MAQ Bulletins | MAQ Presentation Graphics

The Maximizing Access and Quality (MAQ) initiative is a systematic program to apply state-of-the-art methods to maximize access to and quality of family planning and other selected reproductive health services.

The MAQ Initiative is implemented through the collaborative efforts of USAID, cooperating agencies, host-country partners and others. MAQ Working Group committees include:

• Technical Guidance and Competence
• Client-Provider Interaction
• Policy, Advocacy, Communication and Education (PACE)
• Management and Supervision
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Francophone MAQ

An important new MAQ activity is the MAQ Exchange, a 3-day workshop that is conducted at USAID missions. Its purpose is to provide a forum of exchange that engages USAID missions, their country counterparts and USAID/Washington in a dialogue aimed at developing or improving programs that reflect MAQ principles and practices. A comprehensive package of MAQ materials, including more than 700 PowerPoint slides, has been developed by USAID/Washington and a number of cooperating agencies for selected use during the MAQ Exchange. These slides are organized under the following four MAQ Themes:

Theme I Overcoming Barriers to Quality

• Access Barriers
• Service Delivery Guidelines
• Contraceptive Technology Update
• Infection Prevention

Theme II Client-Centered Communication

• Client-Provider Interaction
• Informed Choice and Consent
• Community Mobilization
• Media Involvement

Theme III: Selected Reproductive Integration

• Introduction to Integration
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Postabortion Care
• Adolescent Reproductive Health

Theme IV: Application of MAQ Principles and Practices

• Management and Supervision
• Program Modeling Examples
• Country-Specific Strategy Development

An overview set of powerpoint slides called MAQ Key Concepts is also available.

One of the key symbols of the MAQ initiative is the MAQ lotus. This symbol was developed by USAID/W and cooperating agencies (CAs) to illustrate the importance of a synergy of interventions in efforts to improve access and quality in our programs. Implementing an intervention to address any one of the components shown in the lotus may make a difference; however, impact of interventions is maximized with each additional component we succeed in addressing.

As part of USAID’s Maximizing Access to and Quality of family planning and other reproductive health services (MAQ) initiative, JHPIEGO focuses on improving it programs by strengthening:

• Technical guidance and competence
• Client-provider interaction
• Policy, advocacy, communication and education
• Management and supervision
• Monitoring and evaluation

JHPIEGO has incorporated MAQ concepts into its country activities by:

• Conducting regional, national and local-level contraceptive technology update/MAQ workshops
• Assisting in the development of up-to-date Reproductive Health Service Guidelines
• Harmonizing its training materials with international standards produced by USAID and the World Health Organization (WHO)

MAQ continues to be a high priority initiative for both USAID and for JHPIEGO.

For more information on the MAQ initiative at JHPIEGO, contact:

• Edgar Necochea, MD
  E-mail enecochea@jhpiego.net or
  
• Chris Davis
  E-mail cdavis@jhpiego.net