And Primary Health Services, Katherine Williams, Charlotte E. Warren, Ian Askew Jan 2010

Planning And Implementing An Essential Package Of Sexual And Reproductive Health Services: Guidance For Integrating Family Planning And Sti/Rti With Other Reproductive Health And Primary Health Services, Katherine Williams, Charlotte E. Warren, Ian Askew

Reproductive Health

The second goal of the United Nations Population Fund’s (UNFPA’s) 2008–11 Strategic Plan is “Universal access to reproductive health by 2015 and universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention by 2010 for improved quality of life.” UNFPA identified a number of outcomes that will contribute to achieving this goal. Through an extensive search of the published literature and collation of unpublished literature on programmatic experiences with developing and implementing integrated packages of SRH services, the Population Council gathered a body of evidence from which this guidance for UNFPA staff and national counterparts has been developed. UNFPA identified two priority areas: integrating …


Manual On Financial Mechanism For The Health Facilities: Introducing Pay-For-Performance Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Laila Rahman, Dipak Kumar Shil, Md. Mamun-Or Rashid, Ismat Ara Hena, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Farhana Akter, Anup Kumar Dey, Ripa Ali, Joynal Abedin, Mursheda Rahman, Md. Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Arifur Rahman, Md. Abdur Rab Sardar Jan 2010

Manual On Financial Mechanism For The Health Facilities: Introducing Pay-For-Performance Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Laila Rahman, Dipak Kumar Shil, Md. Mamun-Or Rashid, Ismat Ara Hena, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Farhana Akter, Anup Kumar Dey, Ripa Ali, Joynal Abedin, Mursheda Rahman, Md. Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Arifur Rahman, Md. Abdur Rab Sardar

Reproductive Health

The Population Council initiated an operations research study to test two Pay-for-Performance (P4P) strategies to improve maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in Bangladesh in 2010. The P4P study is being implemented as part of the two ongoing MNCH and maternal and newborn health (MNH) projects of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) implemented by the Directorate General of Health Services, Government of Bangladesh. The study has been testing two strategies. The first introduces incentives tied with performance for motivating service providers to improve the quantity as well as quality of services, and enable poor pregnant women, and mothers …


Executive Summary: A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson Jan 2010

Executive Summary: A Step-By-Step Guide To Strengthening Sexual Violence Services In Public Health Facilities, Jill Keesbury, Jill Thompson

Reproductive Health

This document contains an executive summary of “A step-by-step guide to strengthening sexual violence services in public health facilities: Lessons and tools from sexual violence services in Africa.” Sexual violence (SV) is a serious health and human rights problem across Africa that disproportionately affects women and girls. Survivors require comprehensive and sensitive care to mitigate the negative health consequences of SV, minimize psychological trauma, and promote long-term reintegration and recovery. Despite high levels of sexual violence and a growing recognition of the need to improve the management of rape and sexual assault, many public health facilities in Africa do not …


Facility Assessment Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Md. Akteruzzaman, Md. Sohel Rana, Ripa Ali Jan 2010

Facility Assessment Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen, Md. Akteruzzaman, Md. Sohel Rana, Ripa Ali

Reproductive Health

Under the leadership of the Directorate General of Health Services, the Population Council in collaboration with James P. Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University and with support from UNICEF is testing an innovative service delivery model to provide financial incentives to institutions to enhance their performance on maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) services in three districts of Bangladesh as part of GOB-UNICEF’s ongoing MNCH/MNH projects. A comparative analysis on the availability and condition of physical and human assets across 16 health facilities will inform what is needed in a facility in terms of inputs and processes. This report …


Workshop Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach And Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen Jan 2010

Workshop Report: Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach And Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn, And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Md. Noorunnabi Talukder, Ubaidur Rob, Ismat Ara Hena, Farhana Akter, Mohammad Ataur Rahman, Md. Julkarnayeen

Reproductive Health

In Bangladesh, improving skilled birth attendance at delivery and access to facility-based obstetric and newborn care are vital to improving maternal and neonatal health. The health system in Bangladesh faces a critical challenge on the supply side: unavailability of quality services at public health facilities, due to inadequately motivated providers, vacant positions, and provider absenteeism. As well, salaries of public-sector providers do not depend on quality of work or quantity of services provided. Paying an incentive to facilities based on a performance benchmark has the potential of increasing the quantity and quality of maternal, neonatal, and child health (MNCH) care. …


Guidelines For Pilot Study On Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Directorate General Of Health Services (Dghs), Population Council, Unicef Jan 2010

Guidelines For Pilot Study On Introducing Pay-For-Performance (P4p) Approach To Increase Utilization Of Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Services In Bangladesh, Directorate General Of Health Services (Dghs), Population Council, Unicef

Reproductive Health

The Population Council launched a pilot study to test two Pay-for-Performance (P4P) strategies to improve MNCH services in Bangladesh. This document presents guidelines for offering incentives to providers, distributing coupons, and forming P4P and/or Coupon Committees and Quality Assurance Groups. The guidelines were developed over the course of five policy-level and consensus-building workshops with national and local-level program managers and service providers, organized under the leadership of the DGHS, in consideration of the local context and sustainability in case of nationwide replication in the country. These guidelines will come into effect upon receiving approval from the DGHS, Ministry of Health …


Public Expenditure On Health Care In Orissa: Focus On Reproductive And Child Health Services, Sarit Kumar Rout Jan 2010

Public Expenditure On Health Care In Orissa: Focus On Reproductive And Child Health Services, Sarit Kumar Rout

Reproductive Health

In view of the importance of public financing in influencing health outcomes and the paucity of studies that have explored patterns of resource allocation on reproductive and child health services, a study was undertaken in Orissa, India to examine the pattern of and trends in public expenditure on health care with a special focus on expenditure on reproductive and child health services. The study was part of the Population Council, India’s Health and Population Innovation Fellowship program. Findings indicate that major policy issues such as the transfer of power to panchayati raj institutions and those involving health administration and management, …


Future Demands For Services From Public Health Facilities In Uttar Pradesh, Population Council Jan 2010

Future Demands For Services From Public Health Facilities In Uttar Pradesh, Population Council

Reproductive Health

A Population Council-led consortium in India conducted a study to assess (a) the expected workload of public health facilities, and (b) the extent to which the demand for contraception could be met by the existing health facilities in Uttar Pradesh, following the implementation of behavior change communication (BCC) activities. This policy brief recommends that BCC efforts create demand for services and address perceptions that it is “not necessary” to access health care services. BCC must play a greater role in motivating women to move to facilities not just for institutional delivery but for other services as well. BCC can also …


Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health Jan 2009

Financial Sustainability Of Reproductive Health Services—Understanding Costs: An Essential Skill In Reproductive Health Programs, Frontiers In Reproductive Health

Reproductive Health

Reproductive health (RH) services remain a low priority for most developing country health programs and face continuing reductions in donor funding and competition from other priorities, such as HIV and malaria. Thus, it is important to understand the costs of interventions and to compare them with existing or alternative service-delivery strategies. FRONTIERS studies provide important lessons about measuring costs and effectiveness of public and nongovernmental programs, planning for costing during scale-up, and improving understanding of issues influencing financial sustainability. This is one of eight Legacy Papers synthesizing major lessons learned in research conducted under the FRONTIERS in Reproductive Health Program. …