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Kenya: Islamic Scholars Find No Religious Justification For Fgm/C, Population Council Jan 2008

Kenya: Islamic Scholars Find No Religious Justification For Fgm/C, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In 2004, FRONTIERS undertook a study on the cultural basis of female genital mu­tilation and cutting (FGM/C) in Kenya’s Somali community. The study showed universal support for FGM/C, and indicated that one of the major justifications is the perception that Islam requires female as well as male genital cutting. Interviews with informants showed that belief in the religious justification overrides arguments about the health and human rights aspects and the knowledge that it is illegal in Kenya. In 2005, FRONTIERS launched an intervention to engage the community in discussions about FGM/C to clarify the religious position. FRONTIERS arranged symposia involving …


Kenya: Integrating Services For Fp And Hiv Improves Quality And Hiv Testing, Population Council Jan 2008

Kenya: Integrating Services For Fp And Hiv Improves Quality And Hiv Testing, Population Council

Reproductive Health

The Kenyan government’s reproductive health policy highlights service integration and quality of care. While integrating counseling and testing (C&T) for HIV into family planning (FP) can potentially increase the range of services to clients at risk from sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, few studies have documented the feasibility, effects, or costs of such integration. From 2005–07, the Population Council worked with the Kenyan Ministry of Health to test the feasibility of two models for integrating C&T into existing FP services. Both models featured client education on HIV prevention during FP visits. Providers were trained to routinely use the Balanced …


Financial Capacity Building For Ngo Sustainability, John H. Bratt, Rick Homan, Barbara Janowitz, James R. Foreit Jan 2008

Financial Capacity Building For Ngo Sustainability, John H. Bratt, Rick Homan, Barbara Janowitz, James R. Foreit

Reproductive Health

While demand for family planning and reproductive health services is increasing worldwide, a number of recent trends threaten the financial sustainability of donor-supported NGOs that provide these services. First, the U.S. Agency for International Development has seen its funding for population assistance decline since 1995. A second reason is the growth of government-funded programs that provide these services for low-income clients, which reduced the need for NGOs to focus programs entirely on the poor. Health-sector reform has created opportunities for NGOs via public–private partnerships in some countries, but sustained public-sector support is unlikely given limited economic growth in domestic economies …


Delinking Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting From Islam, Ibrahim Lethome Asmani, Maryam Sheikh Abdi Jan 2008

Delinking Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting From Islam, Ibrahim Lethome Asmani, Maryam Sheikh Abdi

Reproductive Health

Female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C) is practiced in at least 28 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, a few countries in the Middle East and Asia, and among immigrant populations from these countries in Europe, North America, and Australia. Worldwide, an estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women have undergone the practice, and at least three million girls are at risk each year. The Somali ethnic community in Kenya as well in Somalia, Djibouti, and Ethiopia, has practiced female genital cutting for centuries and the practice appears to have remained largely unchanged. The Population Council’s FRONTIERS program carried out two …


Helping Youth Prevent Hiv: An Evaluation Of The Straight Talk Program In Uganda, Susan E. Adamchak, Karusa Kiragu, Cathy Watson, Medard Muhwezi, Tobey Nelson Sapiano, Ann Akia-Fiedler, Richard Kibombo, Milka Juma Jan 2008

Helping Youth Prevent Hiv: An Evaluation Of The Straight Talk Program In Uganda, Susan E. Adamchak, Karusa Kiragu, Cathy Watson, Medard Muhwezi, Tobey Nelson Sapiano, Ann Akia-Fiedler, Richard Kibombo, Milka Juma

HIV and AIDS

Mass media initiatives are being implemented globally to provide information and foster HIV preventive behavior, however there has been limited evaluation of these efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. The Straight Talk (ST) program in Uganda has targeted youth with HIV and reproductive health (RH) information for over a decade. Evaluation results show positive associations between exposure to ST media and a number of key outcomes among youth, including sexual behavior, knowledge, and attitudes. In 2005–06, the Horizons Program conducted the first impact evaluation of the ST program in Uganda to document its effects on young people. This brief focuses on the …


Patterns And Implications Of Male Migration For Hiv Prevention Strategies In Karnataka, India, Niranjan Saggurti, Ravi K. Verma, Pranita Achyut, Saumya Ramarao, Anrudh K. Jain Jan 2008

