title: Contraceptive social marketing and community-based distribution systems in Colombia.
abstract: Three operations research experiments were carried out in three provinces of Colombia to improve the cost-effectiveness of Profamilia's nonclinic-based programs. The experiments tested: (a) whether a contraceptive social marketing (CSM) strategy can replace a community-based distribution (CBD) program in a high contraceptive use area; (b) if wage incentives for salaried CBD instructors will increase contraceptive sales; and (c) whether a specially equipped information, education, and communication (IEC) team can replace a cadre of rural promoters to expand family planning coverage. All three strategies proved to be effective, but only the CSM system yielded a profit. Despite this, Profamilia discontinued its CSM program soon after the experiment was completed. Unexpected government controls regulating the price and sale of contraceptives in Colombia made the program unprofitable. As a result, family planning agencies are cautioned against replacing CBD programs with CSM. Instead, CBD programs might adopt a more commercial approach to become more efficient.
authors.affiliation: Population Council, Bogotá, Colombia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vernon
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ojeda
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Townsend
mesh_terms: D003105:Colombia; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D003267:Contraception / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000191:economics*