Resource Library

Community Outreach: Opening Doors to Increase Family Planning Use

Although Jordan enjoys favorable population and family health conditions, certain challenges persist in trying to improve the overall health of Jordanian women. Since 2002, the contraceptive use - particularly of modern methods - has stalled; approximately 42% of married women of reproductive age (MWRA) report using a modern method. Moreover, unmet need for family planning - 12% of MWRA - has remained constant during this same time period, with higher unmet need among women with little or no education and among those in the poorest households. In response, the Private Sector Project for Women's Health (PSP) in Jordan is implementing a comprehensive outreach strategy designed to specifically address the most difficult programmatic challenges in family planning: contacting and changing attitudes among women with the highest unmet need. This brief explains PSP Jordan's main outreach programs, including home-based visits by Community Health Workers (CHWs), its violence against women (VAW) strategy aimed at providing services to women who have been victims of domestic violence, its family planning and breast cancer screening referral program, and its behavior change communication strategy.

The CHWs provide important health information to women age 15 – 60 years old in towns and villages across Jordan through home visits. They discuss the benefits of modern family planning methods, the importance of early detection of breast cancer, and also teach self-breast examination. In addition to health education, the CHW also provides referrals for family planning, early cancer detection (breast and cervical) and antenatal/post natal care. Interpersonal communication messages are reinforced by mass media communications on TV and radio and print materials for maximum synergy.