Patterns And Implications Of Male Migration For Hiv Prevention Strategies In Karnataka, India, Niranjan Saggurti, Ravi K. Verma, Pranita Achyut, Saumya Ramarao, Anrudh K. Jain

HIV and AIDS

Karnataka is one of the high HIV prevalence states in India. Results from the National Family Health Survey indicate that 0.69 percent of adults aged 15–49 were infected with HIV in 2005–06. According to sentinel surveillance system data, HIV prevalence among pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) in Karnataka was 1.3 percent. Further, 18 of the state's 27 districts have recorded HIV prevalence of more than 1 percent among pregnant women receiving ANC in sentinel sites. Strong male migration patterns are evident in some of the state’s high HIV prevalence districts. According to the 2001 census, Karnataka ranks fourth in …


Factsheet: Youth In India: Situation And Needs—Key Indicators, 2006-2007: Andhra Pradesh, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips) Jan 2008

Factsheet: Youth In India: Situation And Needs—Key Indicators, 2006-2007: Andhra Pradesh, International Institute For Population Sciences (Iips)

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

This factsheet provides selected key indicators for the state of Andhra Pradesh, drawn from the Youth in India: Situation and Needs Study (Youth Study) 2006–07. The main goal of the Youth Study was to provide information on the situation of youth in India and the life choices available to them on a broad range of sexual and reproductive health issues, including both behaviors and their antecedents, through a population-based study. Findings are expected to inform evidence-based programming to address the health and other needs of young people. The subnational Youth Study was undertaken in six states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, …


South Africa: Integrated Approach Improves Quality Of Post-Rape Care, Population Council Jan 2008

South Africa: Integrated Approach Improves Quality Of Post-Rape Care, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In South Africa, an integrated model for post-rape care by nurses in a rural district hospital, which included a designated room for medical management and guidelines for providing reproductive health and HIV services, improved the quality of care provided. However, nurses remained reluctant to collect forensic evidence that could be used for prosecuting perpetrators. South Africa has developed a strong policy framework outlining medical management of rape survivors, which includes provision of HIV testing and post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency contraception, ideally within 72 hours. However, implementation has been hampered by numerous obstacles, both in health care infrastructure and policy, and …


Assessing Integration Methodology (Aim): A Handbook For Measuring And Assessing The Integration Of Family Planning And Other Reproductive Health Services, M. Estela Rivero-Fuentes, Saumya Ramarao, Ricardo Estrada, Charlotte E. Warren, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Harriet Birungi, John Townsend, Susana Medina Jan 2008

Assessing Integration Methodology (Aim): A Handbook For Measuring And Assessing The Integration Of Family Planning And Other Reproductive Health Services, M. Estela Rivero-Fuentes, Saumya Ramarao, Ricardo Estrada, Charlotte E. Warren, Saiqa Mullick, Ian Askew, Harriet Birungi, John Townsend, Susana Medina

Reproductive Health

Several international statements over the past two decades have endorsed the integration of family planning (FP) services with other reproductive health (RH) services as a means of expanding availability and access for potential users. Many rationales underlie the move toward integrating FP with other services. First is that it provides benefits to the client and the program. Moreover, there is the expectation that the costs to the health system of configuring two or more services will cost less than providing them independently. However, there is still little empirical evidence available about integration of services. Over time, a number of methodologies …


Study Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Urban Men In Pakistan: Identifying The Bridging Population, Ali M. Mir, Laura Reichenbach, Abdul Wajid, Mumraiz Khan Jan 2008

Study Of Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Urban Men In Pakistan: Identifying The Bridging Population, Ali M. Mir, Laura Reichenbach, Abdul Wajid, Mumraiz Khan

Reproductive Health

Pakistan currently has low levels of HIV infection, however the country is considered at high potential risk for an HIV epidemic. In major cities there are large concentrations of individuals whose behaviors make them extremely vulnerable to the rapid spread of HIV and of classical sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including male and female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and injecting drug users. HIV can spread to the general population through individuals who have contact with both high-risk groups and the general heterosexual population (the “bridging population”). Identifying the bridging population and bridging behaviors among urban men and …


