Family Planning in a Family Health Unit

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the care provided by health professionals who work in family planning, in a Family Health Unit in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional and quali-quantitative study. Data were collected through interviews with 11 health professionals. The results revealed that most professionals had not received training in family planning, and that information about contraceptive methods is transmitted in an individual way, having women as the target-public. The contraceptive methods which the professionals suggest and offer more are those considered most effective. Planificación familiar en Unidad de Salud de la FamiliaEl objetivo de este estudio fue identificar la asistencia ofrecida por los profesionales de la salud que actúan en la planificación familiar, en una Unidad de Salud de la Familia, en el municipio de Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo con corte transversal y abordaje cuali-cuantitativo. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de entrevista con 11 profesionales de la salud. Los resultados revelaron que la mayoría de los profesionales no recibió capacitación en planificación familiar, siendo que la información sobre los métodos anti-conceptivos es trasmitida de forma individual, teniendo como público objetivo a las mujeres. Los métodos anticonceptivos considerados más eficaces son aquellos sobre los cuales los profesionales más orientan y ofrecen. Los hallazgos apuntan que la asistencia en planificación familiar en la Unidad de Salud de la Familia necesita de adecuaciones, no sólo para asegurar la calidad del servicio prestado, como también para asegurar los derechos sexuales y reproductivos.

Attention on Contraception by Family Health Teams: Convergence of Educational and Investigational Practices

“…In others, although considered adequate, the results indicated that they need constant improvements. 15,32 The fact that the results are not generalizable is recognized as a limitation of this research; however, it is expected that this study, through this theoretical and methodological approach, will contribute to sowing a change in the intentionality of the FHts that act in contraceptive care. In addition, it encourages other researchers, especially those focused on practical research/living research, to venture into the list of actions proposed by the FHts to improve contraceptive care by applying and researching (or researching and applying) these actions in their care practices.…”

“…This can also be verified through the results of a study that points out that the health professionals perceive information; the provision of contraceptive methods; the effectiveness of the method; the prompt delivery of the male condom; counseling on the repercussions of an unplanned pregnancy; sexuality detached from pregnancy; the inclusion of the sexual partner in family planning decisions; and conducting group orientation for adolescents, women and couples, as important factors for the quality of contraceptive care, but point out that the FH units are not a place for training the health professionals on issues related to sexual and reproductive health. 15 In addition to these factors, other studies add that the perceptions and knowledge of the health workers, especially the knowledge deficits of PHC workers regarding the theme of contraception, [16][17][18][19][20] by far determine the quality of care offered, example: there is the non-prescription of Emergency Contraception (EC) by some professionals, with the simple justification that the use of EC will not become a routine. 20 Also, considering the note that PHC workers make the precariousness of sexual and reproductive health care to adolescents and men, and the latter, in particular, are said to be clients who hardly seek PHC to address sexual and reproductive health issues, and the biggest perceived obstacles are misconceptions and preconceptions, especially those related to vasectomy.…”

Socialized Healthcare and Women’s Fertility Decisions

“…One exception is Rocha and Soares (2010) who found that the Family Health Program in Brazil (PSF) reduced fertility for women between the ages of 31-40, but not for women between the ages of 18-30 or 41-55. While expanding familyplanning and reproductive-health services was an initial priority of the PSF program, it should be highlighted that this aspect of the program-namely the Comprehensive Women's Health Assistance Program (PAISM)-was not fully implemented due to a lack of political will, and this priority was not fulfilled as contraception and other family-planning services remained unavailable and physicians did not receive training in family planning (De Bessa, 2006;Pierre and Clapis, 2010). Studying the effect of the FMP, which has been successful in fulfilling this…”

Socialized Healthcare and Women's Fertility Decisions

“…One exception is Rocha and Soares (2010) who found that the Family Health Program in Brazil (PSF) reduced fertility for women between the ages of 31-40, but not for women between the ages of 18-30 or 41-55. While expanding familyplanning and reproductive-health services was an initial priority of the PSF program, it should be highlighted that this aspect of the program-namely the Comprehensive Women's Health Assistance Program (PAISM)-was not fully implemented due to a lack of political will, and this priority was not fulfilled as contraception and other family-planning services remained unavailable and physicians did not receive training in family planning (De Bessa, 2006;Pierre and Clapis, 2010). Studying the effect of the FMP, which has been successful in fulfilling this priority, thus represents an important opportunity to shed light on the role of health interventions in the context of a developing country.…”