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Reproductive health knowledge and services in the Cook Islands

Seniloli, Kesaia L. (2002) Reproductive health knowledge and services in the Cook Islands. [Professional and Technical Reports]

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Abstract

The study examines women's and men's health needs and expectations from current health services and programs. It also examines knowledge, attitude and practice of contraception, the unmet need of contraception and the quality of the family planning program. In addition it assessed the level of awareness of reproductive tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases among the study population. The sample comprised 232 men and 368 women and their distribution is similar to the distribution of the national population,, 85 per cent in the northern group and 15 per cent in the southern group of islands.A questionnaire was administered to each of the respondents. The study showed that overall knowledge of contraception, current use, and knowledge of source of supplies of contraception are high among women particularly those who are married, educated and in paid employment. The reasons for unmet need are lack of information, opposition to the use of contraception, fatalism and unsatisfactory service. The level of approval of providing family planning information to young people is high for both males and females. However, the proportion decrease for those who support young people's access to family planning. Many view contraception as a female responsibility. Men, young people and the primary educated need to be targeted by the family planning program. This is also an area where shared decision making is essential because it affects contraceptive use and parenting responsibility. Knowledge about STIs and HIV among Cook Islanders is superficial. The Cook Islands Ministry of Health needs to make people more aware about diseases, their symptoms and implications at the micro and macro levels. The study also shows that the movement for quality care in the Pacific is young and programs and providers in the Cook Islands must seek ways and means to satisfy client needs and raise the quality of services while at the same time using the resources more efficiently.

Item Type: Professional and Technical Reports
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman
Divisions: Faculty of Business and Economics (FBE) > School of Economics
Depositing User: Kesaia Seniloli
Date Deposited: 11 Feb 2016 03:43
Last Modified: 11 Feb 2016 03:43
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/8723
UNSPECIFIED

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