At the 2012 Family Planning Summit in London, world leaders committed to providing effective fami... more At the 2012 Family Planning Summit in London, world leaders committed to providing effective family planning information and services to 120 million additional women and girls by the year 2020. Amid positive response, some expressed concern that the numeric goal could signal a retreat from the human rights-centered approach that underpinned the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. Achieving the FP2020 goal will take concerted and coordinated efforts among diverse stakeholders and a new programmatic approach supported by the public health and human rights communities. This article presents a new conceptual framework designed to serve as a path toward fulfilling the FP2020 goal. This new unifying framework, which incorporates human rights laws and principles within family-planning-program and quality-of-care frameworks, brings what have been parallel lines of thought together in one construct to make human rights issues related to family planning practical.
Page 1. SPECIAL REPORT A Process for Quality Improvement In Family Planning Services By Karen Har... more Page 1. SPECIAL REPORT A Process for Quality Improvement In Family Planning Services By Karen Hardee and Brian J. Gould In the past few years, there has been in-creased concern about the quality of services provided by family planning programs. ...
as barriers and practices that are consid- ered necessary for the safe provision of contraceptive... more as barriers and practices that are consid- ered necessary for the safe provision of contraceptive methods but are sometimes ignored. Improving service practices is part of a wider initiative supported by the U.S. Agency for International Develop- ment (USAID) entitled Maximizing Ac- cess and Quality (MAQ). Separating the wheat (necessary service practices) from the chaff (medical barriers) is a corner- stone of the MAQ initiative. The medical barriers and MAQ initia- tives sparked a number of studies on ser- vice delivery guidelines and service prac- tices. After more than five years of research, it is time to reflect on what we have learned from studying service de- livery guidelines and practices. We ad- dress two issues facing service practices research: advances in defining what con- stitutes appropriate practices, and the dilemma of program managers who must design service guidelines and change ser- vice practices. To evaluate how research can aid program decision-makers, we ex- amine the methodologies used in service practice research and recommend direc- tions for future research on the subject.
... India has defined a basic package of es-sential reproductive and child health ser-vices* as p... more ... India has defined a basic package of es-sential reproductive and child health ser-vices* as part of its new approach. ... Government is approaching the repro-ductive health issues very simplistically and trying to do things too fast," stated an NGO representative. ...
This article recounts the development of a model for social capital building developed over the c... more This article recounts the development of a model for social capital building developed over the course of interventions focused on HIV-related stigma and discrimination, safe motherhood and reproductive health. Through further engagement with relevant literature, it explores the nature of social capital and suggests why undertaking such a process can enhance health policy and programmes, advocacy and governance for improved health systems strengthening (HSS) outcomes. The social capital process proposed facilitates the systematic and effective inclusion of community voices in the health policy process-strengthening programme effectiveness as well as health system accountability and governance. Because social capital building facilitates communication and the uptake of new ideas, norms and standards within and between professional communities of practice, it can provide an important mechanism for integration both within and between sectors-a process long considered a 'wicked problem' for health policy-makers. The article argues that the systematic application of social capital building, from bonding through bridging into linking social capital, can greatly enhance the ability of governments and their partners to achieve their HSS goals.
Despite international efforts to plan for Norplant introduction, the method has drawn the attenti... more Despite international efforts to plan for Norplant introduction, the method has drawn the attention of critics of family planning programmes, and has raised several issues for debate since it was introduced into family planning programmes. The experiences of three countries with the introduction of Norplant highlight some of the unique features of the method that have affected its introduction. Indonesia, Bangladesh and the United States represent diverse cultural settings and systems of family planning provision. Experience in each country has highlighted the need to focus on quality of care for clients, most notably the need for good counselling and attention to removal as well as insertion. The cost of Norplant also has influenced its introduction in each country. Another issue includes the need to work with women's health advocacy groups, which is illustrated particularly in Bangladesh. Finally, the role of litigation in the United States, and its potential role in influencing Norplant introduction in other countries, is discussed. These three countries' experience illustrate the importance of understanding the programmatic context of contraceptive introduction.
Page 1. 1 Implementing Integrated Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Policies and Programs: Tools and R... more Page 1. 1 Implementing Integrated Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Policies and Programs: Tools and Resources 1 Rachel Sanders, Karen Hardee, and Carol Shepherd I. Introduction Why integrate Family Planning into HIV services? ...
Development in global health is addressed by a complex array of institutions working as “global a... more Development in global health is addressed by a complex array of institutions working as “global action networks” (GANs). Network theory suggests a fluidity of connections that is not reflected in most GANs, which are, instead, institutionalized arrangements. We describe the case of a GAN that was ad hoc and temporary. The network successfully produced several now widely used tools for ensuring data quality in systems for monitoring and evaluating programs to reduce the spread of HIV. The ad hoc GAN reflected many of the typical characteristics of GANs, but also exhibited some unique characteristics. Ad hoc GANs focusing on a particular task can be highly adaptive and efficient. We need to learn and foster the circumstances that give rise to them.
