scholarly journals Family Planning Practices in Appalachia: Focus Group Perspectives on Service Needs in the Context of Regional Substance Abuse

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. T. Swan ◽  
Samantha L. Auerbach ◽  
Gretchen E. Ely ◽  
Kafuli Agbemenu ◽  
Jessica Mencia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Community Stakeholders

Reproductive health disparities in the Appalachian region may be driven by barriers to healthcare access. However, the barriers specific to accessing family planning services in Appalachia have not yet been identified from the perspectives of Appalachian community members. Moreover, it is unclear how community members might perceive elevated levels of opioid use in the region to impact family planning practices. To fill this gap in knowledge, the current qualitative study explored community perspectives about family planning in Appalachia in the context of the opioid epidemic for the purpose of developing a survey instrument based on these responses. We conducted three video call focus group interviews with community stakeholders, those who live, work and are invested in Appalachia (N = 16), and analyzed the responses using Levesque, Harris, and Russell’s (2013) five pillars of healthcare access as a framework to categorize family planning practices and perceptions of service needs in the context of regional substance abuse: (1) approachability, (2) acceptability, (3) availability and accommodation, (4) affordability, and (5) appropriateness. Subthemes within each of these five categories were also identified. Our findings highlight stakeholder concerns around a lack of knowledge about and access to family planning services in Appalachia. Community members also expressed concern around the lack of availability of substance use treatment services, which may negatively impact family planning use and access in the region.

scholarly journals Powerful Influencers: Kenyan & Zambia Religious Leaders Advocate for Family Planning

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bormet
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Faith Communities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Faith Based ◽  
A Value ◽  
External Stakeholders

Abstract Faith-based organizations (FBOs) provide approximately 40% of healthcare in Kenya and 30% in Zambia. Promoting healthy families is a value at the heart of faith communities. This intervention focused on equipping and encouraging religious leaders (RLs), whose churches own and operate faith-based health facilities, to advocate for family planning (FP) within their congregations, communities, governments. This project included baseline assessments, FP sensitization, and media trainings. Religious leaders were trained through an adaptation of the AFP SMART training by ensuring culturally appropriate messaging for religious audiences were included (i.e. using scripture to discuss and develop messages on families, planning, having children, etc.). Training RLs provides an entree into government fora as culturally respected leaders in positions of power. In order for external advocacy to take place outside of church settings, it is crucial to identify how each church defines FP before meeting with external stakeholders. Creation of low-literacy terms in English and local languages that equipped RLs to interact with community members in-person (i.e. church services, weddings, funerals, community barazas, etc.) and via TV and radio shows was key in addressing myths and misconceptions. Eighty-six religious leaders from 16 denominations in Kenya and Zambia were engaged to sensitize communities and advocate with their Ministries of Health on behalf of the faith community to ensure family planning services reach communities. Equipping RLs in culturally and language appropriate contexts builds stronger advocates for healthy families and communities. Key messages To demonstrate how religious leaders in Kenya and Zambia are equipped to advocate for family planning from a faith perspective. Words and definitions and messengers matter in Family Planning Advocacy from a faith perspective.

scholarly journals Overcoming the Challenges Faced by Immigrant Populations While Accessing Primary Care: Potential Solution-oriented Actions Advocated by the Bangladeshi-Canadian Community

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110101
Author(s):  
Tanvir C Turin ◽  
Sarika Haque ◽  
Nashit Chowdhury ◽  
Mahzabin Ferdous ◽  
Nahid Rumana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Community Health Centers ◽  
Healthcare Access ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Policy Level

Introduction: Immigrants continue to face significant challenges in accessing primary healthcare (PHC) that often negatively impact their health. The present research aims to capture the perspectives of immigrants to identify potential approaches to enhance PHC access for this group. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among a sample of first-generation Bangladeshi immigrants who had experience with PHC in Canada. A total of 13 FGDs (7 among women, 6 among men) were conducted with 80 participants (women = 42, men = 38) in their preferred language, Bangla. We collected demographic information prior to each focus group and used descriptive statistics to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of participants. We applied thematic analysis to examine qualitative data to generate a list of themes of possible approaches to improve PHC access. Results: The focus group findings identified different levels of approaches to improve PHC access: individual-, community-, service provider-, and policy-level. Individual-level approaches included increased self-awareness of health and wellness and personal knowledge of cultural differences in healthcare services and improved communication skills. At the community level, supports for community members to access care included health education workshops, information sessions, and different support programs (eg, carpool services for senior members). Suggested service-level approaches included providers taking necessary steps to ensure an effective doctor-patient relationship with immigrants (eg, strategies to promote cultural competencies, hiring multicultural staff). FGD participants also raised the importance of government- or policy-level solutions to ensure high quality of care (eg, increased after-hour clinics and lab/diagnostic services). Conclusions: Although barriers to immigrants accessing healthcare are well documented in the literature, solutions to address them are under-researched. To improve healthcare access, physicians, community health centers, local health agencies, and public health units should collaborate with members of immigrant communities to identify appropriate interventions.

