Situation analysis of family planning services in Ethiopia

Abstract: This study was conducted to examine family planning service delivery of the health institutions of the Ministry of Health with respect to the facilities needed to provide services and measure the quality of care. Data for the study have come from randomly selected 152 health institutions drawn from some regions of the country. Results of the study have indicated that there are shortages of trained personnel in family planning and contraceptive supplies, and inadequate supervision of the health institutions. It has further been observed that most of the health facilities lacked adequate space for waiting rooms and some of the blood pressure apparatus and weighing scales were non-functional. Despite these difficulties, the quality of family planning service provided seems to be adequate, at least, from the client's perspective at hospital and health center levels. However, the limited choice of methods available in the health institutions, insufficient information given to the clients about the available family planning methods, the possible side effects and their management, the lack of privacy during counselling and examination as well as the absence of follow-up mechanisms and, in general, providers bias towards other health services are of great concern. Health institutions need to be equipped with the necessary materials and human resources, and priority attention should be given to the identified weaknesses. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 1998;12(2):95-102