In 1991 the Egyptian Ministry of Health introduced a new training program for family planning nur... more In 1991 the Egyptian Ministry of Health introduced a new training program for family planning nurses. The training program stressed the development of nurses' counseling skills. As part of the Operations Research Program, sponsored by Family Health International in collaboration with the Egypt National Family Planning Board, managerial staff from family planning agencies designed and implemented a study to evaluate
At the 2012 Family Planning Summit in London, world leaders committed to providing effective fami... more At the 2012 Family Planning Summit in London, world leaders committed to providing effective family planning information and services to 120 million additional women and girls by the year 2020. Amid positive response, some expressed concern that the numeric goal could signal a retreat from the human rights-centered approach that underpinned the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development. Achieving the FP2020 goal will take concerted and coordinated efforts among diverse stakeholders and a new programmatic approach supported by the public health and human rights communities. This article presents a new conceptual framework designed to serve as a path toward fulfilling the FP2020 goal. This new unifying framework, which incorporates human rights laws and principles within family-planning-program and quality-of-care frameworks, brings what have been parallel lines of thought together in one construct to make human rights issues related to family planning practical.
Page 1. SPECIAL REPORT A Process for Quality Improvement In Family Planning Services By Karen Har... more Page 1. SPECIAL REPORT A Process for Quality Improvement In Family Planning Services By Karen Hardee and Brian J. Gould In the past few years, there has been in-creased concern about the quality of services provided by family planning programs. ...
as barriers and practices that are consid- ered necessary for the safe provision of contraceptive... more as barriers and practices that are consid- ered necessary for the safe provision of contraceptive methods but are sometimes ignored. Improving service practices is part of a wider initiative supported by the U.S. Agency for International Develop- ment (USAID) entitled Maximizing Ac- cess and Quality (MAQ). Separating the wheat (necessary service practices) from the chaff (medical barriers) is a corner- stone of the MAQ initiative. The medical barriers and MAQ initia- tives sparked a number of studies on ser- vice delivery guidelines and service prac- tices. After more than five years of research, it is time to reflect on what we have learned from studying service de- livery guidelines and practices. We ad- dress two issues facing service practices research: advances in defining what con- stitutes appropriate practices, and the dilemma of program managers who must design service guidelines and change ser- vice practices. To evaluate how research can aid program decision-makers, we ex- amine the methodologies used in service practice research and recommend direc- tions for future research on the subject.
... India has defined a basic package of es-sential reproductive and child health ser-vices* as p... more ... India has defined a basic package of es-sential reproductive and child health ser-vices* as part of its new approach. ... Government is approaching the repro-ductive health issues very simplistically and trying to do things too fast," stated an NGO representative. ...
This article recounts the development of a model for social capital building developed over the c... more This article recounts the development of a model for social capital building developed over the course of interventions focused on HIV-related stigma and discrimination, safe motherhood and reproductive health. Through further engagement with relevant literature, it explores the nature of social capital and suggests why undertaking such a process can enhance health policy and programmes, advocacy and governance for improved health systems strengthening (HSS) outcomes. The social capital process proposed facilitates the systematic and effective inclusion of community voices in the health policy process-strengthening programme effectiveness as well as health system accountability and governance. Because social capital building facilitates communication and the uptake of new ideas, norms and standards within and between professional communities of practice, it can provide an important mechanism for integration both within and between sectors-a process long considered a 'wicked problem' for health policy-makers. The article argues that the systematic application of social capital building, from bonding through bridging into linking social capital, can greatly enhance the ability of governments and their partners to achieve their HSS goals.
Despite international efforts to plan for Norplant introduction, the method has drawn the attenti... more Despite international efforts to plan for Norplant introduction, the method has drawn the attention of critics of family planning programmes, and has raised several issues for debate since it was introduced into family planning programmes. The experiences of three countries with the introduction of Norplant highlight some of the unique features of the method that have affected its introduction. Indonesia, Bangladesh and the United States represent diverse cultural settings and systems of family planning provision. Experience in each country has highlighted the need to focus on quality of care for clients, most notably the need for good counselling and attention to removal as well as insertion. The cost of Norplant also has influenced its introduction in each country. Another issue includes the need to work with women's health advocacy groups, which is illustrated particularly in Bangladesh. Finally, the role of litigation in the United States, and its potential role in influencing Norplant introduction in other countries, is discussed. These three countries' experience illustrate the importance of understanding the programmatic context of contraceptive introduction.
Page 1. 1 Implementing Integrated Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Policies and Programs: Tools and R... more Page 1. 1 Implementing Integrated Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Policies and Programs: Tools and Resources 1 Rachel Sanders, Karen Hardee, and Carol Shepherd I. Introduction Why integrate Family Planning into HIV services? ...
Development in global health is addressed by a complex array of institutions working as “global a... more Development in global health is addressed by a complex array of institutions working as “global action networks” (GANs). Network theory suggests a fluidity of connections that is not reflected in most GANs, which are, instead, institutionalized arrangements. We describe the case of a GAN that was ad hoc and temporary. The network successfully produced several now widely used tools for ensuring data quality in systems for monitoring and evaluating programs to reduce the spread of HIV. The ad hoc GAN reflected many of the typical characteristics of GANs, but also exhibited some unique characteristics. Ad hoc GANs focusing on a particular task can be highly adaptive and efficient. We need to learn and foster the circumstances that give rise to them.
In 1991 the Egyptian Ministry of Health introduced a new training program for family planning nur... more In 1991 the Egyptian Ministry of Health introduced a new training program for family planning nurses. The training program stressed the development of nurses' counseling skills. As part of the Operations Research Program, sponsored by Family Health International in collaboration with the Egypt National Family Planning Board, managerial staff from family planning agencies designed and implemented a study to evaluate
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