National program for family planning and primary health care Pakistan: a SWOT analysis

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Background

The National Program for Family Planning and Primary Healthcare was launched in 1994. It is one of the largest community based programs in the world, providing primary healthcare services to about 80 million people, most of which is rural poor. The program has been instrumental in improving health related indicators of maternal and child health in the last two decades.

Methods

SWOT analysis was used by making recourse to the structure and dynamics of the program as well as searching the literature.

SWOT analysis

Strengths of the program include: comprehensive design of planning, implementation and supervision mechanisms aided by an MIS, selection and recruitments processes and evidence created through improving health impact indicators. Weaknesses identified are slow progress, poor integration of the program with health services at local levels including MIS, and de-motivational factors such as job insecurity and non-payment of salaries in time. Opportunities include further widening the coverage of services, its potential contribution to health system research, and its use in areas other than health like women empowerment and poverty alleviation. Threats the program may face are: political interference, lack of funds, social threats and implications for professional malpractices.

Conclusion

Strengthening of the program will necessitate a strong political commitment, sustained funding and a just remuneration to this bare foot doctor of Pakistan, the Lady Health Worker.

Related collections

Most cited references 13

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Achieving child survival goals: potential contribution of community health workers.

Andy Haines, David Sanders, Uta Lehmann … (2007)

There is renewed interest in the potential contribution of community health workers to child survival. Community health workers can undertake various tasks, including case management of childhood illnesses (eg, pneumonia, malaria, and neonatal sepsis) and delivery of preventive interventions such as immunisation, promotion of healthy behaviour, and mobilisation of communities. Several trials show substantial reductions in child mortality, particularly through case management of ill children by these types of community interventions. However, community health workers are not a panacea for weak health systems and will need focussed tasks, adequate remuneration, training, supervision, and the active involvement of the communities in which they work. The introduction of large-scale programmes for community health workers requires evaluation to document the impact on child survival and cost effectiveness and to elucidate factors associated with success and sustainability.

0 comments Cited 416 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Lady health workers programme in Pakistan: challenges, achievements and the way forward.

Syed Shah, Assad Hafeez, Rashid Jooma … (2011)

To review the Lady Health Workers programme and critically explore various aspects of the process to extract tangible implications for other similar situations. A descriptive study was carried out over a period of one year (2007-08). A detailed desk review of project documents, interaction with relevant stakeholders, performance validation and extensive feedback from the community were collected. The data so obtained was analyzed and evaluated against predetermined benchmarks. Each LHW serves a population of 1,000 people in the community and extends her services in the catchment population through monthly home visits. The scope of work includes over 20 tasks covering all aspects of maternal, newborn and child care. Total cost incurred on each worker is averaged at PKR 44,000 (US $ 570) per anum.Almost 60% of the total population of Pakistan, mostly rural, is covered by the programme with more than 90,000 LHWs allover the country. The health indicators are significantly better than the national average, in the areas served by the LHWs. The LHW programme has led to a development of a very well placed cader that links first level care facilities to the community thus improving the delivery of primary health care services. However, despite its success and the trust it has earned from the community, there are certain areas which need special attention which include poor support from sub-optimal functional health facilities, financial constraints and political interference leading to management issues. The future carries a number of challenges for management of the programme which have been highlighted.

0 comments Cited 69 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Producing effective knowledge agents in a pluralistic environment: what future for community health workers?

H Standing, M A K Azad Chowdhury (2008)

This paper is concerned with how poor populations can obtain access to trusted, competent knowledge and services in increasingly pluralistic health systems where unregulated markets for health knowledge and services dominate. The term "unregulated" here derives from the literature on the development of markets in low income countries and refers to the lack of state enforcement of formal laws and regulations. We approach this question of access through the changing roles and fortunes of community health workers over the last few decades and ask what kind of role they can be expected to play in the future. Community based health agents have been used in many settings as a way of filling gaps in service provision where more skilled personnel are not available. They have also fulfilled a more transformative role in broad based community development. We explore the reasons for the decline of programmes from the 1980s onwards. Using the specific experience of Bangladesh, the paper considers what lessons can be learned from past successes and failures and what needs to change to meet the challenges of 21st century health systems. These challenges are those of establishing credibility and legitimacy in a pluralistic environment and creating a sustainable livelihood strategy. The article concludes with a discussion of four potential models of community based health agents which are not necessarily exclusive: a generic agent that is closely linked to a reputable supervisory agency; a specialist cadre working with particular health conditions; an expert advocate; and a mobiliser or facilitator who can mediate between users and health markets.

0 comments Cited 68 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

All references

Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Reprod Health

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Reprod Health

Title: Reproductive Health

Publisher: BioMed Central

ISSN (Electronic): 1742-4755

Publication date Collection: 2013

Publication date (Electronic): 22 November 2013

Volume: 10

Page: 60

Affiliations

[1 ]Department of Community Medicine, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan

[2 ]Department of Health Systems & Policy, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Pakistan

Article

Publisher ID: 1742-4755-10-60

DOI: 10.1186/1742-4755-10-60

PMC ID: 3842797

PubMed ID: 24268037

SO-VID: 8ecd80d0-afb6-4892-afd8-7a89afc14202

License:

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver ( http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

National program for family planning and primary health care Pakistan: a SWOT analysis

Read this article at

Abstract

Background

Methods

SWOT analysis

Conclusion

Related collections

Advocacy for Maternal and Women’s Health

Most cited references 13

Achieving child survival goals: potential contribution of community health workers.

Lady health workers programme in Pakistan: challenges, achievements and the way forward.

Producing effective knowledge agents in a pluralistic environment: what future for community health workers?

Author and article information

Journal

Affiliations

Article

History

Categories

Comments

Comment on this article

Similar content 274

Cited by 19

Most referenced authors 209