Seema Daud.
Awareness and choices of service seekers for utilization of health care providers for management of reproductive health issues in an urban slum.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(11):662-6.

Objective: To determine the awareness and choices of users about the locally available health care providers and their utilization for the management of reproductive health issues. Design: A cross sectional community based study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Jhugian Shahabuddin, an urban slum of Lahore. The data was collected in 8 weeks, during February and March 1998. Subjects and Methods: A total of 526 married women of reproductive age group (MWRAs) were interviewed in their homes, using a personally administered questionnaire. Results: Awareness among MWRAs about health service providers in their area was 94% for private doctors, 80% for traditional birth attendants (TBAs), between 78% and 79% for the lady health visitors (LHVs), 25% for the dispenser, and only 9% and 7% for the Homeopaths and Hakims respectively. Reproductive health care was utilized by 474 respondents (90%). For this purpose, all women consulted the public and private LHVs mainly, because they were females and perceived to be most competent in dealing with the reproductive health issues. The users of public sector LHV found her more affordable than other health care providers. The services of LHVs were availed mainly for menstrual problems (80%), family planning (60%) and vaginal discharge (35%). Conclusion: Among a variety of service providers present in the vicinity, the respondents showed confidence in the LHVs for reproductive health care. Improving their knowledge and skills in handling the most common reproductive health issues may further enhance the effectiveness of LHVs.

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