Tubal ligation candidates who did not get their operation.

OBJECTIVE

To identify bottlenecks in the delivery of comprehensive family planning to women in contact with the Health Services and to find ways to reduce unmet demand for contraception.

DESIGN

Exploratory descriptive study.

SETTING

Large Bulawayo Government Hospital and the high density areas in the same city.

SUBJECTS: Case notes of 284 women who indicated together with their partners that they had completed families and who had their tubal ligation forms duly signed but who never had their operation. Follow up of a sample of patients.

INTERVENTIONS: Non intervention study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Are reproductive rights taken seriously? Is there service related unmet demand for family planning.

RESULTS

Even those who had all their paperwork in order for a durante or post partum sterilization did not have any guarantee that this service would be given. The main reason was found to be lack of well motivated health staff.

CONCLUSION

Much can be improved in contraceptive service delivery. Reproductive rights are not respected.