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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Nabat Mursagulova, Marianna Nosa, and Jan Bradley, MA. EngenderHealth, 10 Hasan Abdullayev Street, Apartment 12, Baku, Azerbaijan, 99 412 437 1307, nmursagulova@engenderhealth.org

In Azerbaijan, low fertility co-exists with a low modern methods contraceptive prevalence rate (11.9% in 2001) and high abortion rate (TIAR 3.2). A new 5 year family planning project seeks to increase use of modern contraception. To identify barriers to utilization and prepare for project implementation, we conducted a baseline assessment in 5 districts. This included: audits of facilities providing RH/FP services; assessment of provider knowledge/skills; audits of private sector contraceptive suppliers; and a large household level survey examining the population's knowledge, attitudes and practice of fertility management.

The survey found several areas requiring intervention. Community knowledge was found to be extremely low, resulting in low ever use of contraceptives and high reliance on withdrawal and abortion. Interest in obtaining more information, among women and men, was high. Structural conditions, such as the requirement that hormonal contraceptives and IUDs only be provided by gynecologists, who generally only work in district hospitals, was found to be a key barrier to access. In addition, provider knowledge was found to be inadequate, with many misconceptions about modern contraceptives. Furthermore, facility infrastructure at all levels was poor, with inadequate commodity availability. Private pharmacies were found to be an important, but largely unregulated source of contraceptives.

The findings from the assessment, and recommendations for appropriate interventions to both increase community demand and strengthen supply of quality family planning services will be presented.

Learning Objectives:

• At this session, participants will learn about family planning in Azerbaijan. Participants will learn about the need for large investments in supply and demand program components to increase the use of contraception

Keywords: Family Planning, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation