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Quality of Care Within the Indian Family Welfare Programme: A Review of Recent Evidence
Author(s) -
Koenig Michael A.,
Foo Gillian H.C.,
Joshi Ketan
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
studies in family planning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1728-4465
pISSN - 0039-3665
DOI - 10.1111/j.1728-4465.2000.00001.x
Subject(s) - quality (philosophy) , family planning , developing country , welfare , economic growth , business , medicine , population , political science , environmental health , economics , research methodology , philosophy , epistemology , law
India's family planning program represents one of the earliest and most ambitious efforts in a developing country to address the issue of high fertility. Despite its more than four decades of existence, little is known concerning how the program is implemented at the field level, especially in relation to the quality of services provided. In this article, empirical evidence on the accessibility and quality of services provided through the Indian family planning program is reviewed and synthesized. The review highlights the serious and systemic shortcomings in quality of care that characterize the Indian program in such areas as restricted method choice, limited information provided to clients, poor technical standards, and low levels of follow‐up and continuity of care. The factors constraining higher service quality are subsequently reviewed, and the prospects for improving quality of care within the Indian program are assessed.