Evaluation of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) Program

Abstract

Gaps remain in understanding whether family planning (FP) programs can change urban women's FP behaviors. Even less is known about what works among poor urban women. This article presents results of the impact evaluation of the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI). Findings are based on recently collected longitudinal data from women and facilities in six cities in Nigeria. Over the four‐year follow‐up period, there was an increase of about ten percentage points in modern method use. Impact evaluation analyses using fixed‐effects regression methods indicate that both demand‐ and supply‐side program activities increased modern method use. Radio, television, community events, and living near program‐enrolled health facilities all significantly increased modern method use or were related to a desire for no more children among all women and among poor women. Results are discussed with an eye toward the design and scale‐up of future family planning programs in urban Nigeria and elsewhere in sub‐Saharan Africa.

<p>Association Between Exposure to Mass Media Family Planning Messages and Utilization of Modern Contraceptive Among Urban and Rural Youth Women in Ethiopia</p>

“…This finding is contrasted with studies conducted in Kenya, 20 Tanzania, 17 and Nigeria. 13 The difference may be explained by socioeconomic differences between countries, which matters the quality and quantity of information delivered through different media and sample size differences between studies.…”

“…Evidence showed that the provision of targeted, easily accessible, and accurate information about family planning through multiple channels increased the use of modern contraceptives, and influence social norms on its utilization. 13 – 15…”

Factors promoting sustainability of NURHI programme activities in Ilorin and Kaduna, Nigeria: findings from a qualitative study among health facility staff

“…The NURHI-1 mid-term and immediate closeout evaluations reported much higher degrees of sustainability compared with findings in the current study conducted about 3 years after NURHI-1 closeout. 24 25 Our findings thus indicate a progressive decline in project activities as the duration from NURHI-1 closeout to time of evaluation increases.…”

“…The Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) project undertook the impact evaluation of the NURHI programme; this included baseline, midterm, and endline household and facility-based surveys. 24–26 Post immediate impact effects, it is important to assess the sustainability of the NURHI interventions when funding ends. This informs whether immediate gains are maintained and whether there are longer-term system-level and program-level benefits of the FP programme.…”

On the sustainability of a family planning program in Nigeria when funding ends

“…The Measurement, Learning & Evaluation (MLE) project (also funded by BMGF), conducted the evaluation of the NURHI Phase I program with Data, Research and Mapping Consult (DRMC) and the National Population Commission as the local implementing partners [24]. The MLE project applied a hybrid design, collecting both longitudinal and cross-sectional survey data to evaluate the direct impact of NURHI on contraceptive use and behavioral and attitudinal norms in the six study cities.…”