Perspectives of the Health Extension Program Enhancing Contraceptive Provision in Southern Ethiopia: A Qualitative Exploration

Aim: To uncover information gap on the health extension program contribution in improving access, the study explored the lived experiences towards creating enabling environments for contraceptive service provision and use in light of the health extension program.

Methods: Interpretative phenomenological design was employed for the study. Data were collected using focus group discussions, individual in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Analysis was done using an interpretive phenomenological analysis framework including phases of data immersion, transcribing, coding, theme development and phenomenological interpretation through the hermeneutic circle.

Results: The finding captures the contribution of the health extension program in accelerating/decelerating contraceptive use in the study area. Contraceptive services organization, access and extension in the era of the health extension program were presented. Since the beginning of the program, contraceptive use has alarmingly improved as witnessed by both the service users and providers. The linkage of primary health care with the community organization, a women development army and the one-to-five network are among the major contributed factors for the outcomes.

Conclusion and Recommendation: The study concludes that the health extension program has given a special momentum in shaping the principles of PHC. The study revealed that women witnessed encouraging involvements in contraceptive service access and use. Hence, the study recommends that the experiences of women development armies and other networks have to be strengthened. Moreover, the existing community networks should be strengthened through proper evaluation and feedback.