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K Hardee

Publications and source records attributed to K Hardee.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Measuring women's psychological well-being in Indonesia.

This paper describes the development of a set of measures of women's psychological well-being in Indonesia, identifies meaningful clusters of women based on the well-being measures, and explores the sociodemographic factors associated with these well-being clusters. This is the first published study to measure psychological well-being among a large sample of Indonesians and the first to focus on women in that country. Rather than use standard measures of psychological well-being developed in Western nations and untested among Asian women, focus groups were conducted to develop an understanding of Indonesian women's perceptions of their own well-being. The focus group findings were used to develop 41 questionnaire items to measure psychological well-being, and the questionnaire was administered to 796 women in Sumatra and Lampung. Factor analysis reduced the well-being variables into five factors accounting for 45% of the total variance: (1) general negative feelings; (2) satisfaction with relationships and ability to control fertility; (3) satisfaction with economic, family and personal conditions; (4) negative feelings regarding marital and domestic issues; and (5) ability to pursue activities outside the home. We constructed five scales based on these factors. Based on their scores on these scales, women grouped into three clusters differentiated by their scores on four of the five scales. Low levels of psychological well-being were associated in bivariate analyses with: (1) rural residence; (2) young age (under age 30); (3) marriage before age 20; (4) low socioeconomic status; and (5) lower educational attainment.

Adult↗

Quality of care in family planning clinics in Jamaica. Do clients and providers agree?

This paper uses data from 199 providers and 20 simulated clients collected at 50 public sector and Non Governmental Organization (NGO) health facilities islandwide in 1995 to compare the two groups' views on quality of care of family planning services. Each of the five components of quality of care studied can be improved in Jamaica. Nearly two-thirds of the simulated clients felt able to freely choose a contraceptive method; however, more adequate and appropriate information needs to be imparted to clients through improved counselling, including promotion of dual method use (against STD/HIV/AIDS and conception). The requirement that a woman must be menstruating to receive services has inadvertently resulted in many clients going away empty-handed (without counselling or condoms) when they visit family planning clinics. While providers generally treat clients well, training and service delivery practices need to be revised to improve the technical competence of providers. All of the providers would recommend these clinics to others, compared to a little over half of the simulated clients. Both the providers and simulated clients said that privacy should be strengthened, particularly in small facilities in rural areas. Many of these aspects of quality of care are being improved in Jamaica's public sector health facilities. Managers can learn more about quality of care by seeking the knowledge, opinions and experiences of both providers and clients.

Adult↗

Three countries' experience with Norplant introduction.

Despite international efforts to plan for Norplant introduction, the method has drawn the attention of critics of family planning programmes, and has raised several issues for debate since it was introduced into family planning programmes. The experiences of three countries with the introduction of Norplant highlight some of the unique features of the method that have affected its introduction. Indonesia, Bangladesh and the United States represent diverse cultural settings and systems of family planning provision. Experience in each country has highlighted the need to focus on quality of care for clients, most notably the need for good counselling and attention to removal as well as insertion. The cost of Norplant also has influenced its introduction in each country. Another issue includes the need to work with women's health advocacy groups, which is illustrated particularly in Bangladesh. Finally, the role of litigation in the United States, and its potential role in influencing Norplant introduction in other countries, is discussed. These three countries' experience illustrate the importance of understanding the programmatic context of contraceptive introduction.

Adolescent↗

Quality of care among Jamaican private physicians offering family planning services.

The National Family Planning Board is the agency of Government empowered to prepare, carry out and promote family planning programs in Jamaica. The Board has prioritized the expansion and sustainability of family planning services in large part through encouraging the participation of the private sector. To enhance the availability, acceptability and effectiveness of private physician family planning services, information was collected on the service practices of 90% of physicians, through face to face interviews. Bruce's framework was used to evaluate the findings of the study. The study indicated that: A wide variety of contraceptives are available - Basic equipment and adequate supplies are in place for the provision of services - Provider bias, inappropriate contraindicators and process and scheduling hurdles exist. The major recommendations relate to the: Revision of norms and guidelines for all contraceptives - Continuation of contraceptive technology updates for private physicians - Revision of legal/regulatory barriers which restrict access to some contraceptives for certain target groups.

Adolescent↗

Assessing family planning service-delivery practices: the case of private physicians in Jamaica.

This report presents the results of a study of the family planning service-delivery practices of private physicians in Jamaica. All 367 private physicians in Jamaica who offer family planning services, counseling, or referral were included in the survey. The study revealed that a client seeking services might be given a method by one provider and not by another, and that the methods clients use are likely to be influenced by the providers' preferences. Private physicians in Jamaica are in need of access to current international guidance on contraceptive methods and service practices.

Adult↗