Francophone MAQ Followup Activities: Highlights of RESAR Survey

Introduction

From July through September 1999, the Network for Reproductive Health Research in Francophone Africa (RESAR) coordinated and analyzed responses to questionnaires distributed to two groups: members of the Senegal MAQ conference delegations and journalists from the Center for Studies and Research on Population for Development (CERPOD) network. The purpose of this followup activity was to sustain the enthusiasm created by the MAQ conference held in Dakar in March 1999. The response rate was more than 87%. Of the delegate responses, 49% were from administrators at the central or regional level.

Changes in Behavior

Conference delegates reported the following changes in their own behavior after the MAQ conference in Senegal:

• Awareness of the importance of the policies, norms and protocols (PNP) for quality of services

• Change of attitude in coaching students

• Reorganization of services to improve access and quality

• Critical analysis of conditions

• Improvement of supervision in the field

• Exact understanding of the reproductive health concept

• Inclusion of coworkers in the way services function

What Have the Delegations Accomplished?

• Debriefings: In most of the countries, debriefings have occurred as part of a mission report, a cabinet meeting or an individual contact. In Togo, debriefings have occurred with the administrative hierarchy (e.g., the Minister, the Secretary General or the Director) and with the delegates’ colleagues.

• Delegation meetings: Delegations in six of the nine countries have met since the March conference. In Niger and in Mali, delegations have met more than 4 times.

• Donor contacts: Individual contacts with one or two donors have been made at the country level. Discussions have been held with donors in Niger about funding for the PNP pretest, revision of training programs, and production of training modules.

• Followup Committees: A followup committee exists in Niger and in Mali. In Benin, the Directorate of Family Health functions as the followup committee. And in Togo, the Directorate of Family Health in collaboration with the Togo Chapter for Research in Reproductive Health fulfills this role. In Cameroon a followup committee is being created.

• Implementation of next steps: Benin has moved ahead with "correcting, reproducing and popularizing" the documents and is disseminating the PNP while using them in clinical services.

What Obstacles/Barriers Still Exist

• Lack of Donor Contacts: In the majority of countries, no official contact has been made with USAID or other development partners.

• Obstacles to Implementation of the PNP
  Major reasons include:

  • Lack of coordination

  • The members of the delegation had such heavy schedules they did not have time to hold a meeting to coordinate their ideas and come to an agreement.

  • Financial constraints

  • Lack of motivation at the Ministry of Health

  • Absence of an institutional director of reproductive health

Journalist Followup Activities

• Thirteen journalists from CERPOD’s network (from Ivory Coast, Mali, Senegal and Niger) were interviewed

• Journalists in Niger report having used information from the MAQ conference in exchanges with colleagues, during interviews and in press releases. They have also published MAQ information in a national newspaper.

• The Malian respondent has written 3 articles and has conducted 2 radio broadcasts. Topics were:

  • Quality is your concern

  • Adolescent health, the challenge of young people

  • Harmonization of the PNP

RESAR’s Conclusions

• Responses to the survey show that the conference clearly had an impact on the participants.

• Mechanisms are needed to mobilize action (for example, reactivating the delegations) to ensure that achievements made during the MAQ conference are sustained.

• More involvement of journalists would bring about a better sensitization for implementing the PNP for MAQ. 

 

Credits This bulletin was produced by JHPIEGO, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University. JHPIEGO, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of women and families throughout the world, works to increase the number of qualified health professionals trained in modern reproductive healthcare, especially family planning. Funding for this issue of the MAQ Bulletin was provided by the SARA Project. SARA works to identify social-sector issues of concern in Africa and participates in research, analysis, dissemination and advocacy activities related to these issues. SARA is operated by the Academy for Educational Development with subcontractors JHPIEGO, Morehouse School of Medicine, Population Reference Bureau and Tulane University. SARA is funded by USAID/Bureau for Africa/Office of Sustainable Development under Contract AOT-C-00-99-00237-00. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development. (USAID) Credits Writer/Editor: Chris Davis Production editor: LaTonya Lawson Contributors: Dr. Jean-Patrick DuConge, MSH; Michelle Heerey, USAID/Washington; Susan Janoski, JHPIEGO; Dr. Justine Tantchou, Professor René Perrin, Network for Reproductive Health Research in Francophone Africa (RESAR); National Population and Development Network, Republic of Niger; John Stanback, FHI Translation: Eliane Lanusse, Frances Kleeman Logo: Courtesy of Johns Hopkins University/Population Communication Services Photos: Michelle Heerey, Susan Janoski

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