Disparities in access to family planning services in Jamaica

Abstract

In order to improve the effectiveness and subtainability of the family planning programme, the National Family Planning Board has devised a strategy to shift users to longer-acting methods and increase the role of the private sector. To design interventions, a better understanding of existing services was thought to be necessary. This study examines the distribution of family planning service delivery points in Jamaica and the services offered by the public and private sectors through an examination of records and questionnaire interviews. The study found that, because of the concentration of private sector providers-the main outlets for longer-acting methods-in urban areas, rural areas had poor access to these methods. Because rural areas are not attractive to private sector providers, the public sector should recognize the need to continue to serve these areas.

PIP: Jamaica's National Family Planning Board's strategy to ensure the sustainability of its family planning program and improve its effectiveness involves getting users of contraception to use longer-acting methods and increasing the role of the private sector in service delivery. Before this approach was implemented, however, a study was conducted to secure a better understanding of the nature and scope of existing family planning services in Jamaica. The study looked at the distribution of family planning service delivery points in Jamaica and the services offered by the public and private sectors through an examination of records and questionnaire interviews. Private sector providers, the main sources of longer-acting methods, were found to be concentrated in urban areas. As such, longer-acting methods were hard to come by in rural areas. The public sector must recognize that private sector providers are not serving rural areas, and provide longer-acting methods to people who want them.