Implementing family planning interventions in urban settings: formative and process evaluation studies in Eastern Uganda

Despite the recognized benefits of family planning, low-income countries, including Uganda, grapple with a significant unmet need. This research aims to bridge this gap by delving into the complexities of family planning use in urban areas of Eastern Uganda by 1) investigating the interrelationships between factors influencing family planning uptake, 2) assessing health facility readiness to provide family planning services, 3) exploring client experiences, and 4) evaluating the implementation of family planning service improvement interventions, as part of a larger project. The research will be done in four studies:

Study I: Employs community-based system dynamics modeling to map the interrelationships between the factors that influence family planning uptake.

Study II: This cross-sectional study will assess the readiness of public, private and private-not-for-profit health facilities to provide family planning services.

Study III: Employing photovoice, the study will capture women’s experiences accessing and using family planning services.

Study IV: A process evaluation will be done to assess the implementation of family planning service improvement interventions. This study will evaluate the quality of implementation and explore the contextual factors and mechanisms that influence the interventions’ uptake.

Overall, this research is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of family planning service needs in urban populations, inform targeted strategies to address specific barriers, and ultimately advance interventions promoting safe and effective family planning use.