Thai national family planning project evaluation; preliminary reports and recommendations

Purpose of proj is to deliver Family Planning Services (FP) to families. Eval methodology based on statistics from NFPP and other agencies, interviews with Ministry of Health Staff, and on-site observatns. NFPP has brought FP to 2.275 million reducing Thailand's birth rate from 3.3-2.54%. All contraceptive methods are available and the number of acceptors has exceeded projectns each yr: FP training is now included in all Thai medical trng progs, in which 179 NFPP personnel have participated. Both overseas training and improved staff transportation have improvd staff performance. Evaluator also feels clinics maintain excellent client records. Proj's impact has been impossible to demonstrate due to poor demographic records. Problems in adequately providing FP resulting -- -due to some medical centers lacking certain forms of contraceptn such as sterilizatn; staff not dealing with numerous rumors concerning contraceptive side effects; insufficient supplies of equipment and doctors; and lack of staff supervision. Also, FP Centers are often located where land is donated and not where they are needed. It is recommended that: 1. there should be a projected target for every contraceptive method, based on the number of clinics & staff in each province; 2. doctors & equip be assigned to medical centers; 3. nurses trained abroad in operational tech be assigned to the field & not medical centers; 4. weekly supervisory visits be conducted; 5. more IUD insertion time be provided; 6. all midwives carry condoms & the pill with them into the field; 7. all FP equipment & supplies be tested for the Thai physiology, psychology, and socio-economic conditions; 8. FP clinics be provided with at least 2 types of oral contraceptives; 9. more adequate transportation budgets be allowed; 10. FP charges be standardized; and, 11. record keeping be improved.