A case/comparison study in the Eastern Region of Ghana on the effects of incorporating selected reproductive health services on family planning services.
OBJECTIVE
to assess the impact on the provision of family planning (FP) services when FP providers were also trained to provide additional, selected, reproductive health services.


METHODS
case/comparison study.


METHODS
twenty-four FP service delivery points in which training in sexually transmitted infection prevention and control services or post-abortion care services had been initiated (case facilities), were compared to 19 control facilities in which similar provider training had not yet been targeted. All settings were located in the Eastern Region of Ghana.


METHODS
service statistics for three study years (1996-1998) were reviewed. Structured interviews with providers, managers and clients provided qualitative data concerning impact and satisfaction.


RESULTS
case facilities which had integrated these additional reproductive health (RH) services experienced consistently higher numbers of clients and the total number of clients receiving FP services increased over time. There was also a statistically significant increase in continuing FP clients within case facilities. In contrast, the number of FP clients serviced in the comparison area remained basically unchanged over time.


CONCLUSIONS
interviews conducted with providers and managers in both types of settings indicated strong support for receipt of training to provide these integrated services and a request for additional training in an even broader array of RH and adult/child services. Clients also perceived the benefit of additional RH services and perceived these services to be of high quality.


CONCLUSIONS
expanding the repertoire of clinical skills of FP providers, enabling these practitioners to render RH services that augment basic FP services, has the potential to increase the number of new and continuing FP clients, and increases the satisfaction of both providers and consumers with respect to these services.
Fullerton
Judith
J
American College of Nurse Midwives, Department of Global Outreach, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N Campbell Ave, El Paso, TX 79902-0581, USA. jfullert@cts.com
Fort
Alfredo
A
Johal
Kulmindar
K
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005193:Family Planning Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D034121:Reproductive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control