Extending Family Planning Services

Abstract

A family planning clinic in rural Georgia was inadequate. When community leaders proposed using Office of Economic Opportunity funds to duplicate the clinic nurses pointed out some changes in time and staff that might benefit more patients. It was recommended that an additional weekly clinic be established in the county health department on Tuesday evenings to serve women unable to attend the daytime clinic and to accommodate local physicians who could work 1 evening a week. The health department nurses and clerk agreed to work an extra 4 hours. Plans were made to include the employment of 2 women from the economically disadvantaged community: 1 would be a health visitor and the other a baby-sitter for the evening clinic. The first evening clinic was held in November 1966 when 499 women were estimated to be in need of subsidized family planning services. In 1970 31% of the eligible women were known to be consumers of contraceptives and were seen in the health department clinic at regular intervals. The pregnancy rate and minor side effects of oral contraceptives and IUDs have been consistent with expectations. No serious medical problems have been noted. The health visitor has been very effective especially in case finding. Experience has demonstrated the value of pooling resources to serve people as well as the as the advantages of coordinated creative planning to mobilize every resource. The public health nurses played a strategic part in coordinating and carrying out these plans for more far-reaching services.