THE ROLE OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE CONTROL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AT THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL IN SURULERE LGA, LAGOS STATE

THE ROLE OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE CONTROL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AT THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL IN SURULERE LGA, LAGOS STATE

ABSTRACT
Despite a paucity of good research-based data on feasibility and impact, program planners and policymakers continue to seek ways to effectively integrate Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and HIV/AIDS prevention, detection, and care with existing mother and child health and family planning programs. Given that there is so little evidence from carefully applied research, the high level of enthusiasm for integration of these health strategies and the resources available for programs that introduce such approaches is somewhat concerning. The desire to avoid promoting strategies that are aimed at inducing a behavior change through female beneficiaries of maternal and child health services either through primary prevention measures and services or through STD diagnosis and treatment which  are generally not sufficiently empowered to enact such a change, has prompted the need for this research.

 

 

 

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

1.1      Background of the study

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of change in the way reproductive health services are provided, or at least how policies recommend they be provided (Smith 2018). The majority of these adjustments focus on rearranging how services are configured, with those that combine STD and HIV prevention, detection, and management with family planning and prenatal care garnering the greatest attention. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are a number of causes for this. Not only are STD prevention and management major public health concerns in itself, but the presence of some STDs increases the risk of HIV transmission during sexual contact, and STD care has been found to reduce HIV transmission (Adeleke 2010).

Beneficiaries of public-sector programs that provide maternal and child health care and family planning services include virtually entirely women, that is, pregnant women, and women with newborn babies. Theses set of women are mostly married and regarded to be at low risk for STDs (Solo & Moggawa 1998). Men are twice as likely as women to bring HIV into a marriage, emphasizing that the risk of HIV and other STDs among married women, who make up the majority of maternal and child health and family planning program is more likely to be caused by their husbands’ behavior than by their own (Carpenter 1999). As a result,  programs must be developed to help women protect themselves from infections, detect and manage infections among women seeking health assistance, and help women avoid unintended pregnancies or achieve successful, desired pregnancies at the same time.

Integrating interventions to improve individual women’s and newborns’ health while also reducing HIV and other STD transmission in the general population may not be effective. However, traditional family planning and mother and child health initiatives rarely reach the individuals most at risk of contracting and transmitting STDs and HIV (males of all ages, single, sexually active women, and sex workers) (Lush et al 1999).

1.2        Statement of Problem    

It has long been assumed that by combining services for preventing and treating sexually transmitted infections (STD) and family planning (FP), STD coverage would rise and the combined service would be of greater quality and more sensitive to women’s needs. However, despite considerable advocacy efforts in favor of their integration there is surprisingly little empirical evidence on the feasibility, effectiveness, or cost-effectiveness of merging these services (O’Reilly et all, 1999).  Indeed, most efforts to integrate these services are based on intuition and experience, mixed with a multidimensional ideology that inevitably compromises multiple reproductive health aims.  Although the urgency of reacting to the HIV epidemic might explain intuition and expertise as the foundation for early integration initiatives, the body of scientifically supported knowledge about integration has lagged behind programmatic efforts to implement it. Hence, the need for this study.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The general purpose of this study was to find out the roles of maternal and child health and family planning services in the control of AIDS AND STD at primary health care level in Surulere LGA Lagos State. Specifically, the study  was set out:

1. To determine the level of awareness the people have on family planning programmes.
2. To ascertain the level of acceptance the people derive on family planning.
3. To find out the most effective family planning methods embraced by the people of Surulere LGA Lagos State.
4. To ascertain the benefits of family planning programmes to Nigeria as a country.

1.4 Research Questions

 In pursuance of purpose of the study, the researcher sought answer to the following  research questions:

1. How profound is your knowledge on the issue of family planning?
2. What is the level of acceptance of the people towards family planning?
3. Which of these family planning methods do people actually embrace mostly?
4. What are the benefits of family planning to Nigeria as a country?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The findings on the availability of youth-friendly reproductive health services/facilities will provide ample data for the Ministry of Health to evaluate existing  health  programs for reducing STDs in Nigeria.  The findings could also aid other researchers in this field who are interested in borrowing a leaf.

The findings of this study will be immensely important to all those connected with family planning control most especially the health workers. Information gathered from this project will help educate the illiterate couples and also the literate couples, it will also give the general public on the importance of family planning in the society.

The research will encourage further research into this project topic. The information available from this project will add to the pool of data or ideas to be used in planning and developing the general public.

1.6 Scope And Limitation of the Study

The focus and coverage of the research work is on the roles of maternal and child health and family planning services in the control of AIDS AND STD at primary health care level in Surulere LGA Lagos State.

In the cause of the study, there were some factors that limited the scope of the study;

1. a) Availability Of Research Material:The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
2. b) Time:The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
3. c) Finance:Limited Access to the required finances makes it difficult to broaden the scope of the study;

1.7 Organization Of the Study

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research questions, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two carried out a review of related literature from past authors on the topic. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

 

THE ROLE OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES IN THE CONTROL OF ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME AND SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES AT THE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE LEVEL IN SURULERE LGA, LAGOS STATE

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