CONTENTS

         Chapters
  1. Thirty Years of Family Planning Programs
  2. Family Planning Demand
  3. Contraceptive Access
  4. Choice of Contraceptive Methods
  5. Client-Centered Quality
  6. Communication
  7. Well-Trained Providers
  8. Program Leadership and Strategic Management
  9. Research and Evaluation
  10. Political Commitment
  11. Financial Resources
Population Reports is published by the Population Information Program, Center for Communication Programs, The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, 111 Market Place, Suite 310, Baltimore, Maryland 21202-4012, USA


Volume XXII, Number 2
August, 1994
 Well-Trained Providers
6 Motivated, well-trained providers deliver family planning services better.
Family planning programs that train their staff well are better equipped to meet the needs of their clients. Technical training in clinical procedures and knowledge of contraceptive technology are fundamental to safe and accessible delivery of family planning services. Training in interpersonal communication also is essential to the quality of services.

Training Improves Access

Training many providers in technical skills helps family planning programs offer services widely (105). Depending upon the services that they will provide, some family planning providers can be trained in a few days, but retraining and continuing supervision are essential to maintaining skills. Even successful workers can learn new skills to improve services.

Proper technical training enables paramedical personnel and others without formal medical education to deliver clinical family planning services safely (105). Many studies, some conducted as early as the 1960s, have shown that specially trained nurses, midwives, and paramedics can insert IUDs and perform voluntary sterilization as safely as physicians (52, 170).

Continuing education or refresher training keeps providers up to date on contraceptive technology. Introducing new methods such as injectables and Norplant depends on training providers both in technical information and procedures and in how to present the methods to clients.


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