Evaluation Of Berhane Hewan: A Pilot Program To Promote Education And Delay Marriage In Rural Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Eunice N. Muthengi Jan 2008

Evaluation Of Berhane Hewan: A Pilot Program To Promote Education And Delay Marriage In Rural Ethiopia, Annabel Erulkar, Eunice N. Muthengi

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The Berhane Hewan Program pilot-tested in rural Ethiopia from 2004–06 was developed to sensitize community members to the dangers of child marriage, prevent early marriage among unmarried adolescents, and provide support for girls who are already married. The program included social mobilization of girls aged 10–19 into groups led by female mentors; support to stay in school or convening of groups outside of school including nonformal education and livelihoods skills; and community-wide conversations on early marriage and reproductive health issues affecting girls. Economic incentives were provided to families who did not marry off their daughters during the project period. Population-based …


Female-Initiated Prevention Methods (Fipm) In Kenya: Focus On The Female Condom, Martha Brady Jan 2008

Female-Initiated Prevention Methods (Fipm) In Kenya: Focus On The Female Condom, Martha Brady

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

As noted in this brief, the female condom (FC) is the only female-initiated prevention product that provides simultaneous protection against pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. Although available for more than a decade, the FC remains limited in supply, not readily available, and underutilized. Obstacles to widespread availability and use are often generalized (e.g., high costs, resistance of partners, or unavailability). With the upcoming second generation of FCs—and ultimately microbicides—being added to female-initiated prevention methods, the need to overcome these impediments with concrete solutions is critical. Government and donor commitment to long-term, sustained supply and program support is essential. …


Introducing Systematic Screening To Reduce Unmet Health Needs: A Manager's Manual, Ricardo Vernon, James R. Foreit, Emma Ottolenghi Jan 2008

Introducing Systematic Screening To Reduce Unmet Health Needs: A Manager's Manual, Ricardo Vernon, James R. Foreit, Emma Ottolenghi

Reproductive Health

This manual is designed to help program decision-makers, managers, supervisors, and providers introduce systematic screening in their health services. Systematic screening can improve women’s health by addressing multiple unmet needs for reproductive and other health services. This manual provides: activities necessary to implement systematic screening; how to select facilities, services to screen for, and who will screen; systematic screening checklist development, adaptation, and pretesting; advice for training screeners/providers and supervisors and an outline of a generic training agenda. The manual’s contents may be adapted to reflect local, national, or programmatic health priorities and resources as well as to promote the …


Operations Research For Managers Of Reproductive Health Programs, James R. Foreit, M.E. Khan Jan 2008

Operations Research For Managers Of Reproductive Health Programs, James R. Foreit, M.E. Khan

Reproductive Health

The course presented in this publication defines operations research (OR) as the study of factors under the control of health program managers and other decision-makers. The purpose of OR is to improve programs and provide information for management decision-making. Successful OR is characterized by a close collaboration between program managers and researchers throughout the study. The course focuses on OR as a branch of the behavioral sciences and deals with formative research and field experiments. It concentrates on improving the research knowledge of managers who have had little or no training in research. The focus of this interactive course is …


Engaging Communities In Supporting Hiv Prevention And Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy In Zambia, Fiona Samuels, Joseph Simbaya, Avina Sarna, Scott Geibel, Phillimon Ndubani, Jolly Kamwanga Jan 2008

Engaging Communities In Supporting Hiv Prevention And Adherence To Antiretroviral Therapy In Zambia, Fiona Samuels, Joseph Simbaya, Avina Sarna, Scott Geibel, Phillimon Ndubani, Jolly Kamwanga

HIV and AIDS

In Zambia, the prevalence of HIV is estimated at 16 percent among 15–49-year-olds. This brief presents findings from an operations research study to access the outcomes of the Antiretroviral Community Education and Referral (ACER) project in two urban areas in Zambia—Lusaka and Ndola. The ACER project was implemented by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, based in England, and the Alliance’s Zambia office, in conjunction with local Zambian partners. Launched in mid-2004, the two-year project built on previous formative research that examined knowledge and attitudes about prevention and treatment. The research was conducted by the Institute of Eco­nomic and Social Research in …


'Dare To Be Different': Enhancing Life Skills Education For Hiv Prevention In South African Schools, Tobey Nelson Sapiano, Nathi Sohaba, Eka Esu-Williams Jan 2008

