Contributions made by trained village health team members in the provision of injectable family planning methods in Apac District

Abstract

Introduction: This study was about assessing the contributions made by the trained village health teams (VHTs) in the provision of injectable family planning methods in Apac district. The study specific objectives included: assessing the quality of injectable family planning methods provided by the village health teams, ascertaining the perceptions of the community on injectable family planning services offered by the VHTs; identifying the challenges faced by the VHTs in provision of injectable FP methods and to establish the challenges faced by the district health managers in supervising/ working with the VHTs in provision of injectable FP methods in Apac District. Methodology: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional study design which employed both qualitative and quantitative techniques of data collection. A total of 156 respondents were sampled and enrolled into the study. The respondents included; 11 district health managers, 53 Members of District Village Health Teams involved in provision of family planning methods, 56 women of reproductive age (15-45 years) and 36 community members. Findings: The study found that accessed to injectable family planning methods was made easy through the VHTs participation and this led to improvement in utilization of injectable family planning methods as evidenced by increase in the unmet need of contraception and community members were supportive of the contributions made by VHTs while providing this service to the women. Recommendations: The In charges of health center IIs should continue supervising the VHTs and make sure they submit their reports on time, VHTs who are attached to the health centers III s should also be trained to beef up the efforts of their colleagues in health center IIs. Government should recognize the contribution of VHTs towards quality health service delivery and attach a salary to their services as a way of motivation and appreciation. As the ministry of Health is moving away from VHT to community extension health workers I appeal that those VHTs that have the qualification be given the opportunity to work as community extension health workers.