Helping Meet Reproductive Health Needs in Pakistan through a Client-centred Approach

Objective To test the feasibility of training clinic and facility based providers from the Health and Population Welfare Departments. Methods District Sargodha in Punjab province in Pakistan was selected for carrying out the project as it fulfilled the criteria of being a median district with generally similar characteristics as the rest of the country. A quasi-experimental design was used to test the effectiveness of the training programs. Two rounds of situation analyses were carried out both pre and post intervention. Results There was a positive attitudinal change in providers in the intervention areas as compared with the control sites. From a list of indicators it was seen that clinic based static providers considered it important to enquire who were the main decision makers were in the family, 60% in intervention versus 49 % in control, and if the client can persuade other members of the family to assist in solving her reproductive health needs, 19% in intervention and 3% in control. In case of community based providers, as compared with 16% in the control site, 76% in the intervention area considered seeking permission for examination to be important. They also felt that enquiring about the welfare of other family members was also necessary, 50% in intervention and 34% in control. Conclusion Training of providers could lead to attitudinal and behavioural changes that can help clients meet their reproductive health needs, and the intervention is feasible and replicable.