'Dare To Be Different': Enhancing Life Skills Education For Hiv Prevention In South African Schools, Tobey Nelson Sapiano, Nathi Sohaba, Eka Esu-Williams

HIV and AIDS

In South Africa, approximately 5.5 million people are living with HIV. One of the main strategies the South African Government has used to build HIV prevention awareness and promote behavior change among young people is school-based life skills education. Since 2000, the Horizons Program has conducted research exploring the impact of life skills education and other school-based HIV prevention activities on young South Africans. In contrast to the high HIV prevalence among youth ages 15–24, estimated to be over 10 percent, prevalence for youth ages 10–14 is estimated at just over 1 percent. People aged 10–14 are particularly receptive to …


Food On The Table: The Role Of Livelihood Strategies In Maintaining Nutritional Status Among Art Patients In Kenya And Zambia, Fiona Samuels, Naomi Rutenberg, Joseph Simbaya, Jerry Okal, Nicodemus Kisengese, Stanley Luchters, Susan Kaai, Scott Geibel Jan 2008

Food On The Table: The Role Of Livelihood Strategies In Maintaining Nutritional Status Among Art Patients In Kenya And Zambia, Fiona Samuels, Naomi Rutenberg, Joseph Simbaya, Jerry Okal, Nicodemus Kisengese, Stanley Luchters, Susan Kaai, Scott Geibel

HIV and AIDS

As understanding of the multidimensional nature of HIV epidemics improves, it is increasingly recognized that policy and program interventions, whether focusing on prevention, treatment and care, or impact mitigation, must take into account the integral role of food and nutrition security. More broadly, interventions need to consider how people’s livelihoods evolve and adapt to deal with the multifaceted nature of HIV. In eastern and southern Africa, evidence pointing to a vicious cycle between HIV and food and nutrition insecurity is mounting. Programs are now being implemented that link HIV to food and nutritional security, as well as to livelihoods. However, …


Imvume Unolwazi Ocwaningweni Lokuvimbela Igciwane Lesandulela Ngculaza, Population Council Jan 2008

Imvume Unolwazi Ocwaningweni Lokuvimbela Igciwane Lesandulela Ngculaza, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Brief adapted from the report of the workshop co-hosted by the Population Council and Family Health International in May 2005. The brief focuses specifically on tools and strategies presented at the workshop that are being used in HIV-prevention trials to facilitate informed consent, explain difficult concepts, and assess comprehension among trial participants. Illustrative examples from completed and ongoing trials are highlighted. This brief will be useful for an audience of local researchers, advocates, and clinical trial staff.


Patterns And Implications Of Male Migration For Hiv Prevention Strategies In Maharashtra, India, Niranjan Saggurti, Ravi K. Verma, Anrudh K. Jain, Pranita Achyut, Saumya Ramarao Jan 2008

Patterns And Implications Of Male Migration For Hiv Prevention Strategies In Maharashtra, India, Niranjan Saggurti, Ravi K. Verma, Anrudh K. Jain, Pranita Achyut, Saumya Ramarao

HIV and AIDS

Maharashtra was one of the first states to be affected by HIV in India. Results from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) in 2005–06 indicate that 0.62 percent of men and women aged 15–49 years were infected with HIV, as compared to the national average of 0.28 percent. HIV sentinel surveillance data from sites across Maharashtra indicate that 1.3 percent of pregnant women receiving antenatal care (ANC) and 10.4 percent of patients receiving treatment for sexually transmitted infections in 2005 were infected with HIV. At the same time, Maharashtra ranks first nationally in the proportion of total migrants, and there …


Idhini Fahamishi Katika Majaribio Ya Kikliniki Ya Ukingaji Wa Virusi Vya Ukimwi, Population Council Jan 2008

Idhini Fahamishi Katika Majaribio Ya Kikliniki Ya Ukingaji Wa Virusi Vya Ukimwi, Population Council

HIV and AIDS

Brief adapted from the report of the workshop co-hosted by the Population Council and Family Health International in May 2005. The brief focuses specifically on tools and strategies presented at the workshop that are being used in HIV-prevention trials to facilitate informed consent, explain difficult concepts, and assess comprehension among trial participants. Illustrative examples from completed and ongoing trials are highlighted. This brief will be useful for an audience of local researchers, advocates, and clinical trial staff.


Ethnic Differentials In Parental Health Seeking For Childhood Illness In Vietnam, Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan, James F. Phillips Jan 2008

Ethnic Differentials In Parental Health Seeking For Childhood Illness In Vietnam, Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan, James F. Phillips

Research Collection School of Social Sciences

Vietnam's sustained investment in primary healthcare since the onset of socialism has lowered infant and childhood mortality rates and improved life expectancy, exceeding progress achieved in other poor countries with comparable levels of income per capita. The recent introduction of user fees for primary healthcare services has generated concern that economic policies may have adversely affected health-seeking behavior and health outcomes of the poor, particularly among impoverished families who are members of socially marginalized minority groups. This paper examines this debate by analyzing parental recall of illness and care-seeking for sick children under the age of 5 years recorded by …


The Female Condom In Ghana: Exploring The Current State Of Affairs And Gauging Potential For Enhanced Promotion, Reshma Naik, Martha Brady Jan 2008

The Female Condom In Ghana: Exploring The Current State Of Affairs And Gauging Potential For Enhanced Promotion, Reshma Naik, Martha Brady

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

The female condom (FC) is the only safe and effective female-initiated method that provides simultaneous protection against unintended pregnancy as well as sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. An exploratory exercise was conducted by the Population Council to gain an understanding of the current and historical landscape of FC procurement, distribution, and programming in Ghana and to explore the viability of enhancing national FC promotion. The exercise revealed that a large-scale launch of the FC occurred in Ghana in 2000 and was largely successful in raising product awareness; however, uptake remained low. Momentum has waned since the initial launch and financial …


Burkina Faso: Political Will, Law Enforcement, And Educational Campaigns Appear To Be Reducing Fgm/C, Population Council Jan 2008

Burkina Faso: Political Will, Law Enforcement, And Educational Campaigns Appear To Be Reducing Fgm/C, Population Council

Reproductive Health

In 2006, FRONTIERS collaborated with the National Committee Against the Practice of FGM/C on an analysis of recent trends in female genital mutilation/circumcision (FGM/C) in rural and urban Burkina Faso. The study, conducted to help develop policies and programs for FGM/C abandonment in Burkina Faso and more widely in Africa, had three components: a description of the institutional, political, and programmatic environ­ment in Burkina; a secondary analysis of data from existing studies; and an assessment of the community’s perceptions and behavior regarding FGM/C, as well as the factors that contribute to abandonment or continuation of the practice. For the policy …


Kenya And Ethiopia: Community And Religious Leaders Are Effective Advocates For Hiv Testing For Young Couples, Population Council Jan 2008

Kenya And Ethiopia: Community And Religious Leaders Are Effective Advocates For Hiv Testing For Young Couples, Population Council

Reproductive Health

Early marriage is common for girls in much of sub-Saharan Africa. A common belief is that marriage protects them from HIV, but studies show that married girls are at much higher risk from HIV and from maternal morbidity and mortality. FRONTIERS conducted operations research in Ethiopia and Kenya to assess the acceptability and feasibility of community-based interventions to raise awareness of the HIV risks of early marriage and promote the use of HIV counseling and testing (C&T) services by couples. The studies were an initial phase in a planned four-year intervention; this brief reports on the feasibility of the approach. …


Increasing Women's Use Of The Iud For Family Planning, Ricardo Vernon Jan 2008

Increasing Women's Use Of The Iud For Family Planning, Ricardo Vernon

Reproductive Health

The intrauterine device (IUD) is highly effective, easy to use, and has few side effects. The device costs the provider about US$2 and offers a duration of protection that makes it the most cost-effective of the temporary methods if used for two years or more. The IUD's many advantages also make it a good alternative for reducing unmet need for long-term contraception around the world. Between 5 and 17 percent of all married women of reproductive age in 53 less developed countries do not want to have more children but are not using a contraceptive method. Because the IUD can …


Multisectoral Youth Rh Interventions: The Scale-Up Process In Kenya And Senegal, Stephanie Joyce, Ian Askew, Anta Fall Diagne, Nafissatou J. Diop, Humphres Evelia Jan 2008

