Community-based distribution of family planning as perceived by people in the reproductive age group, North and South Gondar Zones, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract:    From September 24 through October 4,1997, a cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the status of Community-based distribution (CBD) of family planning as perceived by reproductive age groups aged 1549 years and the CBD workers.  The study covered 14 German Agency for Technical Co-operation (GTZ) assisted project sites of North and South Gondar Zones selected randomly from four districts.  Using systematic random sampling method, 393 community members in their reproductive ages were identified and interviewed.  Including males, 345(87.8%) were nonusers.  Among the study population, 52.7% of the urban and 46.8% of the rural nonusers of modern family planning were not aware of the presence of CBD workers in their localities. The CBD workers selected by members of the community were 63.9% in urban and 50.4% in rural areas.  Significantly higher numbers of males were aware of the selection and the presence of CBD workers (P <0.05 and P <0.005, respectively). The majority agreed that the CBD workers should be paid for the services they render (82% urban and 92.2% rural).  Awareness for the service fee was only 34.4% in urban and 34.8 % in rural areas.  More females believed that religious leaders were against the use of modern contraceptive methods than males (P <0.05). Among 86 CBD workers interviewed, high drop-out of clients and less supervision by clinic health assistants was reported in the rural than urban areas (P <0.001 and P <0.005, respectively). Active supervision, refresher course for CBD workers, dissemination of information about the CBD workers to the communities is recommended.   [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2000;14(1):31-42]