Community participation in reproductive health program: An experience from Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, although maternal health care is provided to rural women free of cost through public health facilities, the services of these facilities remain grossly underutilized, resulting in very high maternal mortality and morbidity. Population Council conducted an operations research (OR) study to test a service delivery model to increase the use of maternal health care by poor women. One of the innovative interventions implemented in this OR study was involving the community people in the process of implementing reproductive health program though Community Support Groups (CSGs). For approximately 3,000 population, one CSG was consisted of 10 -15 local stakeholders representing all strata of community people including the ultra poor and disadvantaged population to raise awareness of community people of reproductive health (RH) needs and services, and to improve quality and utilization of services. Preliminary results suggest that community participation through CSG significantly increased community awareness of needs and utilization of RH services, and improved the quality and utilization of services. The monthly meetings of the CSGs provided good forums for interaction among the service providers and community people, and thereby helped solve RH service related problems locally. The members of the CSGs were found to be crucial in the selection process of poor pregnant women who were eligible for financial incentives for maternal health care. They also played important role in strengthening health care facilities and organizing satellite clinics in the locality.