Multisectoral Youth Rh Interventions: The Scale-Up Process In Kenya And Senegal, Stephanie Joyce, Ian Askew, Anta Fall Diagne, Nafissatou J. Diop, Humphres Evelia

Reproductive Health

As in many developing countries, young people in Kenya and Senegal (aged 10–20) account for about 25 percent of the population. To ensure their future contribution to their countries, it is of vital strategic importance to safeguard their welfare. Rapid social change in both countries exposes youth to sexual and reproductive health (RH) risks, including unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and sexual violence. Beginning in 1999, the Population Council’s FRONTIERS program conducted operations research studies that tested the feasibility, acceptability, and cost of a public-sector, multisectoral intervention to enhance young people’s RH knowledge and behavior. Study findings showed …


Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitudes Of Married Women On Maternal And Newborn Health (Mnh) In Selected Union Councils Of Project Districts, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman) Jan 2008

Assessment Of Knowledge And Attitudes Of Married Women On Maternal And Newborn Health (Mnh) In Selected Union Councils Of Project Districts, Pakistan Initiative For Mothers And Newborns (Paiman)

Reproductive Health

The World Health Organization estimates that 585,000 women die from pregnancy-related conditions each year. Pregnancy-related conditions, including dysfunctional labor, hemorrhage, infection, toxemia, and unsafe abortion, are the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age in many developing countries. The Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (PAIMAN) is a five-year project funded by USAID. Its goal is to reduce maternal and newborn mortality in Pakistan, through viable initiatives and capacity building of existing programs and structures within health systems and communities to ensure improvements and supportive linkages in the continuum of health care for women from the home to …


Institutionalization Of Quality Assurance Within District Health Management: Experiences From Maharashtra And Karnataka, M.E. Khan, Anurag Mishra, Vivek Sharma, Jaleel Ahmad, Jose Joseph, Venkatesh Srinivasan, K.M. Sathyanarayana, Viji Vargees, K.D. Maiti, Rashmi Sharma Jan 2008

Institutionalization Of Quality Assurance Within District Health Management: Experiences From Maharashtra And Karnataka, M.E. Khan, Anurag Mishra, Vivek Sharma, Jaleel Ahmad, Jose Joseph, Venkatesh Srinivasan, K.M. Sathyanarayana, Viji Vargees, K.D. Maiti, Rashmi Sharma

Reproductive Health

The Population Council, with financial support from UNFPA, provided technical assistance to the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, India in implementing a quality assurance (QA) program and helped its institutionalization in the district level of health management. An analysis of all the facilities covered as of December 2007 revealed substantial gaps in the infrastructure and human resources available to provide good-quality services, as well as adherence to standards for providing the services. To build the capacity to undertake QA visits, the Population Council and state authorities organized a series of events to orient and train state and district officials, facility-level …


Using Systematic Screening To Integrate Health Services In India And Senegal: Pilot Study Versus Scale-Up Results, James R. Foreit Jan 2008

Using Systematic Screening To Integrate Health Services In India And Senegal: Pilot Study Versus Scale-Up Results, James R. Foreit

Reproductive Health

This study examines the effectiveness of using systematic screening to integrate health services in India and Senegal. First, a pilot study of relatively small-scale experiments was undertaken to determine if systematic screening for unmet needs for health services could increase the number of preventive care services clients receive at healthcare visits. FRONTIERS then participated in the scale-up to test the effect of different supervision and training strategies on the frequency of provider screening. Results show that systematic screening may have the potential to produce important increases in the number of services provided in many developing country settings at the pilot …


India: Quality Assurance Procedure Monitors And Improves Quality Of Services, Population Council Jan 2008

India: Quality Assurance Procedure Monitors And Improves Quality Of Services, Population Council

Reproductive Health

A quality assurance (QA) procedure was pilot-tested and subsequently scaled up throughout the state of Gujarat, India, after demonstrating that a 65-item checklist is an efficient tool for identifying and remedying gaps in service delivery. From 2004–06, FRONTIERS developed and tested a standardized QA procedure. The State Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) used the procedure to assess health-care services in rural clinics in two pilot districts each in the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra. Based on positive results, the State MOHFW expanded the QA procedure in a phased manner throughout all 25 districts of Gujarat. The model is …