TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of family planning and business trainings on private-sector health care providers in Nigeria
AU - Ugaz, Jorge
AU - Leegwater, Anthony
AU - Chatterji, Minki
AU - Johnson, Doug
AU - Baruwa, Sikiru
AU - Toriola, Modupe
AU - Kinnan, Cynthia
N1 - Funding Information:
The study was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Strengthening Health Outcomes through the Private Sector (SHOPS) project, managed by Abt Associates, Inc., under Cooperative Agreement AID-620-LA-11–00001. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of USAID or the government of the United States. The authors greatly appreciate the support provided by USAID Nigeria, in particular by Joseph Monehin, Michael Harvey, Kayode Morenikeji and Dr. Moriam Jagun. This study benefited from technical support from Matthew Griffith and Piotr Korynski of Banyan Global, from guidance and contributions from Jeffrey Barnes, Caroline Quijada, Ayodele Iroko, Ben Woodman and Robin Keeley, and from excellent reviews and technical input from May Post, Lauren Olsho and attendees of the Journal Author Support Group at Abt Associates, Inc. Clare Wolfowitz provided outstanding copy editing in preparation for submission. Jorge Ugaz is also grateful to Mathematica Policy Research, where he is currently a researcher, for generous support that led to the final submission of this manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, Guttmacher Institute. All rights reserved.
PY - 2017/6
Y1 - 2017/6
N2 - CONTEXT: Private health care providers are an important source of modern contraceptives in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet they face many challenges that might be addressed through targeted training. METHODS: This study measures the impact of a package of trainings and supportive supervision activities targeted to private health care providers in Lagos State, Nigeria, on outcomes including range of contraceptive methods offered, providers’ knowledge and quality of counseling, recordkeeping practices, access to credit and revenue. A total of 965 health care facilities were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Facilities in the treatment group—but not those in the control group—were offered a training package that included a contraceptive technology update and interventions to improve counseling and clinical skills and business practices. Multivariate regression analysis of data collected through facility and mystery client surveys was used to estimate effects. RESULTS: The training program had a positive effect on the range of contraceptive methods offered, with facilities in the treatment group providing more methods than facilities in the control group. The training program also had a positive impact on the quality of counseling services, especially on the range of contraceptive methods discussed by providers, their interpersonal skills and overall knowledge. Facilities in the treatment group were more likely than facilities in the control group to have good recordkeeping practices and to have obtained loans. No effect was found on revenue generation. CONCLUSION: Targeted training programs can be effective tools to improve the provision of family planning services through private providers.
AB - CONTEXT: Private health care providers are an important source of modern contraceptives in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet they face many challenges that might be addressed through targeted training. METHODS: This study measures the impact of a package of trainings and supportive supervision activities targeted to private health care providers in Lagos State, Nigeria, on outcomes including range of contraceptive methods offered, providers’ knowledge and quality of counseling, recordkeeping practices, access to credit and revenue. A total of 965 health care facilities were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Facilities in the treatment group—but not those in the control group—were offered a training package that included a contraceptive technology update and interventions to improve counseling and clinical skills and business practices. Multivariate regression analysis of data collected through facility and mystery client surveys was used to estimate effects. RESULTS: The training program had a positive effect on the range of contraceptive methods offered, with facilities in the treatment group providing more methods than facilities in the control group. The training program also had a positive impact on the quality of counseling services, especially on the range of contraceptive methods discussed by providers, their interpersonal skills and overall knowledge. Facilities in the treatment group were more likely than facilities in the control group to have good recordkeeping practices and to have obtained loans. No effect was found on revenue generation. CONCLUSION: Targeted training programs can be effective tools to improve the provision of family planning services through private providers.
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U2 - 10.1363/43e3717
DO - 10.1363/43e3717
M3 - Article
C2 - 29261503
AN - SCOPUS:85036506029
SN - 1944-0391
VL - 43
SP - 51
EP - 65
JO - International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
JF - International Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health
IS - 2
ER -
