Family planning promotion

Abstract

The family planning promotion is a service that attempts to prevent unwanted pregnancies by increasing the usage of different kinds of contraceptives in order to decrease the number of abortions and, therefore, eliminate its negative effect on women’s reproductive health. In Armenia there is an observed weakness of both family planning service, and information and knowledge about contraception. In order to find a solution to this the project group was designed to perform the feasibility study on Family Planning Promotion. This study includes the assessment of the current situation on the availability, affordability and accessibility of contraceptives in Yerevan, IUDs, condoms, oral contraceptives particularly, and availability and accessibility of information to the population of reproductive age. To accomplish this study the ultimate and immediate objectives were set for each two parts of the project. To meet these objectives during the study, the project group conducted two surveys. First, there was a survey of contraceptive distributing/selling facilities in different regions of Yerevan. The purpose was to assess the current extent of availability, affordability and accessibility of contraceptives in all regions of Yerevan. Second, a survey on assessment of current situation of usage of, knowledge about and attitude toward contraceptives (in popular IUDs, oral contraceptives and condoms) was conducted among the population of reproductive age. In addition, study group interviewed Deputy Minister of Health, President of the Armenian Family Health Association and Director of Erebuni Women Reproductive Health Care Center. Several seminars on relevant topics were attended, as well. During this study the group observed that the level of availability and affordability is relatively sufficient and only accessibility is still a problem. The reasons are lack of knowledge/information, the social culture and the poor Family Planning Service in Armenia. However, one and basic solution to these problems and to the increasing of availability, affordability and accessibility of contraceptives is the necessity to focus the attention on short-term educational and information campaigns. It is also important to conduct training, teenagers and parents education programs. Moreover, it is worthwhile to establish long-term contact with different target groups via brochures allocated to high schools, universities, policlinics, other medical facilities, Marital Status Registration Agencies and so forth. Another way to provide target population with up-to-date information is commercials on ORT/CTR. These are the two main sources of information (TV, brochures) that respondents marked during survey as the most obtainable. In addition to educational and information campaigns, it is recommended to increase both the availability of all worldwide used contraceptives and the availability of different brands of specific contraception mean in Yerevan.