Zimbabwe (2012): MAP Study Evaluating the Availability of Protector Plus, Care and WaterGuard in Zimbabwe. Round [5].

Abstract

Population Services International Zimbabwe (PSI/Z) uses commercial marketing and distribution strategies to bring health products, services and messages to vulnerable populations in Zimbabwe. PSI/Z works under the mandate of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOCHW), implementing interventions in HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support, family planning, maternal, newborn and child health. This MAP survey round was conducted to assess the geographical coverage and quality of coverage of three products, namely Protector Plus male condoms, Care female condoms and WaterGuard water treatment solution. The study also estimated levels of penetration by computing the proportion of outlets stocking Protector Plus condoms. For WaterGuard, storage practices were also investigated. This MAP study sought to measure access and performance of three socially marketed products. Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was used to draw a sample of 19 wards within each supervision area (SA), i.e. a district. A sample size of 19 gives reasonably accurate estimates with an acceptable error margin for decision making. For this study, the district and specific high-risk areas were defined as supervision areas. A total of 62 districts and 24 high-risk areas comprising 19 growth points and 5 border towns were selected. In cases where a district had fewer than 19 wards, a census of all the wards was done. In such cases, LQAS was not used but a direct percentage value was calculated to determine whether the SA reached the target coverage rate or not. Wards with no outlets were considered to be with no coverage. In the sampled wards a comprehensive auditing of all outlets was done. Data were collected in December 2011 and January 2012 and processed using ArcGIS and SPSS Version 21.0 computer software