Collaborative Studies

Assessing the Feasibility, Acceptability and Cost of Introducing Postabortion Care in Health Centres and Dispensaries in Rural Tanzania (co-authored with FRONTIERS)
The EngenderHealth ACQUIRE Project supported the Tanzanian Ministry of Health (MOH) since early 2005 to decentralize the management of postabortion care (PAC) services to primary health care facilities (health centers and dispensaries), with the intention of bringing services closer to women who are unable to access them at district hospitals. The decentralized service was pilot tested in one district, Geita District in Mwanza Province, northern Tanzania, to provide the Ministry with experience and operational information before it expanded decentralization to the rest of the country. In November 2005, the Population Council FRONTIERS Program began documenting the process of decentralizing PAC and prospectively assessing its feasibility, effectiveness, and cost. (2007)
Available as a PDF: download (705KB)

Dual Protection Among South African Women and Men: Perspectives from HIV Care, FP and STI Services (co-authored with the Women's Health Research Unit, School for Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town)
This research aimed to explore the current approaches toward dual protection among men and women attending HIV care and family planning/STI services, and the health care providers working in these services. (2007)
Available as a PDF: download (1.2MB) 

Introducing Cultural Competence Training in Bolivia as a Model for Other Developing Countries
Cultural groups in Bolivia are defined by ethnicity, urban versus rural residence, socioeconomic class, and the degree to which indigenous and mestizo groups have adopted European customs. The tension between the cultural groups affects the relationship between health providers and clients. When clients feel disrespected or misunderstood, they do not come for services, they do not follow medical advice, and they may choose traditional healers and ineffective remedies over modern medical providers. The result is higher morbidity and mortality rates and more unwanted pregnancies. In 2007, with USAID funds, ACQUIRE and Management Sciences for Health collaborated to develop and deliver a pilot training program in cultural competence for health providers in Bolivia. This report looks at the use of a curriculum that addresses the issues of trust and communication in the context of ethnic differences—currently a priority issue in Bolivia and a determining factor in recent sociopolitical conflicts. (2008)
Available as a PDF: download (402KB)

The Cultural Competence course is available online at http://www2.msh.org/culturalcompetence/index.html  

Comparing the Effectiveness and Costs of Alternative Strategies for Improving Access to Information and Services for the IUD in Ghana (co-authored with FRONTIERS)
After the Population Council hosted an international meeting on improving access to intrauterine devices (IUDs) in developing countries, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was prompted to explore such IUD expansion strategies as: increasing awareness about the IUD via interpersonal channels; using marketing strategies; and intensifying community-based activities to dispel rumors about the method. The Health Research Unit (HRU) of the Ghana Health Service and the FRONTIERS Project (led by the Population Council) developed a research activity to test innovative approaches for increasing awareness of the IUD and for improving access to the method.  The researchers collaborated on this activity with the Reproductive and Child Health Unit of the GHS; the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Technical Assistance Project; and the ACQUIRE Project.
Available as a PDF: download (197KB)