Dataset Information

Effect of family planning interventions on couple years of protection in Malawi.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:The primary objective was to assess the effect of family planning interventions at two health facilities in Malawi on couple years of protection (CYP). METHODS:A prospective quasi-experimental design was used to compare CYP and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) between two intervention facilities (Area 25 Health Center and Kasungu District Hospital) and two nonintervention facilities (Mkanda Health Center and Dowa District Hospital). The interventions included community mobilization and demand generation for family planning, and training and mentoring of providers in LARC insertion. Monthly data were collected from 1 year prior to intervention implementation until 2 years thereafter. RESULTS:From the pre-intervention year to the second post-intervention year, CYP increased by 175.1% at Area 25, whereas it decreased by 33.8% at Mkanda. At Kasungu and Dowa, CYP increased by 90.7% and 64.4%, respectively. Uptake of LARC increased by 12.2% at Area 25 r, 6.2% at Kasungu, and 2.9% at Dowa, but decreased by 3.8% at Mkanda. CONCLUSIONS:The interventions led to an increase in CYP and LARC uptake. Future family planning programs should sensitize communities about family planning and train providers to provide all contraceptives so that women can make informed decisions and use the contraceptive of their choice.

SUBMITTER: Lemani C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5873398 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Effect of family planning interventions on couple years of protection in Malawi.

Lemani Clara C Kamtuwanje Nenani N Phiri Billy B Speizer Ilene S IS Singh Kavita K Mtema Olive O Chisanu Ndidza N Tang Jennifer H JH

International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics 20180202 1

<h4>Objective</h4>The primary objective was to assess the effect of family planning interventions at two health facilities in Malawi on couple years of protection (CYP).<h4>Methods</h4>A prospective quasi-experimental design was used to compare CYP and uptake of long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) between two intervention facilities (Area 25 Health Center and Kasungu District Hospital) and two nonintervention facilities (Mkanda Health Center and Dowa District Hospital). The interventions ...[more]

PMID: 29318602

Similar Datasets

Project description:Malawi's guidelines for Clinical Management of HIV in Children and Adults promote the practice of provider-initiated family planning (PIFP) for all clients over the age of 15. The guidelines recommend that providers should offer all clients condoms, offer injectables to female clients, and refer clients to another provider or site if clients prefer another family planning method. This study assessed to what extent family planning services had been integrated into HIV services among 41 facilities in Malawi (hospitals, health posts, health centers; public and nonprofit private) and how the reproductive rights of people living with HIV were being addressed. Data were collected through facility audits (N=41), provider interviews (N=122), client exit interviews (N=425), and mystery client visits (N=58). This study found that contrary to clinical protocols, only 14% of clients at the antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinic had reported being asked about their family planning/fertility intentions during the visit that day. Only 24% of providers at the facility had received training on family planning-HIV integration, and 21% had no family planning training at all. Overwhelmingly, ART clients relied on condoms to meet their family planning needs. Only 24% of ART clinics had injectables available, and only 15% of ART clinics had a full range of family planning methods (short- and long-acting, hormonal and non-hormonal) available to clients. These findings suggest that Malawi's strong national policies on family planning-HIV integration, and specifically PIFP, are not being implemented in practice and thus not adequately addressing the family planning needs of clients with HIV. To improve PIFP, Malawi requires targeted systems changes. Facilities need to broaden their family planning method mix offerings. Furthermore, providers need more training on family planning and the importance of HIV clients having access to family planning services, and referral services need to be strengthened so providers can ensure clients have access to their method of choice in a timely manner.

Project description:BackgroundFamily planning (FP) can lengthen birth intervals and potentially reduce the risk of foetal death, low birthweight, prematurity, and being small for gestational age. Effective FP is most easily achieved through access to and acceptability of modern contraceptive methods (MCMs). This study aimed to identify mechanisms of acceptability and the contexts in which they are triggered and to generate theories to improve the selection and implementation of effective interventions by studying an intervention integrating FP with childhood immunisation services.MethodsQualitative interpretative synthesis of findings from realist evaluations of FP interventions in five African countries was guided by an analytical framework. Empirical mechanisms of acceptability were identified from semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with key stakeholders (N = 253). The context in which these mechanisms were triggered was also defined. Empirical mechanisms of acceptability were matched to constructs of a theoretical framework of acceptability. Context-acceptability theories (CATs) were developed, which summarised constructs of acceptability triggered for specific actors in specified contexts. Examples of interventions that may be used to trigger acceptability for these actors were described.ResultsSeven CATs were developed for contexts with strong beliefs in religious values and with powerful religious leaders, a traditional desire for large families, stigmatisation of MCM use, male partners who are non-accepting of FP, and rumours or experiences of MCM side effects. Acceptability mechanisms included alignment with values and beliefs without requiring compromise, actors' certainty about their ability to avoid harm and make the intervention work, and understanding the intervention and how it works. Additionally, acceptability by one group of actors was found to alter the context, triggering acceptability mechanisms amongst others.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the value of embedding realist approaches within implementation research. CATs are transferable theories that answer the question: given the context, what construct of acceptability does an intervention need to trigger, or more simply, what intervention do we need to apply here to achieve our outcomes? CATs facilitate transfer of interventions across geographies within defined contexts.

Project description:BackgroundThe integration of family planning (FP) and HIV-related services is common in sub-Saharan Africa. Little research has examined how FP quality of care differs between integrated and non-integrated facilities. Using nationally representative data from Malawi and Tanzania, we examined how HIV integration was associated with FP quality of care.MethodsData were drawn from Service Provision Assessments (SPAs) from Malawi (2013-2014) and Tanzania (2014-2015). The analytic sample was restricted to lower-level facilities in Malawi (n?=?305) and Tanzania (n?=?750) that offered FP services. We matched SPA measures to FP quality of care indicators in the Quick Investigation of Quality (QIQ). We conducted bivariate and multivariate analyses of 22 QIQ indicators to examine how integration status was related to individual QIQ indicators and overall FP quality of care at the facility- and client-level.ResultsThe prevalence of HIV integration in Malawi (39%) and Tanzania (38%) was similar. Integration of HIV services was significantly associated (p?<?0.05) with QIQ indicators in Malawi (n?=?3) and Tanzania (n?=?4). Except for one negative association in Tanzania, all other associations were positive. At the facility-level, HIV integration was associated with increased odds of being at or above the median in FP quality of care in Malawi (adjusted odd ratio (OR)?=?2.24; 95% confidence interval (CI)?=?1.32, 3.79) and Tanzania (adjusted OR?=?2.10; 95% CI?=?1.37, 3.22). At the client-level, HIV integration was not associated with FP quality of care in either country.ConclusionBased on samples in Malawi and Tanzania, HIV integration appears to be beneficially associated with FP quality of care. Using a spectrum of FP quality of care indicators, we found little evidence to support concerns that HIV integration may strain facilities and providers, and adversely impact quality outcomes. Rather, it appears to strengthen FP service delivery by increasing the likelihood of stocked FP commodities and achievement of other facility-level quality indicators, potentially through HIV-related supply chains. Further research is needed to assess FP quality of care outcomes across the various platforms of FP integration found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dataset Information

Effect of family planning interventions on couple years of protection in Malawi.

Publications

Effect of family planning interventions on couple years of protection in Malawi.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets