Community-based integrated approach to changing women's family planning behaviour in Pakistan, 2014–2016

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of a community-based integrated approach in changing women's behaviour regarding contraceptive use. Design: The Sukh Initiative is a multipronged approach with door-to-door services using community health workers to provide quality family planning/reproductive health services at both public and private facilities and a 24/7 family planning helpline service that provides youth skill-based education. Methods: Retrospective pre-and post-intervention data using samples of 5140 and 3810 women, respectively. Results: The contraceptive prevalence rate increased by 10.7%, from 42.3% at baseline to 53.0% mid-intervention, with an increase in use of modern contraceptive methods of 9.2%. A significant association was found between door-to-door counselling and the use of contraceptive methods (OR 3.4, 95%CL 2.9-4.1) and access to public and private facilities for modern contraceptives (OR 2.4, 95%CL 2.0-3.0). However, support group meetings and 24/7 helpline use did not show any association with use of contraceptive method. Conclusion: The study helped to increase access to and choice of family planning services through a community-based approach that successfully reduced unmet needs and improved continuity in contraceptive use.

An examination of the barriers to and benefits from collaborative couple contraceptive use in Rwanda

“…Efforts to increase contraceptive use through a male peer education model significantly increased contraceptive use through increased spousal dialogue about family planning [ 10 ]. Research with men indicates that including them in the counseling in the home with CHWs may encourage their involvement throughout the process [ 19 , 37 ]. In this study, CHWs were noted as persons who could sensitively talk with resistant men about the benefits of contraceptive use.…”

Impact of home-based family planning counselling and referral on modern contraceptive use in Karachi, Pakistan: a retrospective, cross-sectional matched control study

“…The Sukh Initiative's model is similar to Willows', but they provide some FP supplies directly to women through a collaboration with the government's Lady Health Worker (LHW) program. 19 To minimise overlap of the two programs, Willows and Sukh staff coordinated the timing of their implementation in Korangi Town. Sukh implemented activities incrementally, and its field staff began making household visits in some areas covered by Willows in July 2015-only 3 months prior to Willows Program close.…”

Desire to Limit Childbearing and Its Associated Factors Among Married Women: Findings From A Cross-Sectional Survey In Karachi, Pakistan 

“…Study design and setting A cross sectional survey was conducted on randomly selected households to interview married women of reproductive age group (MWRA) residing in 10 Sukh Stations, intervention sites, under Sukh initiatives. A tripartite partnership between Aman Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation developed a family planning program called as Sukh initiative [11]. It has a vision to empower women for accessing contraceptive services by increasing knowledge, improving quality of services and expanding the basket of choices, contributing to the goals of Family Planning 2020.…”