Population Council Research that makes a difference

FRONTIERS worked with ALVA, a Nicaraguan consulting firm, to assess the use of family planning in postpartum, postabortion, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services in Nicaragua. The assessment involved Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals and health centers and provisional medical companies, known as EMPs, affiliated with the Institute of Social Security. The project assessed program experience, documented current policies within programs, and assessed the degree to which services are provided according to national and international recommended practices.

Findings showed that the MOH health centers performed the best, followed by MOH hospitals and EMPs, in terms of integrating family planning into the maternal care cycle and staff knowledge. About half of women received information on contraception during antenatal care and about two-thirds during their hospital stay for delivery. Researchers found that MOH facilities were missing opportunities to provide family planning services during postpartum and postabortion care and needed to improve their referral mechanisms. HIV services are available in two national referral hospitals, and MOH health centers have begun PMTCT services, including voluntary counseling and testing for HIV; but more needs to be done. The Nicaraguan MOH used findings from the study to develop the workplan for the 2007 administration.

Banner photo: © 2002 Tita Oronoz/Family Health International, Courtesy of Photoshare