Readiness assessment of health facilities for providing postpartum family planning services after project-based scale-up activities ended – A study from Pakistan

Aniza Ismail| Mariam Ashraf| Idayu Badilla Idris| Inayat Hussain Thaver| Ahsan Maqbool Ahmad| Sarmad Jamal Siddiqui

Abstract
Objective: To analyze readiness assessment of health facilities for providing postpartum family planning services after project-based scale-up activities ended.
Methodology: A mixed-method research design was used and using an audit tool, postpartum family planning readiness to perform specific functions was assessed through descriptive analysis and comparisons were made within the facilities. In-depth, interviews were conducted with the service providers in the facilities.
Results: The postpartum family planning readiness was poor owing to budgetary constraints of public health facilities and limited supply of postpartum specific contraceptive methods, resulting in limited utilization of services. The pilot project may have delivered positive results, the scale-up was limited and the interventions were not sustained once the donor support ended.
Conclusion: Addressing the gaps through regular monitoring, improving supply chains, supervision and refresher training is important to improve readiness specific to postpartum family planning. There is a need for more clear and comprehensive planning for scaling-up pilot projects especially in Pakistan where resource constraints overall affect the sustainability of any donor-supported activities.

Key words: Health facility assessment Scale-up, pilot project, sustainability.

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