Studies in women's reproductive heathcare in developing countries

The aims of the study were to: I. To determine the degree of availability of medical information to health professionals in reproductive health, in resource-poor settings of the developing world and to assess the pathways by which medical information can lead to change in clinical practice. II To determine whether adequate training on intimate examination can affect the quality of medical care. III. To develop an intervention strategy for the introduction of new contraceptive technology to resource-poor settings. The first qualitative study investigates pathways and barriers to evidence-based reproductive healthcare in India and Yemen using semi-structured interviews. In the second study the importance of appropriate training in intimate examination as a quality issue in reproductive healthcare was investigated. In the third study a model intervention strategy for the introduction of contraceptive technology was designed and introduced in India. Barriers to implementation were identified. 1. The information drought in developing countries has serious repercussions on the nations health. Doctors need to easily access the latest medical evidence to apply it into clinical practice. The international community has an obligation to develop and sustain an evidence-based culture in developing countries. 2. The incorporation of educational tools in medicine has been found to have many advantages. The pelvic simulator is beneficial for doctors training on pelvic examination and IUD insertions. The pelvic model was found to be useful as an educational tool in conducting reproductive health lectures to the laywomen of the community. 3. The barriers to conducting randomised-controlled trials in developing countries still stand firm. Despite the reassurances offered by the Helsinki Declaration, resource-poor countries are suspect of research projects undertaking by Western researchers.