Abstract

Phase I of this project initiated a family planning pilot clinic which provided both practical and theoretical training for 10 doctors and more than 30 midwives and other paramedicals. The objectives of this phase are to undertake an expansion of the family planning program from a pilot to a national phase, develop basic health and family planning services, undertake social research on the use and prevalence of traditional contraceptives and means of fertility control, and establish a program of education in family planning for use in Mali's medical training schools.

Post-Project Summary

This phase enabled the Ministry of Public Health to expand its family planning program to a national scale. In Bamako, five more clinics were established and by mid-1975, two rural centres (Keyes and Ségou) were also functioning. Despite little direct attempts at public education, it was noted that the clinics were busy, and the demand for services grew. A report for the period May 1972 to November 1974 of the number of acceptors at the central clinic was prepared, as well as a statistical analysis of the Ségou clinic for the period May 1974 to November 1975. It was not clear whether a program of family planning education was introduced into Mali's medical schools. Also by this phase, the family planning program was directly integrated into the area of maternal and child health care. A number of regional seminars took place; Malian representatives went to Bucharest; and in 1976 a "Séminaire Interafricain sur le Planification Familial" was organized by the National Union of Malian Women and the Minister of Public Health and Social Affairs.

Recipient Institution(s)