Improvements in knowledge of Norplant® implants acceptors: An intervention study in West Sumatra and West Java

Previous studies on Norplant® implants in Indonesia have shown that there are a substantial number of implant acceptors, providers, fieldworkers, and volunteers who are unaware of the basic facts about Norplant. In addition, information, education, and communication materials are lacking for providers, fieldworkers, volunteers, and clients. With these issues in mind, the Training and Development Center for Biomedical and Human Reproduction Studies of the National Family Planning Coordinating Board launched an Operations Research intervention study with Study Groups on Human Reproduction from Andalas University, Padang, West Sumatra, and Padjajaran University, Bandung, West Java, with support from the Population Council. The study began on November 1, 1993, and ended on June 30, 1995. The objectives of the study were to provide accurate information on Norplant implants to women prior to insertion, and to assess the effectiveness of a system of approaches to providing information in order to increase acceptors’ knowledge of the implants. This final report presents findings from the study

The 1992 Indonesia Norplant® Use-Dynamics Diagnostic Study

Although the Indonesian Norplant® program is unique in terms of scale and pace of expansion, it also characterizes many of the operational problems that other developing countries are likely to confront as they expand their Norplant programs. Many of the concerns—such as screening and counseling, use-effectiveness, removal on demand, and tracking and notification systems for five-year removal—can only be answered through research on the Indonesian program. As this report states, operations research on issues related to Norplant within the Indonesian program will be of direct relevance to the growing number of Norplant programs in other developing countries. While the Indonesian program represents the largest and most ambitious Norplant program in the world, much remains unknown about many aspects of service delivery and use-dynamics. This survey provides essential information that the BKKBN and other Indonesian and international family planning organizations can use to improve the quality of Norplant services and to increase the effective use of this method