Village relations study

Description

This study relied on Situation Analysis methods to qualitatively examine community reactions to village-based family planning workers (VBFPWs) in Pakistan. Data were obtained from in-depth interviews and focus groups among over 400 men and women in 4 villages in the Punjab, 3 villages in the Sindh, and 3 villages in NWFP. Findings indicate that acceptance of a smaller family size and use of FP was more pronounced in developed communities with access to better schooling, roads, communications, electricity, and urban centers. Changes in family size were more prevalent in the districts of Abbottabad, Kohat, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Hyderabad. More remote locations in Bannu, Umerkot, and Larkana were more conservative. Attitudes toward VBFPWs ranged from hostility to acceptance. Villages were diverse in development levels and composition of population. Selection of a VBFPW was easier in more religiously or caste homogenous villages. Problems occurred when a VBFPW was affiliated with the wrong economic class or ethnic group. Residence in the community was not required. Worker's status was associated more with knowledge about FP than level of education. The most important VBFPW skills were interpersonal skills and competence. The most important function was visitation. VBFPWs did not fulfill the community perception of a need for primary health care and health support at the time of delivery. All communities had a widespread demand for the free VBFPW services. Resistance to FP came from conservatives and elders.

Subjects