A study protocol: using demand-side financing to meet the birth spacing needs of the underserved in Punjab Province in Pakistan

Reproductive Health

Marleen Temmerman³  Mohsina Bilgrami²  Muhammad Ishaque²  Ghazanfer Abbas²  Ghulam Mustafa²  Waqas Hameed²  Moazzam Ali¹  Syed Khurram Azmat³ 

[1] Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland;Research, Monitoring & Evaluation Department, Marie Stopes Society, Karachi, Pakistan;Department of Uro-gynecology, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

关键词: Pakistan;    Punjab;    Study protocol;    Birth spacing;    Unmet need for modern contraception;    Maternal health;    Quasi-experimental;    Social franchising;    Voucher;    Demand-side financing;   

Others  :  802427
DOI  :  10.1186/1742-4755-11-39

 received in 2014-05-02, accepted in 2014-05-26,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

High fertility rates, unwanted pregnancies, low modern contraceptive prevalence and a huge unmet need for contraception adversely affect women’s health in Pakistan and this problem is compounded by limited access to reliable information and quality services regarding birth spacing especially in rural and underserved areas. This paper presents a study protocol that describes an evaluation of a demand-side financing (DSF) voucher approach which aims to increase the uptake of modern contraception among women of the lowest two wealth quintiles in Punjab Province, Pakistan.

Methods/Design

This study will use quasi-experimental design with control arm and be implemented in: six government clinics from the Population Welfare Department; 24 social franchise facilities branded as ‘Suraj’ (Sun), led by Marie Stopes Society (a local non-governmental organization); and 12 private sector clinics in Chakwal, Mianwali and Bhakkar districts. The study respondents will be interviewed at baseline and endline subject to voluntary acceptance and medical eligibility. In addition, health service data will record each client visit during the study period.

Discussion

The study will examine the impact of vouchers in terms of increasing the uptake of modern contraception by engaging private and public sector service providers (mid-level and medical doctors). If found effective, this approach can be a viable solution to satisfying the current demand and meeting the unmet need for contraception, particularly among the poorest socio-economic group.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Azmat et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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