A reproductive health needs assessment in Myanmar

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A Reproductive Health Needs Assessment in Myanmar Team selection The national members of the assessment team were selected to be representative of a range of multiple perspectives in the field of reproductive health in Myanmar. Individuals from a number of government departments, as well as national non-governmental organizations and international organizations participated in the assessment field work. The team also comprised a number of non-national experts in reproductive health, who help to facilitate the assessment process. A list of the team members is given below. National Team Members Daw Khin May Aung Daw Khin Ma Ma Aye Dr Htay Lwin Dr Thien Thein Htay Dr Katherine Ba Thike Dr Nu Aye Khin Daw Su Su Naing Dr Khin Ohmar San Dr Kyu Kyu Than Dr Ko Ko Zaw Non-national Team Members Dr Christopher Elias Dr Peter Fajans Ms Michelle Gardner Dr Suman Mehta Dr R.S.S. Sarma Prof Jay Satia (Team leader) Department of Immigration and Population UNFPA, Myanmar Department of Health Department of Health Central Women’s Hospital, Institute of Medicine (1) MMCWA Central Health Education Bureau National AIDS Programme Department of Medical Research Department of Medical Research Population Council, Bangkok WHO, Geneva Population Council, Bangkok UNFPA, CST, Bangkok UNFPA, Myanmar ICOMP Meetings with policy makers During the first two days of the team’s activities in Myanmar, meetings were held with key policy makers from both the Government and the international organizations active in Myanmar. These meetings were an opportunity for the assessment team to inform these key individuals of the proposed goals and scope of work of the assessment. The input received during these meetings was also valuable in defining the final content and process of the assessment. Workshop of key stakeholders On 13 May 1998 a workshop of key stakeholders was convened in Yangon. This workshop brought together approximately 30 individuals from 15 institutions and organizations that play an active role in reproductive health in Myanmar. The aims of this workshop were to familiarize the key stakeholders with the assessment activities, and to receive feedback from them regarding areas of focus for the assessment. The participants were split into nonhomogenous groups so that a number of different experiences and areas of interest were represented within each group. These groups were asked to discuss the concept of reproductive health, and identify key areas of focus for Myanmar. Birth spacing, unwanted pregnancy/abortion, maternal health, RTIs/STDs and adolescent reproductive health were the priority areas identified by each group. Areas of reproductive health considered of lesser 12
A Reproductive Health Needs Assessment in Myanmar importance in Myanmar were infertility, reproductive cancers and violence against women. The discussions and presentations at this workshop provided input to the preparation of guidelines and the fieldwork. Development of guidelines for field observations In view of the terms of reference, and feedback from the workshop, the team members developed guidelines for interviews and group discussions with men, women and young persons, community leaders, NGOs, and service providers at various levels and for observation of service provision. Site selection The fieldwork was conducted in six townships in three States/Divisions. These were selected to include a range of the more predominant socio-economic and cultural environments that exist in Myanmar. The assessment team does not suggest that these townships are representative of Myanmar on a national level, but by identifying the similarities and differences between the selected sites, a sense of the current reproductive health needs in Myanmar can be achieved. The six townships visited were: Mawlamyine and Thaton (Mon State) Myittha and Myingyan (Mandalay Division); Taunggyi and Tachileik (Shan State). Figure 1 identifies these sites. Field assessment The assessment team was split into two sub-teams for the field assessment. In selecting each of the sub-teams, careful attention was paid to ensuring the representativeness of a range of perspectives and expertise. Each sub-team visited one township in each of the States/Divisions. Within each township, a number of urban and rural service provision facilities were visited. These generally included the township hospital, the MCH centre, and a number of rural health centres and sub-centres. Interviews, focus group discussions and observations were conducted at each of these sites. Interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with a range of service providers and community members. Public sector service providers interviewed included township medical staff, lady health visitors, midwives and voluntary health staff. Interviews were also conducted with private general practitioners and drug shop vendors. Community interviews and focus group discussions covered as broad a crosssection of society as possible. Women and men were interviewed across a range of different ages, of different marital status, and with different reproductive experiences. In order to elicit a broader community perspective, interviews were conducted with community leaders, and leaders and members of a number of grass-roots organizations such as the MCWA, the MMA, the MRCS and the USDA. 13
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ANNEX I Summary of Reproductive Hea
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Agency UNHCR Programme Local Reinte
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ANNEX III Summary Reproductive Heal
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Assuming that: (1) TFR in 1990 was
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A reproductive health needs assessment in Myanmar

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