Abstract
# Background To assess the quality of provision, the present study assessed ten core needs of clients attending family planning services including information, access, choice, safety, privacy, confidentiality, dignity, comfort and continuity of care as well as the opinion of clients on the service provision. # Methods In this study 11 Family Welfare Centres (FWCs) were selected proportionally from total 51 FWCs and this study was carried out in the Gujranwala district of Punjab, Pakistan. A sample of size of 600 married women, aged 15-45 years was selected with at least one surviving child and these women were using any contraceptive method. Quantitative analysis was performed to identify links between needs and quality of care. # Results Significant weaknesses in addressing the needs of clients were identified. 55.8% of clients were not informed how to use different contraceptive methods while 62.5%, due to low economic status, could not afford to choose any but the cheapest methods so were unable to access the full range and potentially more appropriate methods for them. 63.5% were not given the method of their own choice and 63% were not counselled about the management of side-effects. 51% said they were counselled in the presence of other clients and 59% were not informed about follow-up visits. Overall 51.2% of respondents rated quality of care poor in terms of their satisfaction. # Conclusions Any family planning program should focus on the needs of clients not numbers seen to achieve their targets. More attention should be given to filling the gaps in needs of clients with a better provision of information and choice as well as continuity of care.
Highlights
To assess the quality of provision, the present study assessed ten core needs of clients attending family planning services including information, access, choice, safety, privacy, confidentiality, dignity, comfort and continuity of care as well as the opinion of clients on the service provision
Significant weaknesses in addressing the needs of clients were identified. 55.8% of clients were not informed how to use different contraceptive methods while 62.5%, due to low economic status, could not afford to choose any but the cheapest methods so were unable to access the full range and potentially more appropriate methods for them. 63.5% were not given the method of their own choice and 63% were not counselled about the management of side-effects. 51% said they were counselled in the presence of other clients and 59% were not informed about follow-up visits
With the desired results failing to be achieved, there is a pressing need to focus on family planning services and the individual needs of women with differing socio-demographic characteristics to identify the issues at fault
Summary
In this study 11 Family Welfare Centres (FWCs) were selected proportionally from total 51 FWCs and this study was carried out in the Gujranwala district of Punjab, Pakistan. The Ministry of Population Welfare in Pakistan has a network of Family Welfare Centres (FWCs) operating in the Punjab province. These Government centres have a close similarity with each other so that the data collected should be generally applicable to all. Clients from each FWC were selected to give a total sample size for the study of 600 married women having at least one surviving child and who were using any contraceptive method. Multiple linear regression analysis was used and two measures, regression coefficient beta and coefficient of determination (R2) were used to establish the importance of each of the variables in the model
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
