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Mizanur Rahman, PhD and Jestyn Portugill. Bangladesh, Pathfinder International, 9 Galen Street, Suite 217, Watertown, MA 02472, 617-924-7200, mkane@pathfind.org
Bangladesh is a poor country that has achieved remarkable reproductive health improvements during last three decades. NGOs have significantly contributed to this progress, through awareness raising and women’s involvement in income generation activities, non-formal education, family planning and reproductive health. Experience shows that the poor have benefited from this transition, though they remain at a significant disadvantage. The NGO Service Delivery Program (NSDP), with support from USAID, coordinates a large group of NGOs that deliver an essential services package (ESP) to roughly 20 million people in urban and rural areas. NSDP aims to increase the utilization of ESP services by the poor, despite charging a small fee for services.
The researchers examined the extent and efficacy of NGO service delivery in providing services to the poor. They analyzed data from a survey conducted in 2001 among over 10,000 women in NSDP-serviced rural areas. The team found that NGOs primarily served relatively poorer communities, with respect to wealth, literacy, and access to modern amenities like television. It was also determined that the utilization of RH services was lowest among the poor, but that the majority obtained them through NGOs. In contrast, richer sectors received RH services from the private and public sectors. Since health services in the public sector are free of cost, it was expected that these would primarily serve the poor. The research concluded, however, that the wealthy benefited most from the public sector and that NGO were better situated to serve the poor.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this presentation, the participants will be able to
Keywords: Access and Services, International Family Planning
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.