An evaluation proposal for Family Planning Educational Program

Abstract

The problem of family planning is of prime importance in the gynaecological practice nowadays as it provides women with an opportunity to space their births with diverse means of contraception rather than with abortions. Family planning also enables women to avoid various complications that are caused by artificial abortions. For many decades artificial abortions have been considered as one of the main means of family planning in Armenia. This statement is supported by the results of a survey conducted from 1989-1991 in Yerevan in co-operation with WHO with 4349 women of reproductive age. The results of this survey showed that from 4349 women involved in the survey 63% had undergone at least one artificial abortion, 6%- 10 and more artificial abortions. Data obtained from MOH of the Republic of Armenia show that since 1993 a significant increase is detected in the incidence trends of artificial abortions-being maximal in 1996 ( 659 incidence cases per 1000 live births). The risk of post-abortive complications remains relatively high -leading to many severe disturbances of female reproductive sphere. These complpications affect the main health indicators of women in the most productive years for work and study. Besides, the government and the society have to pay for the treatment and rehabilitation of these patients. In this aspect there is a need to facilitate the education and promotion regarding alternative methods of birth control, development of programs- aiming to disseminate information about family planning and contraceptive methods in Armenia. For these purposes and as a part of the MPH thesi s an educational booklet was developed and includedthe topics of family planning, abortions and modern methods of birth control. The booklet was developed from June-August, 1997, on the basis of the most recent data existing in the scientific iterature. It was administered to 27 women in the early postpartum period who had delivered in the Armenian Research Centre of Maternal/Child Health Protection. 30 women were included in the control group (did not receive the booklet). The sample frame was represented by th e list of all women delivered at the Armenian Research Centre of Maternal/Child Health Protection within the time period of September 12 -October 6, 1997. Baseline data were collected from all of the 57 women by face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. Analysis was performed to detect whether the two groups differed at baseline, which could affect the true measurements of the main outcome study variables. It was found that the two groups did not differ in any categories analysed. A significant negative association was found between parity and contraceptive usage. This evaluation proposal seeks funding for the collection of post-intervention data for the educational booklet. These data will be used to assess the the effectiveness and the effects of the educational booklet given to women in the early post partum period at the Armenian Research Centre of Maternal and Child Health Protection. The following main study variables will be assessed: • Mean knowledge score • Attitude regarding use of contraceptives for birth control. • Reported prevalence of modern birth control method’ usage. Measurment of changes in the main study variables between two groups will help to the evaluate the educational booklet and reveal whether it was applicable and whether it worked or-not. It is hypothesised that by increasing the awareness of women in the post- partum period regarding contraceptive means - we would achieve an increase in the reported prevalence of modern birth control methods usage.