Evaluation of family planning package of Health extension program implementation in Sekechekorsa woreda, jimma zone ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Health extension program is an innovative community based program started in 2003 in Ethiopia. It comprises five components with 16 packages and is implemented by trained female health extension workers who are assigned in health post. Model house hold training, community conversation and outreach services are the main strategies for implementation of the program. Objective of the study: The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of implementation of the family planning package of the health extension program. Evaluation Method: A multiple case study was carried out from 2-December -2010 to 20-December – 2010 in Seke-chekorsa woreda, Jimma Zone. Qualitative data was collected from five health post and quantitative data was collected from 374 women at reproductive age group by community survey. Data analysis was carried out by EpiData and SPSS software for quantitative data and qualitative data was manually analyzed. Result: A total of 374 women were interviewed. 245(65.5%) of women were trained in model family house hold training and from those who trained in model family household 157(64.1%) responded that they have trained in modern family planning package of the health extension program during the traing. Community conversation was conducted in all five health posts interviewed and 239(63.9%) women responded that they were participated in the conversation. 342(91.4%) of the respondents have knowledge on modern family planning and 301(88%) of them were using some type of modern family planning method. From 374 interviewed women 332(88.8) responded that they were visited by health extension workers. Conclusions and recommendations: The overall level of implementation of health extension program in this woreda is fair. Model family household training was not conducted according to the national standard and community conversation was focused only on HIV/AIDS issues. Home visit activities were not registered. In order to achieve the goal of health extension program health post construction should be completed in the four kebele and there should be strict follow up from woreda health office during model family house hold training and community conversation