Creating options in family planning for the private sector in Latin America

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are facing the gradual phaseout of international-donor support of contraceptive commodities and technical and management assistance, as well as an increased reliance on limited public sector resources and a limited private sector role in providing contraceptives to the public. Therefore, those nations must develop multisectoral strategies to achieve contraceptive security. The countries need to consider information about the market for family planning commodities and services in order to define and promote complementary roles for the public sector, as well as to better identify which segments of the population each of those sectors should serve. While it is unable to mandate private sector participation, the poublic sector can create conditions that suport and promote a greater role for the private sector in meeting growing needs of family planning users. Taking steps to actively involve and expand the private sector's market share is a critical strategy for achieving a more equitable distribution of available resources, addressing unmet need, and creating a more sustainable future for family planning commodities and services (AU)

Most successful practice building pearls [abstract]

Buying into a practice does not assure one's success. A successful practice is built and the investment in your training demands your best effort at "Brand Name" development. THE PHYSICIAN: -introduce and present your self to sources of referral; -be responsive; -communicate; -what's your gimmick? THE AMBIENCE: -Location; -A plesant purpose-built office layout; -Facilitate patient flow; -Image is important; -Use technology (Computerized system) THE STAFF: -You get what you pay for; -Inferior staff never leave; THE SERVICES -Control appointment system; -Plan 6 to 12 months ahead; -Information brochures; MARKETING: -Brand Name development; - Use the subtle media; -Develop own strategies; -Niche markets; -Feed back to sources; -Use of the Internet. (AU)

Communication and behaviour modification - position statement

Traditionally, communication has been said to be a formal part of our effort in promoting health and nutrition in the region. But in what way is this reflected in our work? How do we see the role of communication? From observations, current effort is based on: *the perception that mass media channels are powerful means of influencing our audiences to accept our promotional messages, *knowledge based strategies. In recent years revoluntionary developments in communication technology, theory and practice facilitated partnership between those responsible for national health care programmes, and communication specialists with an orientation toward use of communication resources for social development. The secret of using health or nutrition communication effectively lies in find the appropriate medium, content and target audience to help to solve a specific health problem. The secret also lies in knowing how to place a health communication programme within the larger context of our national health and nutrition communication programme and services. All this must be done with limited resources and under circumstances that make healthier lifestyles the highest priority for the region in general and our country in particular. Merely providing information has been shown to be inadequate to change people's behaviour. The chronicle of failed behaviour change efforts demonstrates that new techniques are needed to supplement existing ones. Some of these techniques come from the commmerical marketing sector, which has devised a host of strategies to change human behaviour. These strategies can, for example, successfully motivate a particulr audience to buy one brand of processed food over another. Given that in health promotion our aim is also to change behaviour, some commerical communications techniques are believed to be appropriate contributions for bringing about the needed behaviour change that ensures a population's health and well-being. One approach to health and nutrition education is called social marketing. Social marketing is simply the application of generic private sector marketing to a specific class of problems. In this presentation, we show how social marketing techniques can be used effectively in the design and implementation of health promotion programmes aimed at behaviour change.(AU)

An economic model for nurse manpower planning in the Caribbean. Part 1: The issues

Below is a noneconomist's view on economic issues impacting on nurse manpower development in the Commonwealth Caribbean. The issues however are of an international nature and are therefore pertinent to all those interested in nurse manpower development. The main objective is to present a model for economic analysis and planning. (AU)