scholarly journals Integration of Family Planning Services into HIV Care and Treatment Services: A Systematic Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina A. Haberlen ◽  
Manjulaa Narasimhan ◽  
Laura K. Beres ◽  
Caitlin E. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Family Planning ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Care And Treatment

scholarly journals Alcohol and other drug use among women seeking substance abuse treatment in the Western Cape, South Africa

2018 ◽  
Vol 114 (9/10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siphokazi Dada ◽  
Nadine Harker Burnhams ◽  
Ria Laubscher ◽  
Charles Parry ◽  
Bronwyn Myers
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Substance Abuse ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Multinomial Logistic Regression ◽  
Service Needs ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Abuse Treatment ◽  
Primary Substance ◽  
Over Time

Despite a high prevalence of alcohol and other drug use (AOD) in South Africa, little is known about AOD use among women, including those in treatment centres, and changes in use over time. This knowledge is important for the development of gender-sensitive interventions for the prevention and treatment of AOD problems. We aimed to describe changes in patterns of AOD use among women who accessed specialist AOD treatment centres in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Data were collected from 51 specialist AOD treatment centres participating in the South African Community Epidemiology Network on Drug Use between 2000 and 2013. A total of 74 368 treatment episodes were recorded for the period, of which 22% involved women. The proportion of women seeking treatment increased from 4% to 11% over time. The most common primary substance of abuse among this sample was alcohol, followed by methamphetamine. Multinomial logistic regression analyses showed that young coloured (mixed race) women were almost 18 times more likely than other women to report methamphetamine as their primary substance of abuse (RRR=17.80; 95% CI=13.18–24.04). More than a quarter of women reported poly-substance abuse. Women treated for heroin were significantly more likely to be white and younger than 25 years old (RRR=1.62; 95% CI=1.19–2.21). These data portray an increasing use of AOD treatment services by women; particularly for alcohol and methamphetamine use disorders. Additional investigations into the service needs of women utilising AOD treatment is warranted.

scholarly journals Meeting the Contraceptive Needs of Key Populations Affected by HIV in Asia: An Unfinished Agenda

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tricia Petruney ◽  
Shanthi Noriega Minichiello ◽  
Misti McDowell ◽  
Rose Wilcher
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
The Political ◽  
Key Populations ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Reproductive Intentions ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Policies And Programs ◽  
The Right ◽  
Hiv Policies

Like all women, women living with and at risk of acquiring HIV have the right to determine the number and timing of their pregnancies and to safely achieve their reproductive intentions. Yet, many women in Asia affected by HIV lack access to family planning services and experience disproportionately high rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion. Programs that have succeeded in promoting condom use and providing HIV prevention and treatment services in this region have largely missed the opportunity to address the contraceptive needs of the key populations they serve. The importance of better linkages between family planning and HIV policies and programs is now widely recognized by global health policymakers and donors. However, to date, most of the efforts to improve these linkages have been conducted in Africa. Greater attention is needed to the developing, implementing, and evaluating of integrated family planning/HIV approaches that are tailored to the political, cultural, and public health context in Asia. In this paper, we describe the use of and need for family planning among key populations affected by HIV in Asia, discuss the challenges to effectively addressing of these needs, and offer recommendations for strengthening the linkages between family planning and HIV policies and programs in the region.

scholarly journals Impediments and Perceptions on the Utilization of Family Planning Services in Bauchi State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (8) ◽  
pp. 1180-1184
Author(s):  
Saba’atu Elizabeth Danladi ◽  
Elochukwu Ebunoluwa Ukatu ◽  
Osita Samuel Okonkwo ◽  
Oruayefe Agatha Upaka
Keyword(s):  
Family Planning ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Health System ◽  
Cultural Beliefs ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
Reproductive Age ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Family Planning Services ◽  
Modern Methods

Health system consists of elements involved in healthcare delivery, including family planning services. At community level, health system comprises a set of local actors, relationship and processes engaged in producing, advocating and supporting health in the communities. As a component of health care delivery, family planning is an important aspect of stabilizing population growth and poverty reduction. This study assesses community perception and barriers influencing utilization of family planning services in Bauchi State, Nigeria. The study design was Focus group discussions (FGDs), qualitative in nature and in-depth interview was conducted across the three senatorial zones of Bauchi state. The study utilized Fifteen (15) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) using women of reproductive age who had at least one child both users and non-users of modern methods of family planning method. The result shows that respondents acknowledge that barriers exist which affects the utilization of family planning,. The result also shows that some respondents oppose the use of modern methods of family planning which hinders its utilization, remedies to the barriers were offer and we conclude that majority of people in the northern Nigeria specifically Bauchi state are yet to wholeheartedly embrace the initiative because of religious and cultural beliefs and educational level of respondents affects the utilization of family planning services. It is recommended that communities should be sensitize on the benefits of family planning throughout Bauchi state, emphasis should be given on educating the health benefits of family planning to mothers

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